August 1944

Western Front

Gen Montgomery commends the Allied forces and urges that the attacks be pressed.

In the 2nd Army's VIII Corps area, the 3rd Division drives southward across the Vire-Condé road about 2 miles east of Vire and presses toward Tinchebray. The XXX Corps continues slowly southeastward from Mont Pincon toward Condé. The 50th Division, having moved forward on the left flank, is beyond St Pierre-la-Vieille. In the XII Corps area, forward elements of the 53rd and 59th Divisions, continuing southward astride the Orne, reach the outskirts of Thury-Harcourt. Elements east of the river patrol northeastward to establish contact with the Canadian II Corps.

In the Canadian 1st Army's II Corps area, while armored elements of the corps are clearing opposition astride the road to Falaise, the 2nd Division crosses the Laize River at Bretteville and advances to the southwest to link up with the XII Corps to the right while the 51st Division clears the left flank south of the Caen-Mézidon railroad. The British I Corps zone is expanded as the corps takes command of the 51st Division in place of the Canadian II Corps.

The gap between the US 3rd Army units moving northward and the Canadian and British forces moving southward is now about 20 miles wide. In the US 3rd Army's VIII Corps area, the German garrisons of Dinard and St Malo's Citadel continue to hold out against the 83rd Division's attacks. CCA, 4th Armored Division, reaches the Nantes area and relieves elements of the 5th Division, XX Corps, containing that city. In the XV Corps area, the 2nd Armored and French 2nd Armored Divisions continue steadily northward followed by infantry, meeting increasingly strong rear-guard opposition. The corps is directed by Gen Patton to push beyond Falaise although the US boundary is south of there. The XX Corps is directed by army to attack northeastward to the line Carrouges-Sées after assembling on the line Mayenne-Le Mans. One RCT of the 80th Division is to maintain the bridgehead at Le Mans. The 7th Armored Division is to move to the rear of the line of departure from its assembly area.

In the US 1st Army's VII Corps area, the 9th Division makes further gains northwest of Sourdeval. The 30th Division, in the course of hard fighting, forces the enemy back to Mortain. Below Mortain, the 35th Division advances slowly, and the 2nd Armored Division withstands further counterattacks northwest of Barenton. In the XIX Corps area, the 29th Division and CCA of the 2nd Armored Division attack the heights around St Sauveur-de-Chaulieu, while the 28th Division continues southeastward from Gathemo. The V Corps improves its defensive positions at and near Vire.