Operation Cobra Part of World War II, Battle of Normandy Date July 25 – July 31, 1944 Location Saint-Lô, Normandy, France Result Allied victory Belligerents  United States,  United Kingdom  Germany Commanders General Omar Bradley, General George S. Patton, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery SS General Paul Hausser Strength 8 infantry divisions, 4 armored divisions 2 infantry divisions, 11 infantry battlegroups, 2 Panzer Divisions, 1 Panzergrenadier Division Casualties and losses 1.800 KIA/WIA 3.200 KIA, 12.800 POW

v • d • e Battle of Normandy Neptune – Tonga – Pegasus Bridge – Albany – Boston – Chicago – Detroit – Elmira – American Airborne Landings – Sword – Juno – Gold – Omaha – Utah – Pointe du Hoc – Brécourt Manor – La Caine – Perch – Carentan – Villers-Bocage – Cherbourg – Epsom – Charnwood – Jupiter – Goodwood – Atlantic – Verriéres Ridge – Spring – Cobra – Bluecoat – Totalise – Lüttich – Tractable – Falaise – Brest – Paris

Operation Cobra was the codename for the World War II operation planned by United States Army General Omar Bradley to break out from the Normandy area after the previous month's D-Day landings. Cobra was a great success that transformed the high-intensity infantry combat of Normandy into the highly mechanized race across France. It led directly to the creation of the Falaise pocket and the loss of the German position in northwestern France. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... This article is about the assault phase of Operation Overlord. ... is the 206th day of the year (207th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 212th day of the year (213th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Saint-Lô is a town and commune of France, the préfecture (capital) of the Manche département, in Normandy. ... For other uses, see Normandy (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links US_flag_48_stars. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany_1933. ... Omar Nelson Bradley (February 12, 1893 – April 8, 1981) was one of the main U.S. Army field commanders in North Africa and Europe during World War II and a General of the Army of the United States Army. ... George Patton redirects here. ... Bernard Law Montgomery Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (November 17, 1887 - March 24, 1976) was a British military officer during World War II often referred to as Monty. ... Paul Papa Hausser (October 7, 1880 - December 21, 1972) was an officer in the German Army, achieving the high rank of Lieutenant General in the inter-war Reichswehr, after retirement from regular Army he became the father (thus the nickname “Papa”) of the Waffen-SS and one of its most... This article is about the assault phase of Operation Overlord. ... Operation Neptune refers to the landing phase of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy. ... Operation Tonga: Pathfinders synchronising their watches in front of an Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle. ... Pegasus Bridge before its replacement Pegasus Bridge in 1944 Original Pegasus Bridge in the Pegasus Museum - July 2005 The replacement Pegasus Bridge in operation The Pegasus Bridge is a bascule bridge over the Caen Canal, near Ouistreham, France. ... 101st Airborne Division shoulder insignia Mission Albany was a parachute combat assault at night by the U.S. 101st Airborne Division on June 6, 1944, part of the American airborne landings in Normandy. ... 82nd Airborne Division shoulder insignia Mission Boston was a parachute combat assault at night by the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division on June 6, 1944, part of the American airborne landings in Normandy. ... 101st Airborne Division shoulder insignia Mission Chicago was a pre-dawn glider-borne combat assault in the American airborne landings in Normandy, made by elements of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division on the early morning of June 6, 1944. ... Mission Detroit was a pre-dawn glider-borne combat assault in the American airborne landings in Normandy, made by elements of the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division on the early morning of June 6, 1944. ... During World War II, mission Elmira was the landing of a significant part of the the 82nd Airborne Division’s glider train in Normandy on the evening of 6 June 1944 as part of Operation Neptune, the assault phase of Operation Overlord. ... Combatants United States Germany Commanders Matthew B. Ridgway Maxwell D. Taylor Erich Marcks Wilhelm Falley Strength (airlifted) 13,100 paratroops 3,900 glider troops 5,700 USAAF aircrew 36,600 (7. ... Combatants United Kingdom Germany Commanders General-Lieutenant Miles Dempsey, British 3rd Infantry Division Generalleutnant Wilhelm Richter, German 716th Static Infantry Division Hans von Luck, German 21st Panzer Division Strength 28,845 Unknown Casualties 630 Unknown German defense at Ouistreham. ... This article is about the beach codenamed in WWII. For other uses, see Juno Beach (disambiguation) Combatants Canada Germany Commanders Major-General R.F.L. Keller, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division Generalleutnant Wilhelm Richter, German 716th Static Infantry Division Strength 15,000[1] 7,771 Casualties 340 dead, 739 other casualties... Combatants United Kingdom Germany Commanders Lieutenant-General Miles Dempsey, British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division Generalleutnant Wilhelm Richter, German 716th Static Infantry Division Generalleutnant Dietrich Kraiss, German 352nd Static Infantry Division Strength 24,970 Unknown Casualties 400 altogether Unknown This article is about a World War II invasion. ... Combatants United States Germany Commanders Omar Bradley, Norman Cota, Clarence R. Huebner Dietrich Kraiss Strength 43,250 Unknown Casualties 3,000 1,200 Omaha Beach was the code name for one of the principal landing points of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on June... Combatants United States Germany Commanders Raymond O. Barton Theodore Roosevelt Jr U.S. 4th Infantry Division Karl-Wilhelm von Schlieben Dietrich Kraiss German 352nd Infantry Division German 709th Infantry Division Strength 32,000  ? Casualties 700 Unknown American assault troops move onto Utah Beach, carrying full equipment. ... Pointe du Hocs location Preinvasion bombing of Pointe du Hoc by 9th Air Force bombers. ... Combatants United States Germany Commanders Richard Winters unknown Strength 13 60+ Casualties 4 dead, 6 wounded 15 dead, 12 prisoner, Wounded unknown The Brécourt Manor Assault (June 6, 1944) during Operation Chicago of the Normandy Invasion of World War II is often cited as a classic example of small... Combatants Aircraft of the RAF Second Tactical Air Force HQ of Panzer Group West Strength 40 Typhoons 61 Mitchells Casualties None recorded Killed: Sigismund-Helmut von Dawans and 17 other staff officers Wounded: Leo Geyr von Schweppenburg The Attack on Panzer Group Wests headquarters at La Caine in Normandy... This does not cite its references or sources. ... Combatants United Kingdom Germany Commanders Bernard Montgomery William Onslow Michael Wittmann Karl Mobius Fritz Bayerlein Helmut Ritgen Strength 200 tanks 25 tanks Casualties +30 tanks 30 lightly armoured vehicles 11 tanks (3 repaired) The Battle of Villers-Bocage (June 13, 1944) was a clash between the British and Germans in... Combatants Allied Powers Germany Commanders J. Lawton Collins Friedrich Dollman Strength Unknown 40,000 Casualties 2,800 killed, 5,700 missing, 13,500 wounded 39,000 captured The Battle of Cherbourg was part of the Battle of Normandy during World War II, it was fought immediately after the successful Allied... Combatants Allied Powers Nazi Germany Commanders Lieutenant General Richard OConnor SS General Paul Hausser Strength 1 armoured division 3 infantry divisions 1 armoured brigade 2 SS Panzer Divisions 5 Panzer battlegroups Casualties British VIII Corps 4,020 12th SS Panzer Regiment 324 25th SS Panzer-Grenadier Regiment 383 26th... During World War 2, Operation Charnwood (Allies, 1944) had the objective to capture Caen and its surroundings during the ongoing Battle of Normandy. ... There were 3 operations called Jupiter during World War 2: in 1942, a proposal to invade Norway in 1942, a failed Soviet offensive against the Rzhev salient in 1944, an attack to capture Hill 112, a prominent height in Normandy This is a disambiguation page — a list of articles associated... Operation Goodwood was an Allied military operation of World War II from July 18 to 20 July 1944 taking place in Normandy some weeks following D-Day. ... During World War II, Operation Atlantic (Allies, 1944) was a Canadian offensive, part of the British great breakout tentative (Operation Goodwood) during the Battle of Normandy, on June 19th. ... During World War II, Operation Spring (Allies, 1944) enabled to secure territory gains around Caen and its surroundings during the Battle of Normandy, after Operation Goodwood. ... Combatants Allied Powers Germany Commanders Lieutenant General Miles Dempsey SS General Paul Hausser Strength 3 armoured divisions, 3 infantry divisions, 2 armoured brigades rising to: 3 Panzer Divisions, 3 infantry divisions Casualties N/A N/A Operation Bluecoat was an attack by British Second Army at the Battle of Normandy... Combatants First Canadian Army Germany Commanders Lieutenant General Guy Simonds SS General Kurt Meyer Strength 2 infantry divisions, 2 armoured divisions, 2 armoured brigades 3 infantry divisions, 1 SS Panzer Division During World War II, Operation Totalise (Allies, 1944) was a ground attack on 7 August 1944 by British, Canadian... Combatants Allied Powers Germany Commanders Omar Bradley Hans von Kluge Strength 5 infantry divisions, 3 armoured combat commands 3 Panzer Divisions, 2 infantry divisions, 5 panzer or infantry battlegroups Casualties N/A N/A Operation Lüttich was a counterattack launched by German forces on the left flank of the... Operation Tractable was a military operation commanded by II Canadian Corps in Normandy in August 1944. ... Combatants North:  United Kingdom  Canada Polish forces South:  United States  Free French Nazi Germany Commanders Omar Bradley Harry Crerar Philippe Leclerc StanisÅ‚aw Maczek Bernard Montgomery George Patton Günther von Kluge Walter Model Strength ~at least 500,000 Casualties Canadian: 1,470 killed Polish: 325 killed ~50,000 killed... This article is about the Second World War battle for Brest. ... Belligerents Free French Forces Germany Commanders Philippe Leclerc Raymond Dronne Henri Rol-Tanguy Jacques Chaban-Delmas Dietrich von Choltitz # Strength 2nd Armoured Division, French resistance 5,000 Inside Paris, 15,000 At outskirts Casualties and losses 1,500 dead French resistance 71 dead, 225 wounded Free French Forces[1] 3... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The United States Army is the largest, and by some standards oldest, established branch of the armed forces of the United States and is one of seven uniformed services. ... Omar Nelson Bradley (February 12, 1893 – April 8, 1981) was one of the main U.S. Army field commanders in North Africa and Europe during World War II and a General of the Army of the United States Army. ... For other uses, see Normandy (disambiguation). ... Land on Normandy In military parlance, D-Day is a term often used to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. ... Combatants North:  United Kingdom  Canada Polish forces South:  United States  Free French Nazi Germany Commanders Omar Bradley Harry Crerar Philippe Leclerc StanisÅ‚aw Maczek Bernard Montgomery George Patton Günther von Kluge Walter Model Strength ~at least 500,000 Casualties Canadian: 1,470 killed Polish: 325 killed ~50,000 killed...

Background

The original planning for the Normandy campaign, once the initial D-Day invasion was successful, envisioned a rapid Allied build-up of forces in a steadily-expanding beachhead. Specific objectives such as towns, ports and airfields served as guidelines to operations. Eventually the Allies sought a mobile battle in which their advantages in numbers, tactical air power, armor, mechanized infantry and logistics would be brought to bear. They wished to avoid a slow, World War I-style stalemate or near-stalemate, though it was recognized that the battle would be at least partly attritional, and the original planned length of the battle was ninety days. This article is about the assault phase of Operation Overlord. ... This article is about the independent states that comprised the Allies. ... A beachhead is a military term used to describe the line created when a unit (by sea) reaches a beach, and begins to defend that area of beach, while other reinforcements (hopefully) help out, until a unit large enough to begin advancing has arrived. ... Tactical bombing uses aircraft to attack troops and military equipment in the battle zone. ... Armor or armour (see spelling differences) is protective clothing intended to defend its wearer from intentional harm in combat and military engagements, typically associated with soldiers. ... Mechanized infantry are infantry equipped with armored personnel carriers (APCs), or infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) for transport and combat (see also mechanized force). ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ...

A critical success factor for the Allies, once a beachhead had been established, was building up their highly mechanized forces in the battle area faster than the Germans. The Allies had to build up forces quickly, at the same time that they prevented the Germans from doing the same.

To prevent additional German forces from entering the battle area, Allied tactical air forces attempted to isolate the rail and road network of northern France. This effort was highly successful; German units in Normandy suffered from severe personnel and supply shortages, and new units could be fed into the battle only very slowly. Road usage during the day became suicidal for the Germans.

Building up Allied forces on the continent was also succeeding. Allied forces were growing faster than their opponents, but by July this growth was constrained by the Allied failure to "peg out claims well inland" in General Montgomery's words. The beachhead was crowded; the number of airfields in Allied hands was far fewer than planned; Caen (a D-Day objective) had not been taken; no major operating port was yet in Allied hands. In general, progress was being measured in yards rather than miles. The battle for Normandy had devolved into a series of small-unit actions in which Allied infantry units, supported with barrages of artillery fire, slowly ground into the German defenses. For example, between July 2 and July 14, the U.S. VIII Corps took over 10,000 casualties while advancing only 12,000 yards. By July 25 (D+49, the start date of Cobra) the Allies had only reached the D+5 phase line; that is, they held positions they expected to have had by June 11, 5 days after D-Day. Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO, PC (17 November 1887 – 24 March 1976) was a British Army officer, often referred to as Monty. He successfully commanded Allied forces at the Battle of El Alamein, a major turning point in World War II, and... , Caen (pronounced ) is a commune of northwestern France. ... is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 195th day of the year (196th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... // For the VIII Corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War, see VIII Corps (ACW). ... is the 206th day of the year (207th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 162nd day of the year (163rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

This led to frustration at the top Allied command levels. Allied infantry losses were high, major mechanized units were not in the battle, and close air support was difficult because the fighting was at such close range. The Allied commanders could not bring their advantages to bear on the battle, and the fear of another stalemate seemed to be close to reality.

This highlighted a failure of Allied pre-invasion planning. The Allies were so focused on the immense problems of the invasion that they failed to adequately plan for the campaign in the beachhead. Particularly on the U.S. First Army front in the west, the tactical problems of the bocage country had not been anticipated. Bocage is a French word referring to a terrain of mixed woodland and pasture, with tortuous side-roads and lanes bounded on both sides by banks surmounted with high thick hedgerows limiting visibility. ...

On the German side, the buildup rate was the critical factor that could not be mastered. Time was not on their side.

On the tactical level, German defensive efforts were generally successful; they gave ground slowly and inflicted heavy casualties doing so. The bocage terrain in the west aided them. In the more open terrain in the east, the line had to be held by high quality mechanized units such as the 9th, 10th and 12th Waffen-SS Divisions, all their heavy tank battalions and other Panzer and Panzergrenadier units. Waffen-SS recruitment poster; Volunteer to the Waffen-SS The Waffen-SS was the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel. ... Panzer IV Ausf. ... This article needs cleanup. ...

In the west, facing the U.S. First Army, the Germans had only a few mechanized units; the elite Panzer Lehr, 2nd SS Panzer and 17th SS Panzergrenadier divisions, with elements of the 2nd Panzer Division. Most of the line was held by virtually immobile infantry. Only two complete infantry divisions (one of them a parachute division) were in the line facing the Americans. Most of the German infantry were in battlegroups formed from the remnants of divisions almost destroyed by the previous seven weeks' fighting, or detached regiments pushed into the line to plug gaps. Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the U.S. First Army. ... Panzertruppschule I & II Panzer-Lehr-Division 130. ... SS-Division Verfügungstruppe SS-Division Deutschland SS-Division Reich SS-Division Das Reich 2. ... The 17. ... The 2nd Panzer Division () was created in 1935, and stationed in Austria after the Anschluss. ...

On the strategic level, the Germans were playing a game they knew they would lose. By 1944 the doctrine of virtually all combatants dictated that defensive lines be held by infantry divisions. The few mechanized units should have been held in reserve behind the front as a counterattack force. The failure of German logistics to provide infantry Divisions to the front forced this strategy of using up their mechanized units in a defensive attrition battle. The complete failure of the German air force to contest Allied air supremacy meant that German units could not conduct the sort of highly mobile, fluid battle at which they excelled. Also, the Allied deception plan kept substantial German units in the Fifteenth Army sector far from the battle area. Closing the Falais-Argentan Pocket and the Mortain counterattack 6-17 August 1944 A counterattack is a military tactic used by defending forces when under attack by an enemy force. ... Operation Fortitude was the codename for the deception operations used by the Allied forces during World War II in connection with the Normandy landings (Operation Overlord). ... The German Fifteenth Army (German: ) was a World War II field army. ...

Planning

German dispositions, night of 24-25 July 1944

The Allied ground forces commander was British General Bernard Montgomery, commanding Twenty-first Army Group. Under him he had American armies in the western part of the theater and British and Canadian in the east. Montgomery's original plan for the Normandy campaign envisioned strong offensive efforts both in the eastern and western sectors, ultimately resulting in United States forces on the west of the theater 'wheeling round' to the Loire. Over a period of several weeks, the U.S. 1st Army commander, General Omar Bradley, worked on a breakthrough plan, possibly being advised by his colleague tank warfare expert George S. Patton. On July 10, 1944, Bradley revealed these plans to Montgomery and to British 2nd Army commander General Miles Dempsey (his counterpart). Montgomery instructed Dempsey to supply the supporting attacks for the American advance in this operation up to Caen by attracting as much of the German forces as possible "to ease the way for Brad". This led, in part, to Operation Goodwood which was also approved by Montgomery that day. The Supreme Commander, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, ensured that the Allied air forces would support the attack with tactical forces as well as medium and heavy bomber units. The air commanders were reluctant to use their bombers in the tactical battle, believing both that they were unsuited to the role and that they would be better employed in their intended strategic role. Nevertheless, they participated in several 'carpet bombing' operations in Normandy on July 7 (Operation Charnwood), July 18 (Operation Goodwood) and July 24-July 25 (Cobra). Image File history File links Size of this preview: 785 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1265 × 966 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 785 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1265 × 966 pixel, file size: 2. ... Bernard Law Montgomery Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (November 17, 1887 - March 24, 1976) was a British military officer during World War II often referred to as Monty. ... The Twenty-first Army Group of the British and Canadian forces in the United Kingdom that were assigned for the invasion of Europe, was established in London in July 1943. ... George Patton redirects here. ... is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The British Second Army existed in both the First and Second World Wars. ... Lieutenant-General Dempsey Lieutenant-General Sir Miles Christopher Dempsey GBE KCB DSO MC (15th December 1896 - 5th June 1969) was commander of the British Second Army during the D-Day landings in World War II. After graduating from Sandhurst Military Academy in 1915 Dempsey joined the Royal Berkshire Regiment. ... Operation Goodwood was an Allied military operation of World War II from July 18 to 20 July 1944 taking place in Normandy some weeks following D-Day. ... Dwight David Eisenhower, born David Dwight Eisenhower (October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969), nicknamed Ike, was a five-star General in the United States Army and U.S. politician, who served as the thirty-fourth President of the United States (1953–1961). ... For other uses, see Bomber (disambiguation). ... is the 188th day of the year (189th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... During World War 2, Operation Charnwood (Allies, 1944) had the objective to capture Caen and its surroundings during the ongoing Battle of Normandy. ... is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Operation Goodwood was an Allied military operation of World War II from July 18 to 20 July 1944 taking place in Normandy some weeks following D-Day. ... is the 205th day of the year (206th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 206th day of the year (207th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

On July 12, Bradley briefed his subordinate commanders. The Cobra plan had three phases. The first was for VII Corps to punch a narrow hole in the German front; second, the breakthrough Divisions would form strong 'shoulders' on either side of the breakthrough, and a three-division exploitation force would push through the gap. Meanwhile, the VIII Corps and XIX Corps would conduct local attacks to prevent German formations in their sectors from reinforcing the breakthrough area. If the first two phases were successful, German resistance on the VIII Corps front would be untenable and the entire Cotentin peninsula would be taken. General J. Lawton Collins, the VII Corps commander, suggested slight modifications to the plan, aiming the breakthrough units slightly more south. If the breakthrough were successful, Collins' modification enabled the possibility of a faster exploitation into Brittany, seizing the Atlantic ports there. The original plan did not envision the wholesale collapse of the German front in Normandy, merely a major expansion of the bridgehead, transition to more mobile warfare beyond the bocage country, and possible seizure of major ports. is the 193rd day of the year (194th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the VII Corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War, see VII Corps (ACW). ... Joseph Lawton Collins Joseph Lightning Joe Lawton Collins (1 May 1896 – 12 September 1987) was a general of the United States Army. ...

The attack would be preceded by a massive bombing of the attack sector by medium and heavy bombers. It was expected that the combination of physical destruction and shock value in this short, intense bombardment would greatly weaken the German defense. Infantry units would then attack and penetrate into the German position until resistance weakened; at the critical point when resistance was collapsing in the immediate area, the exploitation force would be unleashed. Because the air strike was such a critical component of the plan, and the aircrew depended on good weather to hit the target, Air Chief Marshal Leigh-Mallory had responsibility to set the time of the attack. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns in RAF No 1 Dress uniform Air Chief Marshal (Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a senior air officer rank in the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom as well as in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and in the air forces... Air Chief Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory KCB, DSO and Bar (11 July 1892 - 14 November 1944) was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force in World War II and the highest-ranking British officer to die in the war. ...

Key units conducting the breakthrough were the US VII Corps with the 4th, 9th, and 30th infantry divisions. The exploitation force consisted of the 1st Infantry Division, the 2nd, and 3rd Armored Divisions. The 1st Infantry Division was temporarily motorized for the operation with trucks supplied by First Army quartermaster truck companies. It has been suggested that U.S. 1st Brigade 4th Infantry Division be merged into this article or section. ... The 9th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War II. World War II Activated: 1 August 1940. ... The 30th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War I and World War II. It was nicknamed the Old Hickory division, in honour of Andrew Jackson, due to it being comprised of National Guard units from his old stomping grounds. ... The 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army —nicknamed “The Big Red One” after its shoulder patch—is the oldest continuously serving division in the United States Army. ... Shoulder sleeve patch of the United States Army 2nd Armored Division, Hell on Wheels. ... Shoulder sleeve patch of the United States Army 3rd Armored Division, Spearhead. ...

The U.S. VIII Corps, under General Troy Middleton, had the 8th, 79th, 83rd and 90th Infantry Divisions in the assault and the 4th Armored Division in reserve. Lieutenant General Troy H. Middleton ( –1976) was a distinguished soldier-educator who served as a corps commander in Europe during World War II and, later, as President of Louisiana State University (LSU). ... The 8th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War I and World War II and later. ... The 79th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War I and World War II. World War I Activated: August 1917. ... The 83rd Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War I and World War II. // Activated: September 1917 Overseas: June 1918 Major Operations: Designated a depot division; supplied over 195,000 officers and enlisted men as replacements in France. ... The 90th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War I and World War II. World War I Activated: August 1917. ... Shoulder sleeve patch of the United States Army 4th Armored Division. ...

Over 1,300 M4 medium tanks, 690 M5A1 light tanks, and 280 M10 tank destroyers were available in these units, along with hundreds of tubes of divisional and corps artillery. Approximately 140,000 rounds of artillery ammunition of all calibers was allocated to the operation. The VII Corps attack front was only 7,000 yards wide. The M4 Sherman was the primary tank produced by the United States for its own use and the use of its Allies during World War II. Production of the M4 Medium tank exceeded 50,000 units, and its chassis served as the basis for thousands of other armored vehicles such... The Stuart was an American light tank of World War II named after the Civil War general Jeb Stuart. ... The M10 Gun Motor Carriage known as Wolverine in British service was a US tank destroyer of World War II. // Usage American doctrine planned for tank destroyers to engage enemy tanks while tanks were used principally to support infantry. ... A self-propelled anti-tank gun, or tank destroyer, is a type of armoured fighting vehicle. ...

Operation Goodwood

Welsh Soldiers in action near Cagny 19 July 1944

Operation Goodwood was launched on July 18. The tactic of using heavy bombers as a form of artillery preparation was used, as at Cassino several months before. Unlike Cobra, however, Goodwood relied on a massed tank attack in the offensive rather than breaching the enemy front with infantry. Goodwood was costly - over 400 Shermans were destroyed in the operation. But the operation secured Caen and caused the Germans to commit most of their armor to the eastern part of the theater, so that one and a half Panzer divisions faced the American armies against six and a half further east, far away from the intended attack frontage for Cobra. The Americans correctly estimated that no German counterattack would occur in the first few days after the Cobra attack, and that if attacks occurred after that date they would consist of no more than battalion-sized operations. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... There are communes beginning with Cagny in France: Cagny, in the Calvados département Cagny, in the Somme département This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Operation Goodwood was an Allied military operation of World War II from July 18 to 20 July 1944 taking place in Normandy some weeks following D-Day. ... is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The restored Abbey. ...

Pre-attack phase

In the days leading up to the attack, units of the US VII and VIII Corps secured jumping-off positions, at heavy cost in infantry casualties. The mission was to secure positions that were both good tactically as jumping-off points and that were easy to identify from the air. The line chosen was the Saint-Lô-Periers road. Saint-Lô is a town and commune of France, the préfecture (capital) of the Manche département, in Normandy. ...

The air commanders recommended a 3,000 yard distance between the bombing target and any friendly forces. Because the cost of these limited pre-Cobra attacks was so high, Bradley was reluctant to give up too much of the hard-won ground and wanted to withdraw only 800 yards. In the end, the front-line Infantry positions were withdrawn 1,200 to 1,400 yards back from the bombing zone to provide some measure of safety. Major units moved back one hour prior to the air strike, leaving observation posts behind until 20 minutes before the strike.

Battle

Initial attack July 24-27

Operation Cobra 25-29 July 1944

The date for the attack was originally set for July 18. However, poor weather delayed the attack several times, and Montgomery had told Bradley that he need not rush the operation. The date was eventually finalized for July 24. However, poor weather on that day forced Leigh-Mallory to postpone for 24 hours. Some heavy bombers from the Eighth Air Force did not get the recall order and proceeded with their mission. About 335 B-17s, some hindered by poor visibility, dropped 685 tons of bombs. Some of the bombs fell on U.S. positions, despite the planning done to prevent just such an occurrence. Bradley had specifically requested that the aircraft approach the target area by flying parallel to the front in order to minimize the risk of friendly fire. Although he believed the air commanders had committed to the parallel route, in fact only the fighter-bombers of the Ninth Air Force approached the target parallel to the front. The bomber units had made no such agreement and approached perpendicular to the front line. The 'short' bomb drops thus fell on the very units that were expected to lead the assault. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 785 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1265 × 966 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 785 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1265 × 966 pixel, file size: 2. ... is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 205th day of the year (206th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force (NAF) of the major command (MAJCOM) of Air Combat Command of the United States Air Force and it is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. ... For other uses, see Friendly Fire (disambiguation). ... Ninth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force in Air Combat Command (ACC). ...

Over 100 U.S. soldiers were killed and approximately 500 were wounded. One unit, 1st Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment, from the 30th Infantry Division, suffered 25 soldiers killed (including General Lesley J. McNair) and 131 wounded. Symbol of the Austrian 14th Armoured Battalion in NATO military graphic symbols This article is about the military unit. ... The 30th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War I and World War II. It was nicknamed the Old Hickory division, in honour of Andrew Jackson, due to it being comprised of National Guard units from his old stomping grounds. ... Lesley James McNair (died July 25, 1944) was a general of the United States Army, who was killed by friendly fire during World War II. As Commandant of the Command and General Staff College, McNair initiated changes that prepared the Colleges graduates to meet the upcoming challenges of World...

Some consideration was given to altering or canceling the attack, since it was presumed that the element of surprise had been lost. However, Bradley elected to go ahead. In hindsight his decision was correct; the Germans did nothing to reinforce their defenses in the 24 hours they had prior to the actual attack on July 25. They believed an actual attack attempt had been made but that it had been stopped by their artillery fire. Indeed, elements of the Panzer Lehr Division shifted slightly southward into the target area. Elements of the 2nd Panzer Division were pulled back towards the British sector in the east. is the 206th day of the year (207th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Panzergrenadiers of I./902. ...

On the morning of July 25, visibility was good, and the attack went ahead at 09:40. Medium and heavy bombers dropped over 3,300 tons of high explosive on the target area. Once again, bombs fell on U.S. as well as German positions. U.S. ground casualties on July 25 from the bombing were 111 killed and 490 wounded. Several factors contributed to the bombing errors, including the small size of the target and the fact that wind blew smoke from the bombs towards the U.S. positions. Some bomber crews bombed into the smoke rather than clearly identifying their targets. Given the technology available it is difficult to see how these errors could have been avoided. is the 206th day of the year (207th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 206th day of the year (207th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The assault units recovered rapidly from the bombing. Despite heavy casualties in some units, only one battalion needed to be replaced; every other unit attacked that morning. Some units were delayed but the attack commenced by 11:00.

German units were devastated by the storm of bombs. The elite Panzer Lehr Division was rendered completely ineffective by the bombing. Tanks were overturned, positions were destroyed and surviving personnel were often stunned into incoherence. Command and control largely broke down, and two-thirds of the division's personnel were casualties.

The initial infantry attack went slowly. To some extent this may have been because units had gotten used to very slow, cautious movement through heavily defended bocage fields. Initial German resistance was weak. However, the attack gained momentum as the thin crust of the German position gave way with nothing behind it. The first day's advance of 4,000 yards, at a cost of over 1,000 casualties, was followed on July 26 by an 8,000 yard advance. is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Breakthrough and Breakout July 27-August 4

Collins gambled that a breakthrough was imminent and committed elements of all three exploitation Divisions on the morning of July 26. This was a critical decision. Committing the exploitation units too early, before the German front was broken, would result in crowded units jamming up the attack sectors and exhausting some of their strength. On the other hand, waiting too long might result in a slower-than-necessary advance, allowing the Germans more time to shore up defenses or mount a coordinated counterattack. Thus the decision on July 26 required a good 'feel' for the battle. is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

By July 27 the full weight of all three divisions was committed and the VII Corps front essentially broke open; U.S. mechanized units were advancing at will against scattered resistance. The VIII Corps front also began to collapse as German units fell back to avoid being cut off. By July 28 Collins's judgment was vindicated as the U.S. VIII Corps gained 12 miles (19 km) and the 4th Armored Division took Coutances, a major road junction well beyond the Germans' tactical zone. At this point the VIII Corps joined the exploitation under Patton's "guidance" (the Third Army was not yet operational). By July 30 the 4th Armored Division captured Avranches, cutting off the base of the Cotentin peninsula. Meanwhile, Canadian II Corps was attacking in the east to pin German units in place. By this time there was no coherent German front facing the 1st Army. Advance units were essentially penetrating into undefended territory. By August 4, four divisions of the 3rd Army had advanced beyond Avranches. The bocage was left behind as the mobility of the U.S. forces dictated the pace and direction of the battle. The German Oberbefehlshaber (Commander-in-Chief) in the west, Gerd von Rundstedt, had suggested to his superiors that the best course of action was to "make peace, you fools", and had been replaced by Hans von Kluge. is the 208th day of the year (209th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 209th day of the year (210th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... George Patton redirects here. ... is the 211th day of the year (212th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Cotentin Peninsula juts out into the English Channel from Normandy towards England, forming part of the north-west coast of France. ... is the 216th day of the year (217th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Karl Rudolf Gerd von Rundstedt (December 12, 1875 - February 24, 1953) was a Generalfeldmarschall of the German Army during World War II. He held some of the highest field commands in all phases of the war. ...

On August 4th Montgomery ordered a major change in the pre-invasion plan. Instead of concentrating the U.S. 3rd Army on Brittany in an effort to open up the ports there, in view of the German collapse, most of the 3rd Army was sent east. Meanwhile 1st Army also drove east, and the British 2nd Army and Canadian 1st Army continued attacking east and south in an effort to encircle the remnants of the German Army. The race for the Falaise Gap and the dash across France had begun. August 4 is the 216th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (217th in leap years), with 149 days remaining. ... This article is about the historical kingdom, duchy and French province, as well as one of the Celtic nations. ... During World War II, the Falaise pocket (also known as the Chambois pocket, Chambois-Montcormel pocket, Falaise-Chambois pocket) was the area between the four cities of Trun-Argentan-Vimoutiers-Chambois near Falaise, France, in which United States 12th Army Group encircled and destroyed the German Seventh Army. ...

Aftermath

Cobra was a transforming operation, effectively ending the Normandy campaign and opening up the dash across France which continued until mid-September 1944. The Allied advance was finally ended not by German resistance, but by lack of supply. Allied units, victims of their own success, outran their logistics.

The VIII Corps failed in its task of capturing the major Breton ports. Brest held out until September 1944, and Lorient remained in German hands until May 1945. But by August, with Marseille captured intact, this did not matter very much, as recognized in Montgomery's August 4 decision to turn to the east without first securing Brittany. Brest is a city in Brittany, or the Bretagne région, north-west France, sous-préfecture of the Finistère département. ... This article is about The place Lorient in France. ... City flag Coat of arms Motto: By her great deeds, the city of Massilia shines The Old Port of Marseille Location Time Zone CET (GMT +1) Coordinates Administration Country Region Provence-Alpes-Côte dAzur Department Bouches-du-Rhône (13) Subdivisions 16 arrondissements (in 8 secteurs) Intercommunality Urban... is the 216th day of the year (217th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The effects of the operation were much greater than anticipated; in Bradley's words, Cobra "had struck a more deadly blow than any of us dared imagine". It is a tribute to the flexibility and extreme mobility of the Allied armies that they were able to sustain the advance for as long and as far as they did.

At noon on August 1, the U.S. 3rd Army was activated, taking control of the VIII Corps as planned prior to the invasion. Also at noon, the U.S. 12th Army Group was activated, with General Bradley commanding. Command of the U.S. 1st Army passed to General Courtney Hodges. is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... (Redirected from 12th Army Group) The 12th Army Group was the largest and most powerful American formation ever to take to the field. ... Courtney Hicks Hodges (January 5, 1887 – January 16, 1966) was an American military officer, most prominent for his role in World War II, in which he commanded the U.S. First Army in Northwest Europe. ...

As the German front in Normandy collapsed, German units fled towards the east by any means they could find. Allied air power was again decisive; by interdicting roads, bridges and railways they severely reduced the rate at which the Germans could move. Major units were trapped in the Falaise pocket. Combatants North:  United Kingdom  Canada Polish forces South:  United States  Free French Nazi Germany Commanders Omar Bradley Harry Crerar Philippe Leclerc StanisÅ‚aw Maczek Bernard Montgomery George Patton Günther von Kluge Walter Model Strength ~at least 500,000 Casualties Canadian: 1,470 killed Polish: 325 killed ~50,000 killed...

The defeat inflicted on the Germans was one of the greatest of WW2. Losses amounted to over 400,000 men, 1,500 tanks and Self-propelled guns, with 25 divisions essentially destroyed. Losses during the breakout stage were actually much higher than in the more static battles that preceded it with the loss rate of German tanks skyrocketing in August compared to June or July. German Panzer Divisions arrived on the German frontier exhausted and with no tanks. A self-propelled gun is an armored fighting vehicle which primarily based on and serves to transport the gun with which its equipped. ... Panzer Division is the German term for armored division. ...

By August 25 all four Allied Armies (1st Canadian, 2nd British, 1st U.S., and 3rd U.S.) involved in the Normandy campaign were on the river Seine. is the 237th day of the year (238th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the river in France. ...

The sense of impending stalemate in the Allied high command was replaced by the euphoria of victory. To some extent both sides believed the war was as good as over. The Allies followed up the dash across France with the decision (wrong with hindsight) to forgo clearing Antwerp's approaches, attempting to cross the Rhine with Operation Market-Garden instead. For the World War II operation, see Operation Market Garden. ...

External links

• Normandiememoire.com
• Operation Cobra and final stages of the battle in normandy at memorial-montormel.org

v • d • e World War II
Western Europe · Eastern Europe · Africa · Mediterranean · Asia and the Pacific · Atlantic Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Combatants  United Kingdom  United States Poland  France Canada Free France  Netherlands  Belgium Germany Italy Commanders Winston Churchill, Trafford Leigh-Mallory, Harold Alexander, Bertram Ramsay, Bernard Montgomery, Lord Gort, Trafford Leigh-Mallory, Franklin Roosevelt,, George Marshall, Dwight Eisenhower, Omar Bradley, Jacob Devers, WÅ‚adysÅ‚aw Anders, WÅ‚adysÅ‚aw Sikorski, Stanis... Combatants Soviet Union,[1] Poland, Tannu Tuva (until 1944 incorporation with USSR), Mongolia Germany,[2] Italy (to 1943), Romania (to 1944), Finland (to 1944), Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, Spain (to 1943, unofficial) Commanders Joseph Stalin, Aleksei Antonov, Ivan Konev, Rodion Malinovsky, Ivan Bagramyan, Kirill Meretskov, Ivan Petrov, Alexander Rodimtsev, Konstantin Rokossovsky... 219. ... The Mediterranean region. ... For other uses, see Pacific War (disambiguation). ... Combatants  United Kingdom  Canada  United States(1941–5)  Norway Poland Free French Navy  Germany  Italy (1940–3) Commanders  Sir Percy Noble  Sir Max K. Horton  Percy W. Nelles  Leonard W. Murray  Ernest J. King  Erich Raeder  Karl Dönitz Casualties 30,248 merchant sailors 3,500 merchant vessels 175 warships...
Major participants Map of the World with the Participants in World War II. The western allies are shown in blue, the eastern allies in red, the Axis Powers in black, and neutral countries in grey. ...			Timeline For events preceding September 1, 1939, see the timeline of events preceding World War II. This is a timeline of events that stretched over the period of World War II. // 1: The Invasion of Poland begins at 4:30 a. ...		Aspects
To 1945 unless otherwise indicated. Principal co-belligerents in italics.			Prelude • Causes • in Asia • in Europe This article is concerned with the events that preceded World War II in Asia. ... In Europe, the origins of the war are closely tied to the rise of fascism, especially in Nazi Germany. ... 1939 • Invasion of Poland • Phoney War • Winter War • Battle of the Atlantic5 For the Soviet Unions military action against Poland under the same alliance, see Soviet invasion of Poland (1939). ... British Ministry of Home Security Poster of a type that was common during the Phony War The Phony War or the Bore War, also called Sitzkrieg, was a phase in early World War II from September 1939 until May 1940 marked by few military operations in Continental Europe, in the... Combatants Finland Soviet Union Commanders Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim Kliment Voroshilov Semyon Timoshenko Strength 250,000 men 30 tanks 130 aircraft[1][2] 1,000,000 men 6,541 tanks [3] 3,800 aircraft[4][5] Casualties 26,662 dead 39,886 wounded 1,000 captured[6] 126,875 dead... Combatants Royal Navy Royal Canadian Navy United States Navy (1941–5) Kriegsmarine Regia Marina (1940–3) Commanders Sir Percy Noble Sir Max K. Horton Percy W. Nelles Leonard W. Murray Ernest J. King Erich Raeder Karl Dönitz Casualties 30,248 merchant sailors 3,500 merchant vessels 175 warships 28... 1940 • Denmark and Norway • Battle of France • Battle of Britain • Libya and Egypt • British Somaliland • Baltic Occupation • Bessarabia and Bukovina • Invasion of Indochina • Invasion of Greece Combatants Germany Denmark Norway Operation Weserübung was the German codename for Nazi Germanys assault on Denmark and Norway during World War II and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign. ... Belligerents France United Kingdom Canada Czechoslovakia Poland Belgium Netherlands Luxembourg Germany Italy Commanders Maurice Gamelin, Maxime Weygand Lord Gort (British Expeditionary Force) Leopold III H.G. Winkelman WÅ‚adysÅ‚aw Sikorski Gerd von Rundstedt (Army Group A) Fedor von Bock (Army Group B) Wilhelm von Leeb (Army Group C) H... This article is about the Second World War battle. ... Combatants  Australia Free France  New Zealand  Poland South Africa  United Kingdom India Italy Germany Commanders to June 22 1941: Archibald Wavell to August 8 1942: Claude Auchinleck to February 1943: Harold Alexander Ugo Cavallero Rodolfo Graziani Erwin Rommel The Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War was the... Belligerents United Kingdom British India British Somaliland Northern Rhodesia British East Africa Italy Italian East Africa Commanders Reade Godwin-Austen Arthur Chater Guglielmo Nasi Carlo De Simone Luigi Frusci Strength 4,000 24,000 Casualties and losses 38 killed[1] 71 wounded[1] 49 missing[1] Total:205[2] Destroyed... Molotov signing the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact The occupation of Baltic states refers to the occupation of the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) first by the Soviet Union under the provisions of the 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact with Nazi Germany, by Nazi Germany from 1941-1944, and again by... On June 28, 1940 Bessarabia and northern Bukovina were occupied by the Soviet Union. ... Combatants Empire of Japan Vichy France Commanders Akihito Nakamura Takuma Nishimura Maurice Martin Strength 34,000 men 2,000 men Casualties  ? 800 The Invasion of French Indochina ), also known as the Vietnam Expedition, the Japanese Invasion of Vietnam, was an attempt by the Empire of Japan, during the Second Sino... Belligerents Italy Albania Greece Commanders Sebastiano Visconti Prasca Ubaldo Soddu Ugo Cavallero Giovanni Messe Alexander Papagos Strength 529,000 men, 463 aircraft[1] Under 300,000 men, 77 aircraft[1] Casualties and losses 63,000[2][3][4] dead, 100,000+[2] wounded, 25,067 missing, 12,368 incapacitated by... 1941 • East Africa Campaign • Invasion of Yugoslavia • Invasion of the USSR • Middle East campaign • Siege of Leningrad • Battle of Moscow • Attack on Pearl Harbor Combatants United Kingdom Anglo-Egyptian Sudan British Somaliland British East Africa British India Gold Coast Nigeria N. Rhodesia S. Rhodesia Union of S. Africa Belgium Belgian Congo Free France Ethiopian irregulars Italy Italian East Africa German Motorized Company Commanders Archibald Wavell William Platt Alan Cunningham Duke of Aosta Guglielmo Nasi... “April War” redirects here. ... Belligerents Germany Romania Finland Italy Hungary Slovakia Croatia Soviet Union Commanders Adolf Hitler Franz Halder Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb Fedor von Bock Gerd von Rundstedt Ernst Busch Erich Hoepner Alfred Keller Georg von Küchler Günther von Kluge Heinz Guderian Hermann Hoth Albrecht Kesselring Adolf Strauss Carl-Heinrich von... The Middle East Campaign was a part of the Middle East Theatre of World War II. // This campaign included: The British police actions in Palestine. ... Belligerents Nazi Germany Finland[1][2][3] Soviet Union Commanders Wilhelm von Leeb Georg von Küchler Carl Gustaf Mannerheim[4][5][6] Kliment Voroshilov Georgiy Zhukov Leonid Govorov Strength 725,000 930,000 Casualties and losses Wehrmacht (est. ... Combatants Nazi Germany Soviet Union Commanders Fedor von Bock, Heinz Guderian Georgy Zhukov, Aleksandr Vasilevsky Strength As of October 1: 1,000,000 men, 1,700 tanks, 14,000 guns, 950 planes[1] As of October 1: 1,250,000 men, 1,000 tanks, 7,600 guns, 677 planes[2... This article is about the actual attack. ... 1942 • Battle of Midway • Battle of Stalingrad • 2nd Battle of El Alamein • Operation Torch • Guadalcanal Campaign Belligerents United States Imperial Japanese Navy Commanders Chester W. Nimitz Frank J. Fletcher Raymond A. Spruance Isoroku Yamamoto Chuichi Nagumo Tamon Yamaguchi† Strength 3 carriers, ~50 support ships, 233 carrier aircraft, 127 land-based aircraft 4 carriers, 7 battleships, ~150 support ships, 264 carrier aircraft,[1] 16 floatplanes Casualties and... Belligerents Germany Romania Italy Hungary Soviet Union Commanders Adolf Hitler Friedrich Paulus # Erich von Manstein Wolfram von Richthofen Petre Dumitrescu Constantin Constantinescu Italo Gariboldi Gusztáv Vitéz Jány Josef Stalin Vasiliy Chuikov Aleksandr Vasilyevskiy Georgiy Zhukov Semyon Timoshenko Konstantin Rokossovskiy Rodion Malinovskiy Andrei Yeremenko Strength Army Group B... Belligerents Australia Free French Greece New Zealand South Africa United Kingdom Indian Empire Germany Italy Commanders Harold Alexander Bernard Montgomery Erwin Rommel Georg Stumme Ettore Bastico Strength 220,000 men 1,029 tanks[1] 750 aircraft (530 serviceable) 900 medium and field artillery guns[2] 1,401 Anti Tank Guns... Combatants United States United Kingdom Free French Forces Vichy France Commanders Dwight Eisenhower Andrew Cunningham François Darlan Strength 73,500 60,000 Casualties 479+ dead 720 wounded 1,346+ dead 1,997 wounded Operation Torch (initially called Operation Gymnast) was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in... Combatants Allied forces including: United States Australia New Zealand British Solomon Is. ...	1943 • End in Africa • Battle of Kursk • Solomon Islands • Invasion of Sicily • Invasion of Italy5 • Gilbert and Marshall Islands Combatants United Kingdom United States France Germany Italy Commanders Dwight D. Eisenhower Harold Alexander Keneth Anderson Bernard Montgomery Albert Kesselring Erwin Rommel Hans-Jürgen von Arnim Giovanni Messe The Tunisia Campaign (also known as the Battle of Tunisia), was a series of World War II battles that took place... Belligerents Nazi Germany Soviet Union Commanders Erich von Manstein Günther von Kluge Hermann Hoth Walther Model Hans Seidemann Robert Ritter von Greim Georgiy Zhukov Konstantin Rokossovskiy Nikolay Vatutin Ivan Konyev Strength 2,700 tanks 800,000 infantry 2,109 aircraft[1] 3,600 tanks 20,000 guns[2] 1... Belligerents United States United Kingdom Canada Australia South Africa Free French Germany Italy Commanders Dwight D. Eisenhower Harold Alexander Bernard Montgomery George S. Patton Albert Kesselring Alfredo Guzzoni Fridolin von Senger und Etterlin Strength 160,000 personnel 14,000 vehicles 600 tanks 1,800 guns 300,000 Italian personnel 40... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... In the Pacific Theater of World War II, the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaigns, from November 1943 through February 1944, were the first offensive operations of the United States Navy and Marine Corps in the Central Pacific. ... 1944 • Cassino and Anzio • Invasion of Normandy • Mariana and Palau Islands • Operation Bagration • Battle of the Dnieper • Warsaw Uprising • Iassy-Kishinev Operation • Liberation of Paris • Operation Market Garden • Operation Crossbow • Operation Pointblank • Battle of Leyte Gulf Combatants United Kingdom United States Poland New Zealand Canada Free France India and others Germany Commanders Harold Alexander Mark Clark Oliver Leese Albert Kesselring Heinrich von Vietinghoff Frido von Senger Strength 105,000 80,000 Casualties 54,000 20,000 The Battle of Monte Cassino (also known as the Battle... Combatants United States, United Kingdom Germany Commanders Harold Alexander Mark W. Clark John P. Lucas Lucian Truscott Albert Kesselring Eberhard von Mackensen Strength 22 Jan 1944: 36,000 soldiers and 2,300 vehicles End May:150,000 soldiers and 1,500 guns 22 Jan 1944: 20,000 soldiers End May... This article is about the first few weeks of the Invasion of Normandy. ... In the Pacific theater of World War II, the American Marianas Campaign, known as Operation Forager, pushed westward from the Marshall Islands in the summer of 1944 to capture the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Guam. ... Combatants Germany Soviet Union Commanders Ernst Busch (to 28 June), Walter Model (Army Group Centre) Georg-Hans Reinhardt (Third Panzer Army) Hans Jordan (Ninth Army) Kurt von Tippelskirch (Fourth Army) Walter Weiss (Second Army) Georgy Zhukov Konstantin Rokossovsky (3rd Belorussian Front) Hovhannes Bagramyan (1st Baltic Front) Ivan Chernyakhovsky (1st Belorussian... Combatants Axis Soviet Union Commanders Erich von Manstein Konstantin Rokossovsky, Ivan Konev Strength 1,250,000 men 12,600 guns 2,100 tanks 2,000 planes 2,650,000 men 51,000 guns 2,400 tanks 2,850 planes Casualties Low est. ... For other uses, see Warsaw Uprising (disambiguation). ... Combatants Soviet Union Germany Romania Commanders Rodion Malinovsky Fyodor Tolbukhin Johannes Friessner Ion Antonescu Strength 1,341,200, 1,874 tanks and assault guns ca. ... Belligerents Free French Forces Germany Commanders Philippe Leclerc Raymond Dronne Henri Rol-Tanguy Jacques Chaban-Delmas Dietrich von Choltitz # Strength 2nd Armoured Division, French resistance 5,000 Inside Paris, 15,000 At outskirts Casualties and losses 1,500 dead French resistance 71 dead, 225 wounded Free French Forces[1] 3... Belligerents Poland United Kingdom United States Germany Commanders Field Marshal Montgomery Lieutenant-General Dempsey Lieutenant-General Horrocks Major-General Urquhart Major General Taylor Brigadier General Gavin Walter Model Wilhelm Bittrich Kurt Student Strength 35,000 (airborne only) 20,000 Casualties and losses Poland: 1st Polish Brigade: 378 Casualties[1] United... Similar to Operation Pointblank against the WWII German aircraft industry, Operation Crossbow specialized in offensive and defensive countermeasures against the Bodyline[1] and Peenemünde 20,[2] the British code names for the 40 ft x 7 ft object with blunt nose and three fins and the small winged aircraft... Operation Pointblank was the code name for the Combined Bomber Offensive of the USAAF and the RAF during World War II. It ordered Arthur Bomber Harris, head of the RAF and Carl Spaatz, head of the U.S. 8th Air Force, to bomb specific targets in support of the run... Combatants  United States  Australia Empire of Japan Commanders William Halsey, Jr (3rd Fleet) Thomas C. Kinkaid (7th Fleet) Takeo Kurita (Centre Force) Shoji Nishimura â€  (Southern Force) Kiyohide Shima (Southern Force) Jisaburo Ozawa (Northern Force) Strength 17 aircraft carriers 18 escort carriers 12 battleships 24 cruisers 141 destroyers and destroyer escorts... 1945 • Battle of Iwo Jima • Battle of Okinawa • Battle of Berlin • Germany surrenders • Hiroshima and Nagasaki • Japan surrenders Belligerents United States Empire of Japan Commanders Holland Smith Tadamichi Kuribayashi â€  Strength 110,000 21,000 Casualties and losses 6,821 dead 19,189 wounded,[1] 494 missing[1] Total: 26,504 20,703 dead,[1] 216 captured[1] Total: 20,919 The Battle of Iwo Jima took place between... Combatants  United States  United Kingdom  Canada  Australia  New Zealand Empire of Japan Commanders Simon B. Buckner â€  Joseph W. Stilwell Ray Spruance Mitsuru Ushijima â€  Isamu Cho â€  Strength 548,000 soldiers, 1,300 ships,  ? aircraft 100,000 regulars and militia,  ? ships,  ? aircraft Casualties 12,513 dead or missing, 38,916 wounded, 33... Belligerents Soviet Union Poland Germany Commanders 1st Belorussian Front – Georgiy Zhukov 2nd Belorussian Front – Konstantin Rokossovsky 1st Ukrainian Front – Ivan Konev Army Group Vistula – Gotthard Heinrici then Kurt von Tippelskirch[3] Army Group Centre – Ferdinand Schörner Berlin Defence Area – Hellmuth Reymann then Helmuth Weidling #[4] Strength Total strength 2... During the Battle for Berlin, the Red Flag was raised over the Reichstag, May 1945. ... The mushroom cloud over Hiroshima after the dropping of Little Boy. ... The Japanese representatives, Mamoru Shigemitsu and Yoshijiro Umezu, on board USS Missouri during the surrender ceremonies on 2 September 1945. ... • List of military engagements of World War II USS Lexington explodes during the Battle of the Coral Sea. ... Aftermath and Consequences • Effects/Casualties • Expulsion of Germans • Operation Paperclip • Occupation of Germany • Morgenthau plan • Territorial changes • Occupation of Japan • Franco-Vietnamese War • Cold War • in contemporary culture The bumsItalic textBold text effects of World War II had far-reaching implications for the international community. ... Chart showing World War II deaths by country in millions as well as by percentage of population, and piechart with percentage of military and civilian deaths for the Allies and the Axis Powers. ... Germans expelled from the Sudetenland // The expulsion of Germans after World War II refers to the forced migration of people considered Germans (Reichsdeutsche and some Volksdeutsche) from various European states and territories during 1945 and in the first three years after World War II 1946-48. ... Operation Paperclip scientists pose together. ... The C-Pennant Occupation zones in Germany (1945) Capital Berlin (de jure) Political structure Military occupation Governors (1945)  - UK zone F.M. Montgomery  - French zone Gen. ... The Morgenthau Plan showing the planned partitioning of Germany into a North State, a South State, and an International zone. ... The Oder-Neisse line (Polish: , German: ) marked the border between German Democratic Republic and Poland between 1950 and 1990. ... Capital Tokyo Language(s) Japanese Political structure Military occupation Military Governor  - 1945-1951 Douglas MacArthur  - 1951-1952 Matthew Ridgway Emperor  - 1926-1989 Hirohito Historical era Post-WWII  - Surrender of Japan August 15, 1945  - San Francisco Treaty April 28, 1952 At the end of the Second World War, Japan was occupied... Combatants France French Indochina Việt Minh Strength 500,000 at least 63,000, but estimates 100,000-950,000 Casualties 94,581 dead 78,127 wounded 40,000 captured 300,000+ dead 500,000+ wounded 100,000 captured The First Indochina War (also known as the French Indochina War... For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... The influence of World War II has been profound and diverse, having an impact on many parts of life. ...	• Attacks on North America • Blitzkrieg • Comparative military ranks • Cryptography • Home front • Military awards • Military equipment • Military production • Nazi plunder • Resistance • Technology • Total war Attacks on North America during World War II by the Axis Powers were rare, mainly due to the continents geographical separation from the central theaters of conflict in Europe and Asia. ... This article is about the military term. ... The following table shows comparative officer ranks of major Allied and Axis powers during World War II. For modern ranks refer to Comparative military ranks. ... Cryptography was used extensively during World War II, with a plethora of code and cipher systems fielded by the nations involved. ... Publicity photo of American machine tool worker in Texas. ... Military awards of World War II were presented by most of the combatants. ... // Aircraft List of aircraft of World War II List of World War II military aircraft of Germany List of aircraft of the Armée de lAir, World War II List of aircraft of the USAAF, World War II List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force, World War II... During World War II women worked in factories throughout much of the Western and Eastern United States. ... Nazi plunder stored in a church at Elligen, Germany, 1945 Nazi plunder refers to art theft and other items stolen as a result of the organized spoliation of European countries during the time of the Third Reich by agents acting on behalf of the ruling Nazi Party of Germany. ... Members of the Dutch Eindhoven Resistance with troops of the US 101st Airborne Division in front of the Eindhoven cathedral during Operation Market Garden in September 1944. ... Technology during World War II played a crucial role in determining the outcome of the war. ... Total war is a military conflict in which nations mobilize all available resources in order to destroy another nations ability to engage in war. ... Civilian impact and atrocities • Allied war crimes • German war crimes • Italian war crimes • Japanese war crimes • Soviet war crimes • The Holocaust • Bombing of civilians Allied war crimes were violations of the laws of war committed by the Allies of World War II against civilian populations or military personnel of the Axis Armed Forces. ... Germany committed war crimes in both World War I and World War II. The most notable of these is the Holocaust, where millions of people, about half of which were Jews, were murdered. ... This article needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ... Japanese war crimes occurred during the period of Japanese imperialism. ... Soviet war crimes gives a short overview about serious crimes committed by the Red Armys (1918-1946, later Soviet Army) leadership and an unknown number of single members of the Soviet armed forces from 1919 to 1990 inclusive including those in Eastern Europe in late 1944 and early 1945... “Shoah” redirects here. ... Strategic bombing during World War II was greater in scale than any wartime attack the world had previously witnessed. ...
Allies		Axis
at war from 1937  China This article is about the independent states that comprised the Allies. ... Black: Zenith of the Axis Powers Capital Not applicable Political structure Military alliance Historical era World War II  - Tripartite Pact September 27, 1940  - Anti-Comintern Pact November 25, 1936  - Pact of Steel May 22, 1939  - Dissolved 1945 This article is about the independent countries (states) that comprised the Axis powers. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China. ... entered 1939  Poland  UK  India  France  Australia  New Zealand  South Africa  Canada Image File history File links Flag_of_Poland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links British_Raj_Red_Ensign. ... The Indian National Congress led by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was opposed to Fascism, Nazism and colonialism. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_New_Zealand. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Africa_1928-1994. ... entered 1940  Norway  Belgium  Netherlands  Greece Image File history File links Flag_of_Norway. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Belgium. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Netherlands. ...	entered 1941  Yugoslavia  USSR  USA  Czechoslovakia Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Yugoslavia (Jugoslavija in the Latin alphabet, Југославија in Cyrillic; English: South Slavia, or literary The Land of South Slavs) describes three political entities that existed one at a time on the Balkan Peninsula in Europe, during most of the 20th century. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links US_flag_48_stars. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Czechoslovakia. ... entered 1942  Mexico  Brazil Image File history File links Flag_of_Mexico_(1934-1968). ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... // Depression, coffee oligarchs, and the Revolution of 1930 The Great Depression The tenente rebellion (See History of Brazil (1889-1930)) did not mark the revolutionary breakthrough of Brazils bourgeois social reformers. ... entered 1943  Italy Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy_(1861-1946). ... entered 1944  Romania  Bulgaria  Finland Image File history File links Flag_of_Romania. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Finland. ... Combatants Germany Finland Commanders Lothar Rendulic Hjalmar Siilasvuo Strength 200,000 60,000 Casualties 950 killed 2,000 wounded 1,300 captured 774 killed 3,000 wounded 262 missing The Lapland War (Finnish: ; German: ; Swedish: ) is a name used for the hostilities between Finland and Germany between September 1944 and... • others This article is about the independent states that comprised the Allies. ...	at war from 1937  Japan Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan_-_variant. ... entered 1939  Germany  Slovakia Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany_1933. ... entered 1940  Italy  (to 1943) Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy_(1861-1946). ... entered 1941  Bulgaria  (to 1944) Croatia Finland  (to 1944)  Hungary  Iraq  (to 1941)  Romania  (to 1944) Image File history File links Flag_of_Bulgaria. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Croatia_Ustasa. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Finland. ... Belligerents Finland Germany Italy1 Soviet Union  United Kingdom2 Commanders C.G.E. Mannerheim Kirill Meretskov Leonid Govorov Strength 530,000 Finns[1] 220,000 Germans 900,000–1,500,000 Soviets[2] Casualties and losses 58,715 dead or missing 158,000 wounded 1,500 civilian deaths[3] 3401 captured... Image File history File links Flag_of_Hungary_1940. ... // In Hungary, the Great Depression induced a drop in the standard of living and the political mood of the country shifted further toward the right. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Iraq_1924. ... Combatants Kingdom of Iraq United Kingdom India Commanders Rashid Ali General Sir Edward Quinan Strength five divisions about two divisions Casualties 2,500 KIA, about 6,000 POWs 1,200 (KIA, MIA, WIA) The Anglo-Iraqi War is the name of hostilities between the United Kingdom and the Iraqi nationalist... Image File history File links Flag_of_Romania. ... entered 1942  Thailand Image File history File links Flag_of_Thailand. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... entered 1943  RSI Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Anthem Giovinezza (The Youth)¹ From the Gustav Line to the Gothic Line Capital Salò Language(s) Italian Religion None defined. ... • others Black: Zenith of the Axis Powers Capital Not applicable Political structure Military alliance Historical era World War II  - Tripartite Pact September 27, 1940  - Anti-Comintern Pact November 25, 1936  - Pact of Steel May 22, 1939  - Dissolved 1945 This article is about the independent countries (states) that comprised the Axis powers. ...
• Allied Leaders • Axis Leaders • Commanders This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Axis leaders of World War II were the important political and military figures during the war. ... The Commanders of World War II were for the most part career officers. ...
Resistance movements Austria · Baltic1 · Bessarabia1 · Czech lands · Denmark · Ethiopia · France · Germany2 · Greece · Italy · Jewish2 · Korea · Netherlands · Moldavia1 · Norway · Poland · Thailand · USSR · Slovakia4 · Ukraine3 · Vietnam · Yugoslavia · others Members of the Dutch Eindhoven Resistance with troops of the US 101st Airborne Division in front of the Eindhoven cathedral during Operation Market Garden in September 1944. ... The Forest Brothers (also: Brothers of the Forest, Forest Brethren; Forest Brotherhood; in Estonian: metsavennad, in Latvian meža brāļi, in Lithuanian miÅ¡ko broliai) were Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian partisans who waged guerrilla warfare against Soviet rule and for German Nazis during the Soviet invasion and occupation of... Czech resistance to Nazi occupation during World War II is a scarcely documented subject, by and large a result of little formal resistance and an effective German policy that deterred acts of resistance or annihilated organizations of resistance. ... The Jewish resistance during the Holocaust was the resistance of the Jewish people against Nazi Germany leading up to and through World War II. Due to the careful organization and overwhelming military might of the Nazi German State and its supporters, many Jews were unable to resist the killings. ... The Korean Liberation Army was the armed force of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, and was created on September 17, 1941 in Chongqing, China. ... Yugoslavia (Jugoslavija in the Latin alphabet, Југославија in Cyrillic; English: South Slavia, or literary The Land of South Slavs) describes three political entities that existed one at a time on the Balkan Peninsula in Europe, during most of the 20th century. ... Members of the Dutch Eindhoven Resistance with troops of the US 101st Airborne Division in front of the Eindhoven cathedral during Operation Market Garden in September 1944. ...
			Lists
			Category · Topics · Conferences // Military engagements For military topics (land, naval, and air engagements as well as campaigns, operations, defensive lines and sieges), please see List of military engagements of World War II. Political and social aspects of the war Causes of World War II Appeasement Occupation of Denmark Netherlands in World War II... List of World War II conferences of the Allied forces In total Churchill attended 14 meetings, Roosevelt 12, Stalin 5. ...
1 Anti-Soviet. 2 Anti-Soviet and anti-Nazi. 3 Anti-Nazi, anti-Polish, and anti-Soviet. 4 Anti-Magyar, anti-Nazi, and anti-Soviet. 5 Lasted to May 1945. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...		World War II at Wiktionary  WWII textbooks at Wikibooks      WWII quotes at Wikiquote  WWII source texts at Wikisource        WWII media at Commons  WWII news stories at Wikinews

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