August 1944

Western Front

In the British 2nd Army area, the VIII Corps is heavily engaged 3 miles southeast of Vire. In the XXX Corps area, forward elements of the 50th Division are within 3 miles of Condé. The XII Corps is clearing opposition in the vicinity of Thury-Harcourt.

In the Canadian 1st Army area, the II Corps is still held up astride the road to Falaise but succeeds in linking up with the British XII Corps to the right at Barbery.

In the US 3rd Army's VIII Corps area, the 83rd Division continues to inch forward against the St Malo Citadel and Dinard. CCA, 6th Armored Division, attacks toward limited objectives at Brest but make little progress. Late in the day, the division's mission is changed: CCA is to contain Brest while the rest of the division relieves the 4th Armored Division at Lorient and Vannes. The VIII Corps is to relieve 5th Division units (XX Corps) at Angers. Patrols of CCA, 4th Armored Division, enter Nantes. The XV Corps drives beyond Alençon and Sées toward Argentan. The French 2nd Armored Division pushes to Carrouges. The 5th Armored Division takes Sées. Infantry continues to follow the armor closely. XX Corps is ordered to make contact with the XV corps in the Alençon area and then wait for new orders. The 5th Division moves to the St Calais area, leaving a containing force at Angers.

The US 1st Army has completely defeated the enemy's efforts to break through to Avranches. The VII Corps recovers ground lost to the Germans and relieves isolated elements of the 30th Division. The 3rd Armored Division assembles for a new mission. CCA is detached from the 1st Division and CCB from the 30th Division. The XIX Corps releases the 29th Division (less the 116th Infantry, which relieves the 2nd Division at Vire) to the V Corps in its current position. The 28th Division, against moderate opposition, drives rapidly southward to Sourdeval on the right and to positions near St Sauveur-de-Chaulieu on the left. CCA, 2nd Armored Division, improves its positions in the St Sauveur-de-Chaulieu area. The V Corps, employing the 29th Division on the right and the 2nd Division on the left, attack southeastward with the 29th reaching positions overlooking the St Sauveur-de-Chaulieu-Tinchebray road and the 2nd overrunning Truttemer-le-Grand.