It is not a retreat, as it is located right next to the battle line.
Mortars are also falling on this place, as there are artillery positions here. We were able to fill in the gaps, the men rested and after not quite two days, on Sunday 13 August, we march to the Grainville-Langannerie defence line.
The village, like all the previous ones, is completely destroyed. The church with its bell tower is destroyed. The choir and the main altar survived. A beautiful statue of Christ is intact. However, in the sacristy everything is crumbling in the dust and rubble. Holy vessels and vestments together with tin cans and dirty soldier's things. There is no civilian population anywhere. Houses shattered, destroyed and pillared. Property dumped in camps.
This part of Normandy looks like a desert.
The CKM platoons were given their positions. The Canadians have been relieved. Time is spent watching and waiting. Enemy positions are bombed and shelled by air and artillery.
Kazimierz Duda - War Chronicles - 13 August 1944 - Page 58
Translation from French version: Steven Duda