August 1944

Western Front

Gen Montgomery moves the boundary between British and US forces northward.

In the British 2nd Army area, the VIII Corps makes contact with the US V Corps forces near Tinchebray. The XXX Corps overruns Vassy and continues to clear the region near Condé. The XII Corps progresses toward Falaise from the northwest.

In the Canadian 1st Army's II Corps area, the Canadian 4th Armored Division advances toward Falaise in the region east of the Caen-Falaise road. The Polish 1st Armored Division establishes a bridgehead across the Dives River northeast of Falaise.

The plan to drop airborne forces west of the Seine to block enemy escape routes (TRANSFIGURE) is by now unnecessary.

In the US 3rd Army's VIII Corps area, the 83rd Division takes Dinard, but the Germans continue an effective defense of the St Malo Citiadel. The 6th Armored Division contains Brest and Lorient. In the XV Corps area, the 5th Armored and 79th Infantry Divisions are pushing rapidly toward Dreux. Corps elements for containing the enemy pocket in the Argentan-Falaise area (the French 2nd Armored Division, the 90th Infantry Division, and the 80th Division less the 319th Infantry), are formed into a Provisional Corps under the command of Maj-Gen Hugh J. Gaffey, the US 3rd Army chief of staff. The Germans continue vigorous efforts to escape the trap. In the XX Corps area, the 7th Armored Division reaches the edge of Chartres, where heavy fighting follows. In the XII Corps area, the 4th Armored Division, followed by the 35th Division, pushes rapidly toward Orléans. Elements of the 35th Division are driving toward Châeaudun, northwest of Orléans.

In the US 1st Army area, the VII Corps progresses well against light resistance. The 3rd Armored Division, upon the capture of Ranes, moves some elements to the northeast toward Ecouché and others to the northwest toward Fromental. The 1st Division continues northward toward the Vire-Argentan highway to the left of the armor. The 9th Division continues to follow the spearheads. In the V Corps area, the 29th Division secures the heights south of Tinchebray while the 2nd Division overruns Tinchebray. This concludes the current mission of the corps.