Barkmann Corner

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The division (Das Reich) finally reached the front in early July and was thrown into action against the American forces near Saint-Lô. Barkmann, in his Panther Ausf A (Nr. 424) saw heavy fighting against American M4 Shermans and M5A1 Stuarts in the bocage. The narrow sunken roads and impassable hedgerows of the bocage meant that the German could establish a deadly defensive line and that the American matériel advantage could not be exploited. Barkmann claims he inflicted heavy casualties on the advancing Americans and halted a major armoured advance near Le Neufbourg. This conflicts with US accounts for the area that mention an action with the Unit protecting the flank of the main US advance on Marigny (Troop A, 4th Cavalry Squadron)where 2 M5 tanks, 2 M8 AC and 6 GP were destroyed. For his claims Barkmann was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes).