June 1944

Western Front

In the US 1st Army area, the VII Corps begins its final drive on Cherbourg with 3 divisions abreast. On the left, the 9th Division, attacking with the 60th and 39th Regiments, advances quickly northward to Helleville, St Christopher-du-Foc, and Couville. The 4th Cavalry Squadron of the 4th Cavalry Group, which is attached to the division to screen the right flank, reaches St Martin-le-Gréard. A battalion of the 359th Infantry of the 90th Division is also committed on the division's right flank, to hold the Rocheville area. In the center, the 79th Division's 313th and 315th Regiments attack from the line Golleville-Urville, which the 90th Division had previously secured. The 313th Reches its objective, Bois de la Brique, but the 315th, directed to bypass Valognes and cut the Cherbourg highway northwest of there, is halted southwest of Valognes and left in position to contain the town from the west. The 314th Infantry moves forward during the night to take over the division's left, and the 313th shifts to the right flank of the division. The 4th Division, on the VII Corps right, encounters firm opposition from forces deployed for the defense of Cherbourg. The 8th and 12th Regiments attack on either side of Montebourg, which the 3rd Battalion of the 22nd Infantry finds clear of the enemy, well before dawn, the 8th reaching positions just southeast of Valognes and the 12th abreast it to the right. The 24th Cavalry Squadron, 4th Cavalry Group, screens the right flank of the 4th Division.

In the VIII Corps area, the 82nd Airborne and 90th Divisions are transferred to the VIII Corps from the VII Corps. Starting the night of the 18th, the 82nd Airborne establishes a bridgehead south of the Douve at Pont l'Abbe.

Gen Montgomery schedules an offensive for the British 2nd Army for the 22-23 June. A violent storm, lasting through the 22nd, seriously handicaps the build-up of troops and supplies.