Liberation of Normandy Towns

As the American troops slowly gained control of the Normandy towns and territory in July and August, the 300th supported the liberations by keeping the main supply routes open. They cleared mines, did road repair, constructed a railroad overpass, repaired buildings, cleared debris, created and operated a gravel pit and transported equipment. They also built bridges, a rotary traffic circle and bypasses.

One of the major battles was for the town of La Haye-du-Puits in early July in which the 300th played a critical role. The Germans had a great terrain advantage with a ring of hills around La Haye-du-Puits where they could defend the town while watching Allied force activity off the Allied-held beaches of Normandy.

The U.S. divisions of the VIII Corps led the attack on the town, each supported by an engineer battalion. In the center was the 82nd Airborne, supported by the 148th Engineers; the 90th on the east supported by the 207th Engineers and the 79th Division on the west supported by the 300th Engineers. The engineers led the attack as they moved out abreast in a drenching rain on July 3 clearing the narrow roads of mines and widening them creating two-way traffic.

The VIII Corps advanced forward in a flying wedge. The 82nd Airborne met little resistance as the German troops were eager to surrender. From these prisoners, engineers learned about German land mine use and applied that information in the area as they advanced toward La Haye-du-Puits.

The 82nd gained its objective by July 7. The 79th was still holding the heights west of La Haye-du-Puits but had been unable to take the town as they encountered a higher caliber of German troops including the elite Waffen SS troops. Mines and booby traps planted by the Germans gave the 300th no relief.

On July 8, Col. Spengler wanted to establish if the town was cleared for engineer work and took a six-man patrol from the 79th Division entering the town from the west. He was last seen giving the all clear signal from the railroad bridge on the north side of town. Later reported captured, a search party was sent out and the colonel was found dead from enemy machine gun fire. The 300th had now lost two commanding officers in two weeks. Major Riel S. Crandall was given command of the 300th.

By July 9, the situation on the U.S. front had greatly improved with the 79th taking La Haye-du-Puits with the support of the 300th Engineers. Although the VIII Corps had advanced only seven miles from July 3 to 14, they sustained 10,000 casualties. The 300th left the 1110th on July 9 and was then attached to the 1105th Engineer Combat Group.

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