Securing the Flank

In preparation for Montgomery's Operation Epsom, the 49th Infantry Division, nicknamed the Polar Bears because of their arm patch, was ordered to take the town of Fontenay le Pesnel. Their second objective was to secure Raury and the heights that …

1944-06-25

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In preparation for Montgomery's Operation Epsom, the 49th Infantry Division, nicknamed the Polar Bears because of their arm patch, was ordered to take the town of Fontenay le Pesnel. Their second objective was to secure Raury and the heights that surrounded it. The capture of these two locations would protect the 15th Division's flank as they made the main push against their primary objective of Epsom - an outflanking action that would finally take Caen. The 49th Infantry was faced with the 12th SS Panzer Division (Hitlerjugend) and bumped into Panzer Lehr's flank, bringing them into the battle. The German defenders held tough and the inexperienced division was unable to take its objective that day. Allied command chose to move ahead anyway and Operation Epsom was kicked off on June 26 with the high ground around Raury still in the hands of the enemy. German armor and artillery overlooked the ground that the 15th was moving over, leading to heavier Resistance than Montgomery had hoped to face.

Fontenay le Pesnel, France

Operation Epsom, also known as the First Battle of the Odon, was a British offensive in the Second World War between 26 and 30 June 1944, during the Battle of Normandy. The offensive was intended to outflank and seize the German-occupied city of Caen, an important Allied objective, in the early stages of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of north-west Europe. Preceded by Operation Martlet to secure the right flank of the advance, Operation Epsom began early on 26 June, with units of the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division advancing behind a rolling artillery barrage. Air cover was sporadic for much of the operation, because poor weather in England forced the last-minute cancellation of bomber support. Accompanied by the 3ist Tank Brigade, the 15th (Scottish) Division made steady progress and by the end of the first day had overrun much of the German outpost line, although some difficulties remained in securing the flanks. In mutually-costly fighting over the following two days, a foothold was secured across the River Odon and efforts were made to expand this, by capturing tactically valuable points around the salient and moving up the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division. By 30 June, after German counter-attacks, some of the British forces across the river were withdrawn and the captured ground consolidated, bringing the operation to a close.

Wikipedia: Operation Epsom

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