STEEL STORM OVER THE PAYS D'AUGE - The 272. Inf. Div. in the Battle of Normandy

History of the 272. Inf. Div. (horse-drawn), from its formation to the end of the Battle of Normandy

Having been hastily formed in the south of France, the newly raised 272nd horse-drawn infantry division is poorly equipped with heavy weapons. Yet in July 1944, its soldiers receive orders to move up to the front south of Caen, which the Canadians are on the verge of breaking through. I

It takes them nearly 10 days to get there, and barely recovered from their journey they fight on two fronts simultaneously. In under a fortnight, this division loses 50% of its strength before being relieved.

In this second volume, we find them again in the Troarn area until 9 August, the date on which a major Canadian offensive is launched, smashing through the entire German dispositions. The Grenadiere of the 272. Inf. Div. must face a Scottish division supported by armoured regiments. The fighting resumes with as much violence and determination as before. They encounter these Scots for the first time near Chicheboville, then west of Conteville and at Poussy. Flame-throwing tanks are sometimes deployed to overcome the resistance of these soldiers who cling tenaciously to the ground.

We then follow them in their withdrawal to Vimont, where once again they inflict losses on British armour. On the verge of seeing his division collapse, their Kdr, General Schack, manages with great difficulty to obtain the reinforcement of a tank-hunter battalion that restores hope to the 272. Inf. Div. From then on, it becomes a cat-and-mouse game to finish off the 272nd infantry division, which continually slips through the British net to relentlessly reorganise new defensive lines to the rear.

The day of 14 August 1944, curiously overlooked until now, sees the remnants of the 272. Inf. Div. destroy 78 armoured vehicles of the British 33rd Armoured Brigade — a record for destruction by a single unit in Normandy. The fighting then continues in the Pays d'Auge, notably at St Pierre-sur-Dive and then at St Julien-le-Faucon.

Throughout these days, Allied fighter aircraft strafe the roads, making little distinction between friend and foe. The Grenadiere nevertheless approach Lisieux, while establishing delaying roadblocks. On their side, their Scottish adversaries are also reaching the limits of their strength. All agree that they are fighting a wretched war with no end in sight.