Liberation of Vexin Monument
Details:
On the south side of the intersection.
A low curved wall on which three plaques are affixed relating to the liberation of Vexin. The left-most plaque lists the names of the American soldiers who were in the battle, the second plaque contains the commemoration message and the last plaque lists the names of the civilian casualties.
The memorial for the liberation of the Vexin was built on the battlefield, between American lines and German troops, hidden away in the woods of Marainville, Montgison, and the Longues Mares. From 20 to 28 August 1944, attacks and counterattacks came one after the other in this zone. Almost every day, the German Tiger tanks rushed out from the woods to attempt to gain back the village of Fontenay-Saint-Père down below. There was fighting in the cemetery and on the road to Meulan which borders the water tower. Several hundred Germans died in these repeated attacks as well as some fifty GIs.
Source of information: www.sentiersdupatrimoine.mobi
Monument Text:
Center plaque:
AUX COMBATTANTS
ET VICTIMES DE
LA BATAILE DU VEXIN
Hommage à la 79th Infantry Division
américaine en position à Fontenay-Saint-
Père, point fort de la Tête de
Pont US de Mantes.
Du 20 au 28 août 1944, le 314th Infantry Regiment
du colonel Olin Teague fit face et repoussa avec
courage et détermination, au prix de fortes pertes, les
incessantes contre-attaques allemandes appuyées
de chars Tigre.
En mémoire de tous les GI's morts au combat à
Fontenay-Saint-Père.
Leur sacrifice permit la contre-attaque, avec le
renfort de la 30th Infrantry Division US, et la libération
du Vexin dans sa totalité le 30 août 1944.
Avec les pertes de l'adversaire et des civils, la bataille
du Vexin fit près de 3 000 victimes en dix jours de
combat.
Ce mémorial a été inauguré le 5 septembre 2021.
En hommage aux victimes militaires et civiles
tombées pour la Libération du Vexin et de la Patrie.
Les habitants du Vexin reconnaissants
Homage to the American 79th Infantry
Division in position at Fontenay-Saint-
Pere, a strong point of the US Mantes
Bridgehead.
The 314th Infantry Regiment commanded by Colonel
Olin Teague bravely faced and decisively repelled
relentless German counter-attacks supported by
Tiger tanks from 20 to 28 August 1944, but at a
cost of heavy casualties.
In memory of all the GIs killed in action in Fontenay-
Saint-Pere.
Their sacrifice allowed the Vexin territory to be
liberated in its entirety on 30 August 1944 through
counter-attacks with reinforcements from the 30th
Infantry Division.
The battle for the Vexin claimed nearly 3 000 victims
in ten days of fighting including civilians and losses
by the enemy.
This memorial was inaugurated on 5 September
2021.
As a tribute to the military and civilian victims who
fell for the Liberation of the Vexin and France.
Gratefully from the People of Vexin
« FORTITUDE AND COURAGE »
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
30th Infantry Division
314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division
79th Infantry Division
Wars:
WWII
Other images :
