July 1944

Western Front

The US 1st Army attack with 4 corps abreast at the V Corps joins in the offensive on the extreme left. The VIII Corps makes further progress below La Haye-du-Puits. The VII Corps bears the brunt of a strong German counterattack on its left flank and on the right flank of the XIX Corps. Enemy tanks penetrate 9th Division lines in the Le Désert area, but their positions are restored by the combined efforts of infantry, tanks, tank destroyers, artillery, and aircraft. To the west the 83rd and 4th Division continue forward slowly. The XIX Corps opens an attack on St Lô with the 30th Division west of the Vire and the 35th and 29th Divisions east of the river. The 30th Division, with less difficulty than the 9th, checks the enemy counterattack northwest of pont Hébert. The attached CCB, 3rd Armored Division, secures the Hauts-Vents crossroads. The 119th Infantry meets increasingly strong opposition in the Pont Hébert area. The 35th Division attacks with the 137th Infantry along the Vire and the 320th on the left from the La Méauffe-Villiers-Fossard region, but makes little progress. A German strongpoint at St Gilles stops the 137th Infantry well above Pont Hébert. The 29th Division attacks on the left flank of the XIX Corps in conjunction with the V Corps with the 115th Infantry moving slowly forward toward La Luzerne against stubborn resistance. The 116th Infantry, penetrating some of the enemy's positions, drives southward through St André-de-l'Epine and then westward along the Martinville ridge toward St Lô. The V Corps renews its attack on Hill 192, northeast of St Lô. The 2nd Division, employing the 38th and 23rd Regiments, makes the final assault and with tremendous artillery support overcomes the opposition on this important feature that has withstood vigorous attacks durng June. The German defense in the St Georges-d'Elle area is crushed and the Bayeux-St Lô highway is cut at La Calvaire.

In the British 2nd Army's XXX Corps area, the 50th Division improves its positions near Hottot against lively resistance. In the VIII Corps area, the 43rd Division holds Hill 212 against a counterattack. In the I Corps area, the 51st Division tries in vain to advance to Colombelles, east of the Orne.