On the afternoon of 17 August, an attack by foot soldiers of the German SS « Das Reich » on the banks of the Orne became a rout.
The town was the site of a large armored battle during World War II, involving the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich and elements of Polish armored units.
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He worked with railway workers in southern France, and he was able to slow the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich under Heinz Lammerding from reaching the front after D-Day by derailing every train that left Marseille for Lyon at least once.
With SS-Infanterie-Division (mot.) "Reich" (Later known as 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich"), under the command of the SS-Gruppenführer Paul Hausser, Harmel took part in fights near Jelna.