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Location Category ID: 6083 Added to Database: April 2009 Last Edited: 25 May 2009 Address: Avenue du Général Leclerc, 61150 Écouché Telephone: Email: Opening Times: Accessible at any time Official Website: Other Links: Normandy44LaMemoire Tanks in France Latitude, Longitude: 48.71595478 , -0.11709452 Location Accuracy: 10 Tanks Previously Here: This Sherman tank is displayed on a low angled plinth at a road junction at the entrance to Écouché. There is a label in front of it on the right hand side; it reads as follows: VISITEURS QUI VOUS ARRETEZ TO VISITORS WHO STOP Le Char MASSAOUA appartenant à la 1ère Compagnie du 501 R.C.C. de la 2ème Division Blindée du Général LECLERC particapa à la libération d’ ECOUCHE le 13 Août 1944. Il fût malheureusement atteint par des obus ennemis et parmi les membres de son équipage il y eut un grand bléssé, le radio Louis LEONARD. Ce Char demeura sur place à l’entrée de notre Cité et à la fin de la guerre, Monsieur CHABLE alors Maire, demanda et obtint qu’il resta là ou il avait contribué à libérer ce coin de sol Francais. La Municipalité décida de l’ériger en monument du “SOUVENIR ”. En Aout 1947 le Général WARABIOT notre Libérateur l’inaugura officiellement en en Septembre 1952 à l’occasion du Rassemblement National des anciens de la 2ème D.B. qui eut lieu à Ecouché il fût le centre d’une manifestation à laquelle prirent part Madame la Maréchale LECLERC, Monsieur GERVAIS Préfet de l’Orne, Monsieur PLIVARD Maire, et de très nombreuses personnalités civiles, militaires et religieuses. A l’entrée de la Ville, il reste le souvenir des heures graves et vibrantes à la fois qui furent vécues de Juin à Août 1944. The Char MASSAOUA belonging to the 1st Company of 501st R.C.C. of the 2nd Armoured Division of General LECLERC participated in the liberation of ECOUCHE on August 13 1944. Unfortunately it was hit by enemy shells and among the members of its crew there was a severely wounded person, the radio operator Louis LEONARD. This Tank remained in place at the entrance to our City and at the end of the war, Monsieur CHABLE, then Mayor, asked and obtained that it remained there where it had helped to liberate this corner of French soil. The Municipality decided to erect the monument in its “memory”. In August 1947 General WARABIOT our Liberator officially inaugurated it, and in September 1952 at the National Rally of veterans of the 2nd D.B. held in Ecouché it was the centre of an event in which took part Madame Maréchal LECLERC, Monsieur GERVAIS Prefect of Orne, Monsieur PLIVARD, Mayor, and many civilian, military and religious personalities. At the entrance to the City, it remains as a monument to the grave and vibrant hours that were lived through from June to August 1944.

Location Images - Photographs and NavPix (click to expand or browse)

August 2007 1: Overview Taken: 21 August 2007 Contributor: T. Larkum Location Photo ID: 39 Added: 25 May 2009 Views: 409 Has Priority: 0		2: Noticeboard Taken: 21 August 2007 Contributor: T. Larkum Location Photo ID: 40 Added: 25 May 2009 Views: 229 Has Priority: 0

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