As the American troops moved inland from Omaha and Utah Beaches they entered the bocage terrain between Bayeux and St- Lo. The high mounds and vegetation on the sides of the roads make for extremely difficult fighting conditions which you will see from the fotos below and from my explanation in a previous posting.
Eventually after 4 weeks of being bogged down in the bocage the American reached the outskirts of St-Lo which was vigorously defended by the Germans because of its strategically important position.
Heavy bombing raids were ordered on the town and it was virtually destroyed. Afterwards the 35th US Infantry Division led by Major Howie led the assault into the town. Howie wanted to be the first soldier to enter St-Lo so when he was killed his soldiers had his body taken to the ruined church in St-Lo where it was left covered with the Stars and Stripes. There is a memorial to Howie in the city.
The large cathedral in town was almost destroyed. The surviving tower and one side wall have been left as a reminder of the terrible destruction inflicted on the town.
To the west of the city the Americans bombed German troops with napalm and inflicted horrific casualties on them.
St-Lo has been rebuilt and is again a thriving modern town.
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