Saint-Germain-sur-Sèves
| Saint-Germain-sur-Sèves | |
|---|---|
  Saint-Germain-sur-Sèves | |
|
Location within Lower Normandy region  Saint-Germain-sur-Sèves | |
| Coordinates: 49°13′21″N 1°22′11″W / 49.2225°N 1.3697°WCoordinates: 49°13′21″N 1°22′11″W / 49.2225°N 1.3697°W | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Lower Normandy |
| Department | Manche |
| Arrondissement | Coutances |
| Canton | Périers |
| Intercommunality | Sèves et Taute |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2008–2014) | Robert Hérout |
| Area | |
| • Land1 | 8.19 km2 (3.16 sq mi) |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Population2 | 198 |
| • Population2 Density | 24/km2 (63/sq mi) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 50482 / 50190 |
| Elevation |
3–19 m (9.8–62.3 ft) (avg. 46 m or 151 ft) |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
Saint-Germain-sur-Sèves is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.
Prior to Operation Cobra in World War II it was an impediment, a small island in a stretch of marshy area. The position was held by a kampfgruppe of the Das Reich Division and the 6th Parachutist Regiment. The 358th Regiment of the 90th Infantry Division under General Landrum started the attack on 22 July, but without air support because of bad weather. The 1st Battalion suffered heavy losses but held on to the island. The 2nd battalion failed to cross the marshes. In the evening the Germans counterattacked with tanks of the 2nd Panzer Regiment. The Americans were driven back, in one hour they had suffered losses of a 100 soldiers killed, 400 wounded and 200 prisoners. Saint-Germain-sur-Sèves was liberated a few days later in the same operation.
