June 1944

Western Front - Battle For Caen

SS Obergruppenführen Wilhelm Bittrich orders a resumption of the offensive during the night of June 29-30, hoping to avoid Allied air support. The 19th and 20th Regiments of the 9th SS Panzer Division, renew their attacks against Grainville-sur-Odon and le Valtru in the dark but little progress is made against the 11th Armored Division north of the Odon and heavy British artillery bombardments. At 0120, the 10th SS Panzer Division starts to move towards Hill 112 and at dawn, covered by a heavy artillery barrage, they assault the vacated British positions. Unaware that the British have pulled back, Panzergrenadiers and tanks of the 10th SS Panzer advance on the hill from the south and southwest and infantry from 12th SS Panzer attack from the east and southeast. Meeting no opposition, by noon the Germans have occupied the hill. A British counterattack and artillery fire breaks up a follow-up attack towards Baron-sur-Odon.

The Germans on Hill 112 are attacked twice by low-flying aircraft, but repel them with the help of their 2cm flak guns. Next comes a coordinated attack both in the air and on the ground. While a dozen tanks move toward the hill, two formations of twin-engined Lightnings attack from the air. Several guns are knocked out along with their crews. The order is given to withdraw. In the evening they are ordered to retrieve all the abandoned 88mm ammuntion.

Even though the Germans had abandoned the hill earlier, the British do not move up to occupy it. The 23rd Hussars move back off the hill at about 0300.

It was suspected that a veteran Panzer division was on its way to attack the British in the 'Scottish Corridor'. To hinder their advance, it was decided to bomb Villers-Bocage in order to make it difficult for the panzers to pass through. There is a lot of damage to Villers-Bocage and to the panzer battalion in the area, but they continue their movement forward.

The 10th Highland Light Infantry is ordered to move south from Colleville to reinforce the Argylls under pressure in the bridgehead over the Odon near Gavrus by the elements of the 10th SS Panzer Divsion. Orders are changed as they are on their way. The HLI are now to head to Mondrainville, hearing the heavy fire from Le Valtru, where the Seaforths are being attacked again. They find a defensive position around a small wood and began to dig in.

Bittrich calls off further offensive action against VIII Corps. In the evening Hausser, commanding the 7th Army, informs Rommel's headquarters that his counterattacks have been temporarily suspended due to 'tenacious enemy resistance' and intensive Allied artillery and naval gunfire. Unaware of this and believing that more German attacks will follow, Dempsey closes down Operation EPSOM. The front gradually settles down save for skirmishing, although both sides spend the remainder of the day heavily shelling one another. The battleship HMS Rodney contributes by bombarding villages suspected of containing German headquarters; one is later found to have housed the headquarters of the I SS Panzer Corps. With no further British offensive moves due, in the afternoon the Gavrus bridges are given up, the Scottish defenders being withdrawn across the Odon. At 2030 the town of Villers-Bocage, a vital traffic center for the German forces, is destroyed by 250 RAF heavy bombers. It had been intended to catch German troops by the bombing but only French civilians are present.