The Athenian Parthenon is perhaps the most recognized of the ruins of the ancient world. But how, exactly, did the great temple become a ruin? Was it an ancient battle? A disaster of antiquity? Well, neither. It might surprise you to find out that the building itself remained largely intact into the early modern era.
By September of 1944, the Western Allies had broken out of the Normandy beachehead, and suddenly and quickly moved across northern France . By September 7th, the 90th division was stretched across the northern sector on Patton’s Third Army’s left, advancing slowly northeast. As they did so the German defenders made a risky attack in an effort to spoil the allied advance, cutting through Allied lines in a surprise action at the small town of Mairy-Mannville.