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The tour - in brief
This, along with the Falaise Gap Tour is my favourite tour in Normandy. After Operations Bluecoat and Cobra, by late July the Germans were on the brink of defeat in Normandy. Patton's Third Army was breaking for Britanny and Commonwealth Forces had eliminated a large part of the Germans' Armoured formations near Caen. Hitler however, gambled with a desperate offensive west towards the town of Avranches, close to Mont St Michel. This tour covers the epic battle of Hill 314 in Mortain where elements of the 30th Division were cut off during the German advance. |
The Itinerary
from Bayeux, we head south to the battlefield. If clients are interested it is possible to make a stop on the way in Villers-Bocages, the town where an important armoured engagement took place on June 13th. But our first "proper" stop is in Saint-Barthélemy a village a few miles from Mortain and on a main road into Avranches. This is where on August 7th 1944,under the cover of fog, German Panther tanks hit the village from multiple directions. Elements of the American 30th Division had arrived just the night before and began a committed defence. We will walk around the village and even see a Panther tank barrel in a garden!
From there we head to the La Rossaye, the location of a last-ditch last-stand - you will hear about the incredible action where fist-fights broke out between German and American infantry!We will see the road where German vehicles were shot by artillery and aircraft as the offensive began to encounter difficulties. Then it's off La Neufbourg for another battlefield and to match up some very awesome photos. In 2019 I guided Historian James Holland to this location for his Normandy 44 three part film.
from Bayeux, we head south to the battlefield. If clients are interested it is possible to make a stop on the way in Villers-Bocages, the town where an important armoured engagement took place on June 13th. But our first "proper" stop is in Saint-Barthélemy a village a few miles from Mortain and on a main road into Avranches. This is where on August 7th 1944,under the cover of fog, German Panther tanks hit the village from multiple directions. Elements of the American 30th Division had arrived just the night before and began a committed defence. We will walk around the village and even see a Panther tank barrel in a garden!
From there we head to the La Rossaye, the location of a last-ditch last-stand - you will hear about the incredible action where fist-fights broke out between German and American infantry!We will see the road where German vehicles were shot by artillery and aircraft as the offensive began to encounter difficulties. Then it's off La Neufbourg for another battlefield and to match up some very awesome photos. In 2019 I guided Historian James Holland to this location for his Normandy 44 three part film.
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After lunch we head into Mortain town and to Hill 314 (sometimes called 317). We will walk around various locations on the hill and hear the stories of its gallant defence. The views towards Mont St Michel are stunning on a clear day and you can see the roads up which German armoured columns made their way.
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There is an impressive viewing platform near the little Chapel and a striking memorial to the defenders of the position. We will discuss the implications of the German counter-attack, why it failed and look st how it lead to the creation of the Falaise Gap two weeks later as the German Army now began to fully retreat.
There are other stops possible, time permitting but at the end of the afternoon it is necessary to leave make our way back to our start point. 
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