The American push in Normandy

Among the most important events from the Second World War and the French libertation, history remembers the Avranches breakthrough and the battle of Mortain, in Lower Normandy. Once the German front was defeated in the middle of the Cotentin area, on July 25 1944, the impetuous General Patton, marching on victory, made a rush at Avranches. In spite of the desperate German attacks, he rushed into the Pontalbault breach on August 1 1944. However, the Americans had to face fierce resistance in the Mortanais region and soldiers from the 30th Division found themselves surrounded for ten days on a rock overlooking the town. The Allied losses were heavy.
In this book, Michel Coupard, Jack Lecoq and Christophe Lambert relate a story of war and pain, of blood and solidarity. Thanks to them, we can relive the painful and the happy moments of the liberation of Southern Cotentin. a number of hitherto unpublished photographs, including those from the "Galerie Photo Videos" in Avranches and from 'Société Archives de Guerre', in Carpiquet (Calvados), illustrate these emotional accounts. In the centre of the book, a colour section reminds us of the moving celebration of the 50th anniversary of the liberation and of the veterans parading.