August 1944

Western Front

In the Canadian 1st Army area, British I Corps elements reach the Seine in the coastal sector. In the II Corps area, the Canadian 4th Armored and 3rd Infantry Divisions begin crossing the Seine between Elbeuf and Pont de l'Arche and clear Tourlaville.

In the British 2nd Army's XII Corps area, the 15th Division begins crossing the Seine east of Louviers and establishes a bridgehead in the Muids-Porte-Joie area with ease. A second crossing site, about a mile upstream, is found to be strongly defended and is abandoned. The XXX Corps continues to expand and strengthen the bridgehead at Vernon.

The Group allocates priority in supply to the 1st Army. Supplies are becoming increasingly short.

In the US 1st Army area, the XV Corps attacks with the 30th Division on the right and the 79th on the left to enlarge the Mantes-Gassicourt bridgehead. In the V Corps area, against scattered resistance, the French 2nd Armored Division and the 4th Division, the former on the right, drive northeast to the outskirts of Paris, with the French overcoming strong opposition at Le Bourget airfield. Generals Eisenhower and Bradley visit Paris and confer with Gen Charles de Gaulle. In the VII Corps area, the 3rd Armored Division moves rapidly to the northeast toward Soissons with the 4th Cavalry Group spearheading and the 1st and 9th Divisions following. They cross the Marne in the Mieux area and secure that town.

In the US 3rd Army area, the VIII Corps completes the encirclement of Brest. TF Sugar, 29th Division, cuts the main Le Conquet-Recouvrance highway. The 83rd Division moves forward to protect the southern flank along the Loire River west of Orléans. In the XX Corps area, the 7th Armored Division drives to the northeast toward Reims on a broad front, followed by the 5th and 90th Divisions. Armored forces reach the Marne at Château-Thierry, secure crossings, and overrun that town. In the XII area, CCA of the 4th Armored Division heads from Troyes northeastward toward Châlins-sur-Marne, followed by the 80th Division. The 35th Division protects the southern flank of the army from Orléans to Troyes.