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samedi le 17 août 2019 – Saturday August 17, 2019

Today is the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Saint-Malo, August 17, 1944. A ceremony is held every year on August 17, but this year it was a bit special. The internet site World War II Today daily highlights an event from the war. Today it had Saint-Malo as its focus. It would be worth your while to read about the liberation by clicking on this link: A shattered city – ‘Festung St Malo’ – surrenders. It will open in a separate window. The rest of the post will make more sense after reading the World War II Today post.

We attended the anniversary ceremony this morning at 11h. It was at the citadel site of the German underground bunkers which had been built as part of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall. The “wall” stretched from Norway to the border of Spain. Here are our pictures from the ceremony today.

  • multiple French flags representing different WWII organization
  • multiple French flags representing different WWII organization
  • parade of flags entering the ceremony area
  • German bunker with American flag on an German gun from WWII
  • German pill box with shell scars
  • flags; UK, CANADA, FRANCE, USA
  • REENACTORS IN WWII US uniforms
  • REENACTORS IN WWII US uniforms
  • REENACTORS IN WWII US uniforms
  • REENACTORS US ARMY CAMP
  • REENACTORS US ARMY CAMP
  • US consul to Western France, James P. Du Vernay
  • REENACTORS IN WWII US uniforms
  • REENACTORS IN WWII US uniforms
  • flags in front of the German bunker
  • ceremony leader
  • WWII jeep
  • WWII jeep
  • REENACTORS US CAMP
  • dedicated to the 83 Infantry Division
  • another German bunker at the site
  • REENACTORS US ARMY CAMP
  • REENACTORS US ARMY CAMP
  • Commanding view of the harbor from the German fortification
  • German bunker with American flag on a German gun from WWII
  • German pill box with shell scars
  • VOIE DE LA LIBERTE 1944 – FREEDOM WAY 1944
  • VOIE DE LA LIBERTE 1944 – FREEDOM WAY 1944
  • VOIE DE LA LIBERTE 1944 – FREEDOM WAY 1944

The last 3 pictures above are of a marker which is part of the VOIE DE LA LIBERTE 1944 – FREEDOM WAY 1944. There are around 1,200 of these stone markers in France which correspond to the route of the US Army’s liberation of France. There is a short Wikipedia entry about the Freedom Way markers if you are interested.

The American Army 83rd Infantry Division were the liberators of Saint-Malo. The 83rd Infantry Division was nicknamed the Thunderbolt or Ohio Division. The word OHIO is embed in the shoulder insignia of the Division.

OHIO is spelled out in the circle.

You can learn more about the 83rd Infantry Division at this this link. 83rd Infantry Division (be sure to read the section for World War II).

Short videos of the US Army reenactment camp.

Additional videos on Youtube

Here two movies from the assault on Saint-Malo and the German surrender. Neither has audio, but they are interesting to watch.