2nd DB Fyé monument

by , Pierre LEPEC

Monument honoring the soldiers of the 2nd Armored Division.

Panel text:

ON THE TRACKS OF THE 2nd D.B. 

HUMAN MEMORY 

August 11, 1944. In the early morning, the armored column of the sub-group Commendant FARRET (axis A) is advancing rapidly up Route Nationale 138 from Le Mans to Alençon. About 50 meters apart, the Sherman tanks and various machines of the 2nd D.B follow each other at high speed between the crossroads of "La Hutte" commune of Saint-Germain-sur-Sarthe and the Fyé agglomeration "La Route"
Arrived a few hundred meters from the entrance to Fyé, the column is immobilized by German anti-tanks ambushed to the west of the agglomeration, behind thick vegetation of copses and bays, overlooking the national road.

In a matter of moments, the vanguard platoon of the 2nd D.B. would fall prey to the flames. 

Thus, 5 Sherman, PAIMPOL,COMPIÈGNE,CHARTRES,REIMS,BREST tanks,an M8 self-propelled gun, a halftrack "Le BRETAGNE" and a motorcycle will be destroyed. 

25 soldiers of the 2nd DB will be killed and 24 wounded. 

Fyé will be liberated on August 11th 1944 in the late afternoon  

LE MONUMENT 

The commemorative ceremonies marking the 2nd anniversary of the liberation of Fyé quickly brought forward the idea of erecting a single, imposing monument to the memory of General Leclerc de Hauteclocque and the 97 soldiers who fell in the various battles fought by the 2nd DB in the Sarthe region, at the precise location where the fighting took place on August Il 1944.

Despite General LECLERC's accidental death on November 28, 1947. this project will see the light of day.

The inauguration of the 2nd DB monument will take place on  August 22, 1948 in the presence of Madame la Général LECLERC.

Monument honoring the soldiers of the 2nd Armored Division.Panel text:ON THE TRACKS OF THE 2nd D.B. HUMAN MEMORY August 11, 1944. In the early morning, the armored column of the sub-group Commendant FARRET (axis A) is advancing rapidly up Route Nationale 138 from Le Mans to Alençon. About 50 meters apart, the Sherman tanks and various machines of the 2nd D.B follow each other at high speed between the crossroads of La Hutte commune of Saint-Germain-sur-Sarthe and the Fyé agglomeration La Route Arrived a few hundred meters from the entrance to Fyé, the column is immobilized by German anti-tanks ambushed to the west of the agglomeration, behind thick vegetation of copses and bays, overlooking the national road.In a matter of moments, the vanguard platoon of the 2nd D.B. would fall prey to the flames. Thus, 5 Sherman, PAIMPOL,COMPIÈGNE,CHARTRES,REIMS,BREST tanks,an M8 self-propelled gun, a halftrack Le BRETAGNE and a motorcycle will be destroyed. 25 soldiers of the 2nd DB will be killed and 24 wounded. Fyé will be liberated on August 11th 1944 in the late afternoon LE MONUMENT The commemorative ceremonies marking the 2nd anniversary of the liberation of Fyé quickly brought forward the idea of erecting a single, imposing monument to the memory of General Leclerc de Hauteclocque and the 97 soldiers who fell in the various battles fought by the 2nd DB in the Sarthe region, at the precise location where the fighting took place on August Il 1944.Despite General LECLERC's accidental death on November 28, 1947. this project will see the light of day.The inauguration of the 2nd DB monument will take place on August 22, 1948 in the presence of Madame la Général LECLERC.