General Patton Monument
About General Patton Monument
This 14-meter granite obelisk honors General George S. Patton and commemorates the liberation of Avranches on July 31, 1944. The breakthrough here during Operation Cobra allowed 120,000 American soldiers and 10,000 vehicles to pour through in just three days, transforming static trench warfare into Patton's legendary dash across France. Inaugurated in 1954 on the 10th anniversary of liberation, the monument features a star-shaped base with six branches pointing toward the directions taken by American forces. A Sherman M4 tank equipped with the rare "Rhinoceros" hedgecutter was added in 1989, and a bronze bust of Patton in tankist uniform was installed for the 60th anniversary in 2004. The monument contains soil from all 50 U.S. states and a time capsule deposited by 300 American veterans in 1994, scheduled to be opened on June 6, 2044. The outdoor memorial on Place Patton is freely accessible at all times.
Interesting Facts
The Sherman tank on display features a "Rhinoceros" hedgecutter, invented by Sergeant Curtis Culin of the 102nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron. These devices were crafted from German steel beach obstacles at Normandy and allowed tanks to cut through the thick bocage hedgerows that had been trapping Allied armor. After the war, most Rhinoceros attachments were removed and scrapped, making the Avranches example one of the few surviving originals.
The monument was constructed in a remarkable 56 days and nights to meet the July 31, 1954 inauguration deadline. The local Prevosto company worked around the clock, transporting and assembling 250 tons of granite to complete the 14-meter obelisk in time for the tenth anniversary celebration of the liberation.
Place Patton was created on the ruins of buildings destroyed by Allied bombing on June 7, 1944 - the day after D-Day. Rather than rebuild the damaged blocks, architects Henri Delaage and André Cheftel transformed the destruction site into a memorial square, turning wartime devastation into a place of remembrance.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
Place Patton, 50300 Avranches, France
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