 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
4
OPERATIONS OF THIRD BATTALION, 357TH INFANTRY
(90TH INFANTRY DIVISION) IN THE HEDGEROW
BATTLE OF NORMANDY, 8-11 JUNE 1944
(NORMANDY CAMPAIGN)
(Personal Experience of the Battalion Executive Officer)
INTRODUCTION
This monograph covers the operations of the 3rd Battalion, 357th Infantry, 90th Infantry
Division, during the Hedgerow fighting in Normandy, France, for the period 8 June to 11 June,
1944.
For many months the American and British High Commands realized that in order to
defeat the German military machine on the continent of Europe an invasion across the English
Channel would be necessary.¹
The invasion plan was finally divided into two parts. OVERLORD was the code name
given to the general concept of the plan. NEPTUNE was a code name given to the plans that
covered the actual assault areas and the time of the attack. This breakdown was necessary in
order to reduce to a minimum the number of persons who would be required to handle the highly
secret material in operation NEPTUNE.²
During the planning stages of OVERLORD, it was realized that a large port would be
necessary on the Continent to insure the rapid flow of men, equipment, and supplies, to the battle
area. CHERBOURG, on the CONTENTIN PENINSULA, was elected as the port best suited for
the purpose.³
The invasion planned in Operation NEPTUNE called for the VII United States Army
Corps, to invade Europe on D Day. Initially, an airborne landing was to be made by the 82nd
and 101st Airborne Divisions. The mission of these Airborne Divisions was to secure crossings
over the DOUVE and MERDERET Rivers. These crossings included CARENTAN, PONT
L'ABBE, LA FIERE, and CHEF DU PONT. From these initial points the crossings at ST.
SAUVEUR LE VICOMTE and STE COLOMBE, would then be secured. By securing these
crossings, enemy reinforcements would be prevented from entering the battle area from the east
and west.
4
The 4th United States Infantry Division, with a great variety of attached troops including
the 359th Regimental Combat Team of the 90th Infantry Division, as Division Reserve, was to
make the initial seaborne assault in the VII Corps sector. The code name given to this beach was
UTAH.
The 90th Infantry Division, was to follow the 4th Division ashore on D, D plus 1, and D
plus 2.
5
|
 |
|