Soldiers Put Out a Burning Truck Fire

June/July 1944 Photograph

As Allied forces pushed inland in the days and weeks following D-Day, they encountered a determined German force. Lacking air support and heavy artillery, the Wehrmacht relied on their Panzer battalions and veteran soldiers to mount a fierce resistance to the Allied advance. In spite of these well-trained troops, American forces pushed inland and proceeded to take the Cotentin Peninsula, the port of Cherbourg, and vital German strongpoints over the coming weeks.

Yank soldiers at St. Lo work hard to put out the fire which destroyed this ammunition truck. Blaze extinguished, Yanks crossed the road under Nazi fire to continue the battle for the important communications center.