CONTENTS
Foreword iii Launching the Invasion 1 Tactical Aspects of the Terrain 3 Enemy Defenses 4 The VII Corps Plan 7 Mounting the Operation 12 The Airborne Assault 14 The 101st Airborne Division Lands 14 Fighting for the Northern Beach Exits 17 Capture of the Southern Beach Exits 20 Securing the Southern Flank 23 The 82d Airborne Division Astride the Merderet 30 The Capture of Ste. Mère-Eglise 31 Along the Merderet 34 The Airborne Divisions at the End of D Day 41 The Seaborne Assault 43 Task Force U Moves In 43 Clearing the Beaches 47 The 4th Division Pushes Inland 50 The Landing in Retrospect 55 German Reaction to the Landings 57 Securing the Beachhead (D Plus 1) 61 The 82nd Division at Ste. Mire-Eglise 61 The 12th and 22d Infantry Regiments Pursue Their D-Day Objectives 65 The Southern Flank on D Plus 1 71 The Beachhead at the End of D Plus 1 74 The Battle for Carentan (8-15 June) 77 St. Côme-du-Mont 77 The Causeway Attack 78 The Left-Wing Attack on Carentan 87 Securing Carentan 90 Breaking the German Line In the North 95 The Penetration at Ecausseville 95 The Montebourg-le Ham Highway 100 The Advance Toward Montebourg 103 Crisbecq and Azeville 104 Ozeville 107 The Capture of Quinéville 110 The Enemy Situation 115 Securing the Douve Line 119 Crossing the Merderet 119 The 90th Takes Over the Attack 125 The 9th Division Is Committed 131 Attack Along the Douve River Line 136 Sealing Off the Peninsula 141 The 9th Division Cuts the Escape Routes 142 The Enemy Gamble 145 The Drive On Cherbourg 150 The First Day 151 Advance to the Fortified Line 158 German Defenses in the Hilly North 164 The Corps Front on 21 June 165 The Fortress Is Breached 171 The Final Drive Begins 172 The Right Flank 173 The Center 177 The Left Flank 179 The Fall of Cherbourg 183 The City Is Reached 183 The Drive Into the City 187 Organized Resistance Ends 193 APPENDIX A: Clearing the Cap Levy and Cap de la Hague Areas 201 APPENDIX B: Battle Casualties Sustained by VII Corps, 6 June-1 July 1944 210 APPENDIX C: Allied Chain of Command and Order of Battle 211 APPENDIX D: Enemy Chain of Command and Order of Battle 213
Maps
Illustrations
U.S. COMMANDERS IN THE UTAH BEACHHEAD OPERATION. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lt. Gen. Omar N. Bradley, Maj. Gen. J. Lawton Collins. (Ranks as of June 1944; photograph taken June 1944.)