June 1944

Western Front - Battle For Caen

The ground attack is to begin at 0420, preceded by an artillery bombardment by I and VIII Corps. As the infantry and armor move off their start-lines, the barrage slowly creeps forward, concentrating its fire on positions in front of the Anglo-Canadian troops. The capture of Caen is to be carried out by the newly arrived, inexperienced 59th Division in the center; the left flank was to be carried forward by the British 3rd Infantry Division to advance parallel to the Orne and take Lebisey and Hérouville, their original D-Day objectives; the right flank of the attack is to consist of the Canadian 3rd Infantry Division part of which was already in line at the still untaken Carpiquet. In addition to the 79th Armored Division, 2 Canadian Armored Brigades are in support. The 2 experienced divisions outdistance the 59th in the center.

Lt-Gen J. T. Crocker launches the second phase of Operation CHARNWOOD at 0730, although neither division has yet reached its objectives. The 26th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment is still in control of high ground around the Carpiquet airfield on the right flank of the advance. On the left, facing the relatively weak defenses of the 16th Luftwaffe Field Division, the 3rd Infantry Division makes good progress. They attack Lébisey and rapidly push through the village, although fighting intensifies as the division reaches Hérouville. Concerned about the state of the Luftwaffe division, General Heinrich Eberbach, in command of Panzer Group West orders the 21st Panzer Division to redeploy northeast of Caen in support. The maneuver is spotted and when 21st Panzer attempts to cross the Caen Canal, a naval bombardment is directed against them. Facing the possibility of heavy losses, the move is abandoned. In the center, the 176th Brigade of the 59th Division is encountering much stiffer resistance from the 12th SS Panzer Regiment in Galmanche and la Bijude. The 197th Brigade bypasses Galmanche and by noon has reached St-Contest.

Farther to the west, the 9th Infantry Brigade of the 3rd Canadian Division has been involved in heavy fighting in Buron, which is defended by about 200 men from the 12th SS. With support from the 10th Armored Regiment (The Fort Garry Horse), by noon Buron has been taken, although the Canadian assault companies suffer 60% casualties. South of Buron, a counterattack by Panzer IV and Panther tanks of the 12th SS Panzer Regiment is defeated by 17pdr SP Achilles self-propelled anti-tank guns and 17pdr anti-tank guns of the 245th Battery, 62nd Antitank Regiment. Thirteen German tanks are destroyed in one of the most successful anti-tank engagements of the campaign, for the loss of four tank destroyers and a further four damaged. Gruchy is captured with relatively less difficulty, with the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade encountering only mortar and artillery fire in their drive to Authie. The capture of Authie facilitates the 59th Infantry Division assault on St-Contest and that village falls too, clearing the way for an advance on Caen. In Phase 3 of the operation, the 7th Brigade pushes toward the former headquarters of the 12th SS Panzer Division at Ardenne Abbey, securing the position before midnight.

The British 3rd Division brushes aside 16th Luftwaffe and approaches the outskirts of Caen from the northeast. At 1915, Meyer and Eberbach authorize the withdrawal of the 12th SS Panzer Division heavy weapons and the remnants of the Luftwaffe division across the Orne to the southern side of Caen. In the early evening, the 12th SS fights a rearguard action against elements of the 59th and 3rd Canadian Divisions, as it pulls back from positions no longer considered tenable. Reports of this withdrawal comes into the Anglo-Canadian command but patrols probing German positions, create a false perception that no withdrawal is taking place.

The 1st Hussars, on the left, meet severe resistance at first, but eventually break through and gain momentum. They take l'Ancienne Abbay and Cussy after capturing Buron, Authie and Franqueville and are passing Carpiquet behind the backs of the panzer grenadiers who still fight on against the Régiment de la Chaudière and the rest of the 8th Brigade. The 59th Division in the center finally takes la Bijude after two tries, but fail to take Malan.