| Original caption: Laval, France; Civilians; “Rebirth of a French Town.” A French civilian family, pulling a cart with their possessions, returns to Laval, Mayenne Department, France, after the Allied liberation in August 1944. Situated on the Mayenne River, Laval was hit by several Allied bombings in 1944, notably on June 7, June 15 and July 24. These destroyed the railroad station area, part of the city’s water viaduct as well as various buildings in the city center, notably along the Rue de la Paix. The morning of August 6, United States Army General George S. Patton’s (November 11, 1885 – December 21, 1945) 79th Infantry Division, 3rd Army arrived in Laval and began their offensive on the city. The Nazi German Heer (“Army”) dynamited the bridges over the Mayenne, but the town was liberated around 1500 Hours. 12th United States Army Group Commander United States Army General Omar N. Bradley (February 12, 1893 – April 8, 1981) set up his command in Laval at Château du Bois-Gamats, a 12th-centry castle on the Mayenne River on August 15. Originally the Nazi German Headquarters, the castle overlooks the River, Beausoleil Airfield, and the town of Laval. On August 22, Deuxième Division Blindée (“Second French Armored Division”) Commander Général Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque (November 22, 1902 – November 28, 1947) met Bradley on Beausoleil Airfield as he returned from a meeting with Eisenhower. After hours of waiting, LeClerc saw Bradley’s Piper Cub land; before the engine stopped, Bradley shouted the orders “It’s okay, head to Paris!” | |
| Image Filename | wwii0412.jpg |
| Image Size | 511.77 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2924 x 2167 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | August 6, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | Laval |
| State or Province | Pays de la Loire |
| Country | France |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NLR-PHOCO-A-65638(114) |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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