Liberation of Saint-Malo Plaque - 329th Infantry Regiment
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After the surrender, most of the American 83rd Infantry Division was withdrawn, with only two battalions remaining to garrison Saint-Malo and prevent further German incursions.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
Commemorates:
People:
Joseph Stanislaw, Jr. Swiatkowski
Units:
329th Infantry Regiment
329th Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division
83rd Infantry Division
United States Army
Wars:
WWII
Battles:
Battle of St Malo