20. Once across the ORNE, the Panzer Regt, with about ninety effective the and two bns of Inf , attacked from CAEN towards LION-SUR-MER 0781, a village on the channel coast. The enemy, consisting of 3 British and 3 Canadian InfDivs , had, by this time, made astonishing progress with forces as far South as LABISEY 0572 and more important still had occupied the high ground (Point 61) at 0677. From this vantage point the Allied A Tk guns opened fire et 2000 metres and in a short time had knocked out eleven tks of 21 Panzer Div. Genlt FEUCHTINGER became lyrical each time he referred to our A Tk defences which he constantly described with the adjective "Ausgezeichnet" (excellent). Unable to reach the coast on this road one battle gp attempted to drive forward from PLUMETOT 0478 in the direction of HERMANVILLE-SUR-MER 0779. At 1900 hours one battle gp had actually reached the coast at LION-SUR-MER and the other gp was attempting to bypass the high ground dominated by our A Tk guns.

21. It was at this moment, with the successful dash to the sea completed, that a reinforcement parachute landing of Allied forces took place on both sides of the ORNE. At the same time a sharp attack of English tks from the vicinity of DOUVRES 0280 forced a withdrawal of the German Tps on the coast, and the div was taken back to a line running from 1470 East of the OREN - North West to ESCOVILLE 1071 - to the ORNE at BLAINVILLE 0873 - curving South to 065715 - and thence North West to 1000 metres North of EPRON 0272. On his left flank 12 SS Panzer Div (Hitler Jugend) was to come in. By the end of this first day 21 Panzer Div had lost 25% of its str and had only seventy tks left to carry on the battle.

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(Archive transcripts © Copyright Normandy War Guide)

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Archive: Interrogation report by 1 Canadian Army, 1944 June - Aug.

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