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Liberation of Saint-Malo Plaque - 329th Infantry Regiment

<< Back to Saint Malo -Fort de la Cité d’Alet

Details:

Affixed on the wall to the right of the entrance to the museum.

Plaque

The memorial consists of two plaques. The upper plaque is square and black granite containing the names of the casualties of the 329th (Buckshot) Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division soldiers during the liberation of the town. Below this plaque is another rectangular gray plaque containing a commemoration message in honor of the Allied fighters and the French Resistance forces whose struggle and sacrifices paved the way for the liberation of Saint-Malo. Both plaques are written in French in gold lettering.

 

The Battle of Saint-Malo, part of the Allied breakout in France during World War II, occurred between August 4 and September 2, 1944. Allied forces, primarily the United States Army with support from Free French and British troops, aimed to capture the coastal town of Saint-Malo, designated as a fortress under the German Atlantic Wall. The town's defenses had been significantly reinforced before the Normandy landings in June 1944.

 

The Citadel, a heavily fortified position within Fort de la Cité d'Aleth, was difficult to neutralize due to its thick walls and well-placed defenses, despite being weakly armed. American forces began attacking the Citadel during the assault on Saint-Malo, but initial artillery and air attacks were ineffective, and psychological efforts to get the Germans to surrender failed.

 

On August 11, American forces launched a direct assault, which was repelled. A second assault on August 15 also failed. Following this, American forces intensified their bombardment, including the use of 8-inch guns, and planned a napalm air strike. Just before the strike, the German commander, Aulock, surrendered on August 17, citing the destruction caused by the bombardment and the collapse of his garrison's morale. Aulock and 400 Germans were taken prisoner, marking the end of German resistance in Saint-Malo, aside from a small garrison on Cézembre.

 

After the surrender, most of the American 83rd Infantry Division was withdrawn, with only two battalions remaining to garrison Saint-Malo and prevent further German incursions.

Source of information: dbpedia.org

Source of photos: www.tripadvisor.com

Monument Text:

 

A LA MEMOIRE DES SOLDATS AMERICAINS 

DU 329th « BUCKSHOT» INFANTRY REGIMENT 

TOMBES POUR LA PRISE DE CE FORT EN AOÛT 1944.

 

 

First Column:

Compagnie A

Pvt Paul M. Mascari

Pvt Clarence H. Short

Pvt Joseph S. Swiatkowski Jr

 

Compagnie I

Pfc Thomas W. Duncan

S/Sgt Maurice L. Van Zandt Jr

Pvt Chester S. Weglarz

 

Compagnie K

Sgt James J. Allison

Sgt James J. Aukamp

Pfc John R. Banke Jr

Pvt Curtis L. Bodkins

Pvt Alex A. Bordash

Pfc James F. Brems

Cpl Edward J. Brenan

S/Sgt Henry A. Brinck

Pfc Donald C. Brueggemeier

Pfc William S. Chapman

S/Sgt Earl L. Conroy

Pfc Alfred N. Ehrlich

Pvt Francisco L. Hernandez

 

 

Second Column:

 

 

Pvt Thomas Johnson

Pvt Ernest J. Jones

2nd Lt Willard J. Kirchmer Jr

Pfc Robert P. Miller

Pvt Emmet R. Mosley

Pfc James Moss

T/Sgt Theodore Richards

Sgt George W. Roth

Pfc Paul P. Ruark

Pfc Joseph F. Smith

Pfc Georg Steffanopoulos

Sgt Orville L. Steinhauer

Pvt Roy L. Terry

Pfc Roy Tolley

Pvt Richard L. Tope

 

Compagnie L

Pfc Robert Cole Caine

Pvt Charles H. Crites

Pfc Frank P. Mc Nally

Pfc Marshall S. Waid

 

Compagnie M

Pfc Thomas O. Jennings

Pfc Jack A. Myers

 

 

Souvenir Français 2014

 

 

English Translation:

 

IN MEMORY OF THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS 

OF THE 329th “BUCKSHOT” INFANTRY REGIMENT 

FELL DURING THE TAKEOVER OF THIS FORT IN AUGUST 1944.

 

 

 

Lower Plaque:

 

19444 -1954

EN HOMMAGE AUX COMBATTANTS

DES ARMEES ALLIÉES ET DES FORCES FRANÇAISES DE LA RÉSISTANCE

DONT LA LUTTE ET LES SACRIFICES

ONT JALONNÉ LA ROUTE DE LA

LIBÉRATION OF SAINT-MALO

 

 

English Translation:

 

19444 -1954

IN TRIBUTE TO THE FIGHTERS

 OF THE ALLIED ARMIES AND THE FRENCH RESISTANCE 

FORCES WHOSE STRUGGLE AND SACRIFICES 

MARKED THE ROUTE TO THE LIBERATION OF SAINT-MALO