August 1944

Western Front

In the Canadian 1st Army area, the British I Corps continues to make slow progress in the coastal sector. The II Corps is heavily engaged in the vicinity of Orbec.

In the British 2nd Army's XII Corpa area, mechanized patrols reach Bernay. In the XXX Corps area, the 50th Division reaches the Verneuil-Breteuil area, where it halts while the US XIX Corps moves across its front toward Elbeuf.

The 12th Army Group attaches the XV Corps and its 5th Armored and 79th Infantry Divisions to the 1st Army, to be effective at 0600 on the 24th. This alters the boundary between the 1st and 3rd Armies to run along the line Chartres-Melun (both towns to the 1st Army).

In the US 1st Army's V Corps area, the French 2nd Armored Division, reinforced by Troop B of the 102nd Cavalry Squadron, starts toward Paris along 2 routes to assist FFI forces in taking the city but is halted in the Versailles-Bois de Meudon area by strongpoints and roadblocks. The 4th Division, preceded by the 102nd Cavalry Group (less Troop B) follows the French armor along the southern route and reaches Arpajon, south of Paris. In the XIX Corps area, one 2nd Armored Division column, bypassing Conches, which the 28th Division clears, reaches Le Neubourg, while another drives toward Elbeuf. The 30th Division finds Evreux free of enemy and makes contact with the 5th Armored Division (XV Corps) on the right.

In the US 3rd Army's XV Corps area, the 79th Division maintains the Seine bridgehead at Mantes-Gassicourt while the 5th Armored Division continues clearing the region west of the Seine. In the XX Corps area, the 5th Division takes Fontainebleau and continues toward Montereau. The 7th Armored Divison closes in on Melun. In the XII Corps area, the 35th Division overruns Montargis.