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After severe weather delays surrounding the English Channel; Canadian, British and American forces embark on nearly 7000 ships towards the beaches of Normandy
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The Battle of Normandy, also know as "D-Day" and "Operation Overload" was the largest military invasion in history. The invasion was orchestrated by the allied forces in which liberated France from German occupation.
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After the disastrous raid at Dieppe, and the the evacuation at Dunkirk, allied forces land more than 130,000 men, another 6,000 vehicles aswell as an additional 23,000 men by air. Military personnel invade the five major beaches code named Juno, Omaha, Sword, Gold and Utah
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The 12th SS Panzer Division launches a major and bloody counterattack against the Canadians. German stability is restored temporarily.
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American Forces capture the channel port of cherboug and the tip of the Cotentin Peninsula
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Allies extensively bomb the city of Caen. British and Canadian troops enter and soon liberate the city
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Fierce German defense stops an allied advance through the plains connecting Caen and Falaise
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Candadians assume control of the easternmost part of the allied front.
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American forces seize Avranches on the west coast of the Cotentin peninsula and, after withstanding a counterattack, capture a bridge at Pontaubault. The bridge helps pave the way to Brittany, southwards to the River Loire and eastwards to the River Seine.
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Patton’s Third U.S. Army enters the campaign on the westernmost part of the Allied front. With the exception of a narrow corridor near Avranches, the enemy is holding firm, but confidence is slipping among senior commanders in Normandy. Nevertheless, Hitler directs them to prepare a large-scale offensive to regain Avranches.
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South of Caen and on the heels of a heavy aerial bombardment, First Canadian Army mounts a massive and well-planned armoured attack and, in the process, moves closer to Falaise.
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Canadians fight their way into Falaise. Soon, most of the German forces in Normandy (between 150,000 and 200,000 men) are trapped in a pocket. Thousands of Germans manage to escape as the opening in the pocket is closed even tighter. In a few days the gap will be firmly shut and the enemy will be either defeated or on the run.
