August 1944

Western Front

In the Canadian 1st Army area, the II Corps continues to move southward astride the Caen-Falaise road. The Canadian 4th Armored Division overruns Bretteville-le-Rabet while the Polish 1st Armored Division seizes Cauvicourt and St Sylvain in costly fighting. Infantry units are clearing the flanks.

In the US 3rd Army's VIII Corps area, the 6th Armored Division, leaving a small force to contain Brest, moves northward to meet a threat to its rear and virually destroys the enemy division in the Plouvien area and makes contact with TF A near Brest. The 83rd Division continues the assault on St Malo, where resistance in now confined largely to the Citadel. The 4th Armored Division is still containing Lorient and sends elements toward Nantes. The XV Corps mops up Le Mans and swings to the north toward Alencon, with the 5th Armored Division on the right and the French 2nd Armored Division on the left, followed by infantry. The 80th Division, temporarily attached to the corps, is mopping up near Le Mans. In the XX Corps area, the 5th Division closes in on Angers.

The US 1st Army orders a turn to the northeast toward Argentan to meet the British working southward toward Falaise to trap the Germans in the Vire-Mortain-Domfront-Ger region. In the VII Corps area, an enemy counteroffensive toward Avranches loses its momentum but heavy fighting continues. The 39th Infantry, 9th Division, is detached from the 4th Division. In the XIX Corps area, the 28th Division is unable to advance in the Gathemo region, but the 29th moves slowly forward below Vire. The V Corps orders the 2nd Division, whose mission is still primarily defensive, to move one reinforced regiment southeastward. The 102nd Cavalry Group is attached to the 2nd Division, which relieves additional elements of the 29th Division (XIX Corps) on the hills near Vire.