This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (January 2013) |
Battle for Brest | |||||||
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Part of Operation Overlord, Battle of Normandy | |||||||
A US M18 Hellcat of the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion in the streets of Brest in September 1944 | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
United States United Kingdom | Germany | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Troy H. Middleton Walter M. Robertson William H. Simpson Charles H. Gerhardt |
Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke Hans Kroh Erwin Rauch | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
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2nd Fallschirmjäger-Division 266. Infanterie-Division 343. Infanterie-Division | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
75,000 men | 45,000 men | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
9,831 killed or wounded[1] | 38,000 captured[1] |
The Battle for Brest was fought in August and September 1944 on the Western Front during World War II. Part of the overall Battle for Brittany and the Allied plan for the invasion of mainland Europe called for the capture of port facilities, in order to ensure the timely delivery of the enormous amount of war materiel required to supply the invading Allied forces. It was estimated that the 37 Allied divisions to be on the continent by September 1944 would need 26,000 tons of supplies each day.[2] The main port the Allied forces hoped to seize and put into their service was Brest, in northwestern France.