Battle of Saint-Malo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Saint-Malo |
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| Part of Operation Overlord | |||||||
 A bomb exploding on the Citadel during the Battle of Saint-Malo |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States Free France United Kingdom |
 Germany Italian Social Republic |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Troy H. Middleton Robert C. Macon |
Andreas von Aulock Richard Seuss |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 20,000 American troops ~2,500 French Resistance |
~12,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Moderate | More than 10,000 captured | ||||||
The Battle of Saint-Malo was a fight between Allied and German forces. It took place in the French coastal town of Saint-Malo during World War II. This battle was part of the Allies' push across France. It happened between August 4 and September 2, 1944.
Units from the United States Army, supported by Free French and British forces, attacked the town. They successfully defeated the German defenders. However, the German soldiers on a nearby island kept fighting until September 2.
Saint-Malo was one of the French towns the Germans had made into a strong fortress. This was part of their Atlantic Wall defense plan. Its defenses were greatly improved before the Allied landings in Normandy in June 1944. The Allies wanted to capture Saint-Malo to use its port for bringing in supplies. Even though there was some debate, they decided to capture the town. This would secure the port and remove the German soldiers.
After first attempts to capture the town failed, the US Army started a siege. Infantry units attacked many strong German positions. They had help from artillery and aircraft. A fort on the edge of Saint-Malo was the last German spot on the mainland to hold out. It surrendered on August 17. After many air and naval attacks, the German soldiers on the island of Cézembre surrendered on September 2. The Germans had destroyed the port, so it could not be used. The town was also badly damaged but was rebuilt after the war.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
Saint-Malo is an old port town on the northern coast of Brittany. It was very important because of its location. So, it had been heavily fortified over many centuries. In 1936, about 13,000 people lived there. About 6,000 lived inside the city walls. The port could handle medium-sized ships. It could unload about one thousand tons of cargo each day. Before World War II, Saint-Malo was a popular place for vacations.
The town is on the northwest of the Saint-Malo peninsula. It sits on the eastern side of the Rance river's mouth. Saint-Malo used to be an island. But by World War II, it was connected to the mainland by a causeway and a road. The small, heavily fortified island of Cézembre is at the mouth of the Rance. It is about 4,000 meters (4,374 yards) off the coast from Saint-Malo.
During the war, Saint-Malo was used to bring supplies for British forces in France. When the Germans were winning the Battle of France, Allied soldiers were also evacuated from Saint-Malo. This happened during Operation Aerial in June 1940. Over 21,000 people left Saint-Malo safely. Brittany was a key area for German forces. Its main ports were used as submarine bases. The Germans thought the Allies might invade Brittany. So, they built many forts there as part of the Atlantic Wall. In 1943, the German High Command called Saint-Malo a "fortress." Its commander had to promise to defend it to the death. German leader Adolf Hitler expected these forts to hold out for at least 90 days.
Saint-Malo was part of the German-controlled area of France. The German Navy used its port as a base for coastal ships. It was also a supply base for the large German army in the Channel Islands. The Atlantic Wall project made Saint-Malo's old forts much stronger. This work was done by workers controlled by Organisation Todt.
The French Resistance had many members in Brittany. They often attacked German forces. These resistance fighters helped the Allies. They rapidly took control of most areas outside the towns. This included important roads and bridges. This helped the American army move quickly. Resistance fighters also guided American forces. By August 1944, there were over 2,500 resistance members in the Saint-Malo area.
Planning the Attack
Allied Plans for Brittany
Before Operation Overlord, the Allies planned to invade Normandy. They saw Saint-Malo as a small port that could bring supplies to their troops. They hoped these smaller ports would help bigger ones like Brest and Cherbourg. The plan was to secure a large area of France within three months. This area included Normandy and Brittany.
Lieutenant General Omar Bradley's army group was tasked with securing Brittany. This job went to the Third Army, led by Lieutenant General George S. Patton. Planners thought Saint-Malo's port could be open quickly. They hoped it could handle thousands of tons of supplies daily. But they also knew the Germans could easily block it.
After the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944, fighting continued for a long time. In late July, American forces launched Operation Cobra. This caused German defenses to break down. The town of Avranches, a key road junction, was freed on July 30. Many American units then moved quickly into France.
Patton's first plan for Brittany was to cut off the Germans. Then, his armored units would capture the central plateau. This would trap the Germans in a few port towns. These towns would be attacked last. Bradley first ordered Patton to capture Saint-Malo. But Patton didn't think it was that important. Bradley agreed to bypass Saint-Malo if it was too well defended. Allied intelligence thought there were only 3,000 Germans at Saint-Malo. This was much lower than the actual number.
By early August, the German army in France was collapsing. Allied leaders changed their plans. General Dwight D. Eisenhower decided to focus on surrounding German forces elsewhere. Bradley also preferred that Patton use only a "minimum of forces" in Brittany. The VIII Corps, led by Major General Troy Middleton, was given charge of Brittany.
The 6th Armored Division led the push into western Brittany. Their goal was to capture Brest quickly. The 4th Armored Division moved south to free Rennes. On August 2, all German units in Brittany were told to retreat into fortified ports like Saint-Malo.
German Defenses in Saint-Malo
Before the Allies landed in Normandy, the German Army's 77th Infantry Division was in the Saint-Malo area. This division had been sent to Normandy and suffered heavy losses. Its remaining soldiers returned to Saint-Malo in late July. They were joined by other units.
About 12,000 German soldiers were in the Saint-Malo area. This included parts of the 77th Infantry Division. Other units were also present, including German air force (Luftwaffe) and navy (Kriegsmarine) units.
The Saint-Malo area was very well fortified. The old town was surrounded by thick stone walls. Its entrance was protected by a strong chateau. The Fort de la Cité d'Aleth, called the Citadel by the Germans, was on a rocky point. It was designed by a famous engineer in the 1700s. Other forts were also around Saint-Malo. Artillery on Cézembre island helped protect the area. Barbed wire and other obstacles were placed on beaches. The Germans also planned an antitank ditch, but it was not finished. These forts were positioned to support each other. They had plenty of ammunition, water, and food.
The German commander was Colonel Andreas von Aulock. He was a veteran soldier. He was determined to follow orders and fight to the last. His headquarters during the battle was in the Citadel.
The Battle Begins
Task Force A Attacks
An American unit called Task Force A was the first to enter the Saint-Malo area. This force was created to quickly capture railway bridges before the Germans destroyed them. It included cavalry, engineers, and tank destroyers. The task force reached Dol-de-Bretagne on August 3. They met German forces there. The commander of the Cavalry Group was killed. Task Force A decided to go around Dol-de-Bretagne.
Middleton told the Task Force to check Saint-Malo's defenses. This led to fighting near Miniac. As the Americans moved closer, they found stronger defenses. Earnest asked Middleton for infantry support. The 83rd Infantry Division's 330th Infantry Regiment arrived on August 3. They decided to attack Dol-de-Bretagne the next day.
The 330th Infantry Regiment attacked Dol-de-Bretagne on the morning of August 4. They quickly captured the town. Task Force A also moved north. This led to heavy fighting. German coastal artillery and navy ships fired on the American troops.
Middleton decided the German forces at Saint-Malo were too strong to bypass. They could attack Allied supply lines. So, he ordered the 83rd Infantry Division to capture the area. Patton disagreed, thinking the Germans would only put up a small fight. He wanted most of the 83rd Infantry Division to go to Brest.
But events on August 4 showed Middleton was right. The Germans were strengthening their positions. Middleton again ordered the entire 83rd Infantry Division to focus on Saint-Malo. They would attack quickly with Task Force A. The rest of the division arrived on August 4. The 83rd Infantry Division had already fought hard in Normandy. Major General Robert C. Macon led the division.
American attacks on August 5 showed Saint-Malo would not fall easily. The 331st Infantry Regiment advanced along the coast. They broke through the first German defenses. Châteauneuf-d'Ille-et-Vilaine was also captured. Task Force A took 655 prisoners. A battalion tried to cross the Rance river to capture Dinard. But strong German resistance forced them back. It was clear the fighting would be long. So, Task Force A left the Saint-Malo area on August 5/6.
Pushing Towards Saint-Malo
In early August, Bradley decided Saint-Malo must be captured. He believed it would be a useful port for supplies. The Americans still thought there were fewer Germans than there actually were. French people said there were about 10,000 Germans. But American estimates were much lower. In reality, there were over 12,000 Germans. The tough German resistance convinced Middleton and Macon that capturing the town would be hard.
Colonel Aulock prepared for a long battle. He refused to surrender to save the towns. On August 3, he told town leaders that most civilians would be sent away for safety. When asked to declare Saint-Malo an "open city" to avoid fighting, Aulock said Hitler ordered him to "fight to the last man." On the evening of August 5, most of Saint-Malo's people left. They went to areas controlled by the Americans. German forces also pulled back from Cancale and Dinan.
American troops attacked Saint-Malo on August 6. Even with artillery and air support, they moved slowly. By afternoon, they met the main German defenses. These included barbed wire, mine fields, and machine guns in pillboxes. The Americans came within range of the guns on Cézembre. One of the first shells hit Saint-Malo Cathedral's spire. Due to slow progress, Middleton sent more troops. The 8th Infantry Division's 121st Infantry Regiment was given the job of capturing Dinard. The total American troops in the Saint-Malo area reached 20,000.
Saint-Malo was badly damaged on August 6 and 7. Fires started across the town on August 6. French civilians thought Germans started them while burning documents. They also believed SS soldiers stopped firefighters. Fighting fires was hard because the Americans cut the town's water supply. This was done to make the Germans surrender. On August 7, the Germans completely destroyed Saint-Malo's harbor with explosives. American artillery then began shelling Saint-Malo. These actions caused fires that burned for a week.
Aulock ordered all French men aged 17 to 70 to be arrested as hostages. This happened after a false report that civilians attacked his troops. The 382 hostages were held in bad conditions at Fort National. They had no shelter, food, or water.
The 83rd Infantry Division slowly moved towards Saint-Malo between August 7 and 9. The 330th Infantry Regiment found a German strongpoint at St. Joseph's Hill. It was a quarry turned into a fort with tunnels and bunkers. After two days of artillery attacks, the 400 German survivors surrendered on August 9. After this, the division moved quickly. By August 9, the 83rd Infantry Division had captured about 3,500 prisoners. But many German forts still held out.
Taking Dinard
Free French forces surrounded Dinan on August 6. They found several hundred Germans there. The Germans would not surrender to the French. But they said they would surrender to Americans. On August 7, the 121st Infantry Regiment crossed the Rance river to advance on Dinard. A group from this unit took the surrender of the Germans at Dinan. As the 121st Regiment moved north, they found all roads heavily defended. German positions had roadblocks, hidden strongpoints, minefields, and pillboxes. Progress was slow. It took until August 8 to capture Pleurtuit, about 4 miles (6.4 km) from Dinard.
Soon after Pleurtuit was captured, German tanks and infantry attacked. They cut off the roads to the village. This trapped a battalion of the 121st Infantry Regiment. Macon thought the 121st Infantry Regiment needed help. He decided to focus on capturing Dinard. This would rescue the trapped battalion and remove German artillery. Macon moved the 331st Infantry Regiment to the Dinard area. He took personal control of the operations there.
The two American regiments attacked Dinard on August 11. German resistance was still strong. Little progress was made. The next day, the German commander in Dinard refused to surrender. He said he would fight "for every stone." The 331st Infantry Regiment finally broke through on August 12. They rescued the trapped battalion. This battalion had fought off several German attacks.
American troops continued their attacks on August 13. They focused on destroying individual pillboxes. Both regiments entered Dinard the next day. The Dinard area was secured on August 15. Almost 4,000 Germans were captured.
Siege of Saint-Malo
The rest of the 83rd Division continued its advance on Saint-Malo. These operations were led by Brigadier General Claude Birkett Ferenbaugh. While Saint-Malo's port was no longer useful, capturing the forts was still important. This would stop German artillery from attacking Allied ships using other ports. It would also free up the 83rd Infantry Division for other missions. The Americans hoped taking Saint-Malo would make other German garrisons surrender.
Before attacking the walled town and the Citadel, the Americans decided to capture Fort la Varde and St. Ideuc. These forts could support each other. An American battalion attacked St. Ideuc on August 9. After three days of artillery and infantry attacks, the 160 German defenders surrendered on August 12. The battalion then attacked Fort la Varde. Its 100 defenders surrendered on August 13.
Another American battalion attacked towards Saint-Malo. Their goal was to capture the causeway linking the town to Paramé. This led to house-to-house fighting. American infantry had support from tanks and engineers. The ruins of Saint-Malo's casino were captured on August 11. The Americans then faced crossing a 1,000-yard (914 m) causeway. This led to the well-defended chateau.
The chateau was attacked by artillery and air for two days. But it seemed to have little effect. A truce was agreed on August 13. This allowed about 1,000 French civilians and 500 people held by Germans at Fort National to leave. The 330th Infantry Regiment attacked Saint-Malo on August 14. Under heavy artillery fire and smoke, a battalion charged across the causeway. They entered the walled town. The few Germans in the town were quickly captured. The chateau held out until the afternoon, then its 150 defenders surrendered. On August 16, American soldiers attacked Fort National and Grand Bey. These were the last German positions on the mainland besides the Citadel. Fort National was empty. The 150 defenders of Grand Bey surrendered after a short fight.
The Citadel Falls
The Citadel was a very strong position. It had thick walls that were almost impossible to damage by air attacks or artillery. It also had plenty of water, food, and supplies. The soldiers inside had few weapons, but they were placed very well. Macon knew it would be hard to take the Citadel.
American artillery and Allied aircraft began attacking the Citadel. But they had little effect. American efforts to convince the Germans to surrender failed. Aulock refused to give up. His refusal made the soldiers inside call him the 'mad colonel'.
On August 11, an American rifle company attacked the Citadel. They had engineers and French soldiers with them. Some troops reached an inner courtyard. But they pulled back because the main defenses were not broken. Artillery attacks continued. On August 15, two special assault groups attacked again after more bombing. But machine gun fire pushed them back.
After the failed attack on August 15, Macon ordered more artillery fire. Two 8-inch guns were placed close to the Citadel. They could target small openings. Mortars also used white phosphorus bombs. An air attack using napalm bombs was planned for August 17. This was one of the first times napalm was used. Just before the air strike, a white flag appeared over the Citadel. German soldiers came out to say Aulock wanted to surrender. The air strike was sent to attack Cézembre instead. Aulock and 400 other Germans were captured. Aulock said the 8-inch guns and low morale made him surrender. French civilians shouted at Aulock and his men as they left. This ended German resistance in Saint-Malo, except for Cézembre. By this time, the 83rd Infantry Division had captured over 10,000 prisoners. Their own losses were light. Aulock was later charged with war crimes for setting fires in Saint-Malo. But he was found not guilty. The court said American artillery caused the fires.
Most of the 83rd Infantry Division left Saint-Malo after Aulock surrendered. The remaining two battalions guarded the town. They also tried to stop Germans from Cézembre from landing on the mainland.
Cézembre Island Holds Out
Allied bombers attacked Cézembre on August 6 and 11. American artillery began shelling the island on August 9. After Aulock surrendered, Macon sent people to Cézembre on August 18. They asked the commander, Oberleutnant Richard Seuss, to surrender. He refused, saying he had orders to keep fighting and still had ammunition. The Americans saw that the German positions looked badly damaged. Another air raid hit the island on August 23. German ships brought ammunition from the Channel Islands and took away wounded soldiers almost every night.
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No more attacks were made on Cézembre for a week. Then, it was decided to remove the German forces there. This decision came after three Italian soldiers escaped to Saint-Malo. They told the Americans about heavy damage and low water and ammunition on the island. The 330th Infantry Regiment prepared for an amphibious assault. Landing craft were brought from Normandy to Saint-Malo. Air attacks started again on August 30. A huge attack happened on August 31. It involved 300 heavy bombers and 24 planes with napalm. Artillery also targeted the island's water tanks. Seuss refused to surrender again on August 31.
A major air and naval attack happened on September 1. American and British bombers attacked the island. Then, 33 planes with napalm followed. A British battleship and American artillery then shelled Cézembre. Another message asked Seuss to surrender, but he refused. An attempt to evacuate the soldiers by small boats failed due to bad weather. Seuss then got permission to surrender from his commander. At 7:30 PM the next day, as the 330th Infantry Regiment prepared to attack, a white flag appeared. Seuss surrendered. American landing craft took away the 323 surviving soldiers. Seuss said the destruction of Cézembre's water plant made him surrender. Despite the heavy attacks, the soldiers on the island had few casualties.
After the Battle
The Battle of Saint-Malo had mixed results. The 83rd Infantry Division fought well. But the German soldiers also achieved their goals. Historian Russell F. Weigley said the battle was "tenaciously and well conducted on both sides." Aulock stopped the Allies from using Saint-Malo's port. By keeping the 83rd Division busy for two weeks, he prevented the Americans from quickly attacking Brest and Lorient. The battle also used Allied aircraft needed elsewhere.
The VIII Corps attacked and captured Brest in a battle from August 7 to September 19. The Germans also destroyed Brest's port. It was too damaged to be used. The quick freeing of France and capture of other ports made the remaining German-held cities in Brittany less important. On September 7, Eisenhower decided to surround these positions instead of attacking them. French units and a US Army division besieged them for the rest of the war. So, Cherbourg in Normandy, and Brest and Saint-Malo in Brittany, were the only fortified German ports taken by the US Army.
The US Army began working to reopen ports in the Saint-Malo area on August 25, 1944. But the damage was too great. It was decided that reopening Saint-Malo was not worth the effort. On November 21, the town was given back to French authorities. Saint-Malo was never used to land supplies for the US military. So, historian David T. Zabecki said that while capturing Saint-Malo was a success for the Americans, it "contributed very little" to the overall war effort.
Saint-Malo was heavily damaged during the battle. About 683 of the 865 old town buildings were destroyed. People thought about leaving the town in ruins as a memorial. But an architect was chosen in October 1944 to plan its rebuilding. Clearing the rubble took two years. The rebuilding was finished in 1960. A new spire was put on the cathedral in 1971. No ruins were kept. Most signs of damage were hidden. The old town's population never returned to pre-war levels. Many apartments are now used as vacation homes. By the early 1960s, Saint-Malo was a popular holiday spot again.
A memorial to the Battle of Saint-Malo, called "Memorial 39-45," was built at the Citadel in 1994. Many of the main battle sites were still there in 2018. These include forts in and around Saint-Malo. Cézembre island remains mostly as it was after the battle. It is one of the best-preserved World War II battlefields. The last parts of Anthony Doerr's 2014 novel All the Light We Cannot See are set during the bombing of Saint-Malo.
See also
- Liberation of France
- Atlantic pockets
- German World War II strongholds
