Figure 1.-- Here we see two French children eith their teddies wlcoming The Ameicans armored pincers who have jusdt reached theiur village, e think racing toward the Seine, w think bout August 15. Unforttunlly we fo not hve the name of the villge. It is a still from American film footage.

The Seine is one of France's great rivers. It and its tributries rise in north central France and winds its way northeast through Paris to the sea at La Harve. It is is 483 miles long. It is a major geographic barrier. The Seine was the key French river crossing running through France west to east and straight through Paris. The Frenchin 1940 considered making a stand, but did not have the strength. The Germans considered the same in 1944, but after Mortain and Falaise did not have the strength. The German 7th SArmy and 5th Panzer Army had been wrecked. The Seine was, however, still a major obstracle. The libertion of France after the Normandy breakout required crossing the Seine. The Allies had three field armies liberating France. The 12th Army Group was the American field army to the east of Paris. The 21st Army Group was the British field army to the west of Oaris. These were the two field armies breaking out of the Normandy beach head. Further east was the 6th Army Group (an American-French formation), racing up the Rhone Valley from the Mediterranean codst. To the east of Paris, after the breakout from Normamdy, American armored columns raced through French villages largely abandoned by the Germans. They were met by jubilent throngs of French people finally freed from the German grip. The American drive to the Seine began (August 2). Gen. Bradley instructed Gen. Patton commanding the Third Army to secure the north-south line of the river Mayenne, clear the area west of the Mayenne as far south as the Loire, and protect the 12th Army Group's flank. The American drive veered eastward as planned by Eisenhower. Patton ordered the XX Corps to cross the river Mayenne. The Americans then headed to the Seine. The crossing at Mantes-Gassicourt was the first Allied bridgehead across the Seine River which allowed the Allies to engage in the Liberation of Paris. There were two days of the bridge crossing (August 18-20). The Germans attempted to stop them, but just did not have the strength. There was a rare appearance of the Luftwffe in France. The Americans shot down nearly 50 Luftwaffe aircraft. To the east of Paris the British British 21st Army Group moved toward the Seine. The drive was led by the British 43rd (Wessex) Division. The Wessex Division was battle-hardened and well equipped and it faced tyhe Hrrmn 49h infnty division, a relatuvely weak German division formed of mixed nationalities. (Yhis ws one of ghe mazny German divusions Hitler had kept inactive at the Pas de Calis for over 2 months while the battle raged in Normandy. The Seine is, however, a major river and wider in the British sector than the Anmerican sector. The Germans had the advantage of a major natural obstacle to buttress their defenive position. With the Resistance uprising in Paris, the British need to cross the Seine got added impetus. A British historian writes, "At XXX Corps HQ near Moulins-sur-Orne on the evening of 22 August, Major-General Thomas [division commander] arrived to be given orders for the operation. He was instructed 'to force a crosing of the Seine on or about the 25 August [the day Paris would be liberated]. To cover the construction of a Class 9, a Class 40 and a Class 7 bridge. To form a bridgehead of sufficient depth to allow passage through of thr remainder of the Corps." [Ford] The operation called for Thomas to plan and undertake an assaut crossing of a wide river against an enemy-held shore, in broad daylight after an advance of over 120 miles (193 km), all within the space of three days. It was a tall order., but were scross by Augusd 25. The Seine was the last major obstacle geographic obstacle in France and the Falaise fighting had seriously smashed the German 7th Army and 5th Panzer Army. These were the major German formations in France which had held the llies in Normandy. German soldiers escaped the pocket, but their heavy weapons were dedstroyed or left behind behind (some 500 tanks and assault guns). Within a week of crossing the Seine, the Allies were approahing the Belgan frontier.

Created: 8:07 PM 9/4/2012
Last updated: 3:19 PM 9/5/2012