Operation Epsom
Part of World War II, Battle of Normandy
An ammunition carrier of the 11th Armoured Division explodes after it was hit by a mortar round during Operation Epsom on 26 June 1944
Date June 25 – June 30, 1944 Location Normandy, France Result Indecisive
Combatants
Allied Powers	Nazi Germany
Commanders
Lieutenant General Richard O'Connor	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 SS Panzer-Grenadier Regiment 1,017 12th SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion 250 12th SS Panzer Pioneer Battalion 490 12th SS Panzer Artillery, Divisional, Escort Coy & Others 198 Total 2,662

Operation Epsom was a British attack intended to outflank and seize Caen in France during the Battle of Normandy during World War II. It failed but forced the Germans to abandon their offensive plans and tied most of their armoured units to a defensive role. This article is becoming very long. ... Combatants United States United Kingdom Canada Free France Poland Nazi Germany Commanders Dwight Eisenhower (Supreme Allied Commander) Bernard Montgomery (land) Bertram Ramsay (sea) Trafford Leigh-Mallory (air) Gerd von Rundstedt (OB WEST) Erwin Rommel (absent) (Heeresgruppe B) Friedrich Dollmann () Strength 326,000 (by June 11) Unknown, probably some 1,000... Image File history File links Operationepsom. ... June 25 is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 189 days remaining. ... June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 184 days remaining. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... Mont Saint Michel, one of the famous symbols of Normandy. ... The group of countries known as the Allies of World War II consisted of those nations opposed to the Axis Powers during the Second World War. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... General Sir Richard Nugent OConnor , KT , GCB , GBE , DSO , MC , ADC (August 21, 1889 – June 17, 1981) was a British Army general who commanded the Western Desert Force (WDF) in the early years of World War II. OConnor was the field commander for Operation Compass, in which he... 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... Combatants United States United Kingdom Canada Free France Poland Nazi Germany Commanders Dwight Eisenhower (Supreme Allied Commander) Bernard Montgomery (land) Bertram Ramsay (sea) Trafford Leigh-Mallory (air) Gerd von Rundstedt (OB WEST) Erwin Rommel (absent) (Heeresgruppe B) Friedrich Dollmann () Strength 326,000 (by June 11) Unknown, probably some 1,000... British infantry waiting to move off Queen White Beach, SWORD Area, while under enemy fire, on the morning of 6 June. ... Combatants Canada Germany Commanders Major-General R.F.L. Keller, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, Lieutenant-General H.D.G. Crerar, 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade Generalleutnant Wilhelm Richter, German 716th Static Infantry Division Strength 15,000 Unknown Casualties 574 dead, 340 wounded Unknown Juno Beach was one of the landing sites... Gold Beach was the Allied codename for the centre invasion beach during the World War II Allied invasion of Normandy, June 6, 1944. ... Combatants United States Germany Commanders Lieutenant Omar Bradley, U.S. 1st Infantry Division and U.S. 29th Infantry Division Generalleutnant Dietrich Kraiss, German 352nd Infantry Division Strength 34,000  ? Casualties 2,400 Unknown The build-up of Omaha Beach: reinforcements of men and equipment moving inland. ... 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 U.S.A. Germany Commanders Richard Winters Colonel von der Heydte Strength 13 60+ Casualties 4 dead, 2 wounded 15 dead, 12 prisoner, wounded unknown The Brécourt Manor Assault during Operation Chicago of the Normandy Invasion of World War II is often cited as a classic example of... During World War II, Operation Chicago was carried out by the Allies in 1944. ... The Battle of Villers-Bocage (June 13, 1944) was an unusual clash between the British and Germans in northern France during World War II. Michael Wittmann, an SS-Obersturmführer, led a unit of six PzKpfw VI Tiger tanks of the 501st Battalion to secure the N175 road near Villers... Combatants Allied Powers Nazi Germany Commanders J. Lawton Collins Friedrich Dollman Casualties ?? 39,000 captured The Battle of Cherbourg was part of the Battle of Normandy, fought immediately after the successful landings on June 6, 1944. ... 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. ... 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 months D-Day landings. ... During World War II, Operation Bluecoat was an attack by British Second Army south of Caumont, France executed 29 July 1944. ... During World War II, Operation Lüttich was a counterattack launched by German forces on the left flank of the Allied lodgment at Normandy beginning on 7 August 1944. ... During World War II, Operation Totalise ( Allies, 1944) was a ground attack on 7 August 1944 by British, Canadian and Polish forces to breakout from the Normandy beachhead along the Caen-Falaise road. ... Operation Tractable was a military operation commanded by the 2nd Canadian Corps in Normandy in August 1944. ... During World War II, the Falaise pocket (also known as the Chambois pocket, Chambois-Montcormel pocket, Falaise-Chambois pocket and in French: Poche de Falaise) was the area between the four cities of Trun-Argentan-Vimoutiers-Chambois near Falaise, France, in which Allied forces tried to encircle and destroy the... Combatants Allied Powers Nazi Germany Commanders Troy H. Middleton (US VIII Corps Commander) Bernhard-Hermann Ramcke (Fortress Brest Commander) The Battle for Brest was one of the fiercest battles fought during Operation Cobra, the Allied breakout of Normandy which began on 27 July 1944, during World War II. Part of... The Liberation of Paris in World War II took place in late August 1944 after the battle of Normandy. ... In military science, an attack is the aggressive attempt to conquer enemy territory, installations, personnel, or equipment or to deny the enemy the use of territory, installations, personnel, or equipment, for example by destroying the equipment. ... Location within France Hôtel dEscoville, 16th century, Caen Anonymous pen-and-ink birds-eye view of the fortifications of Caen (Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris) South Wall of the Castle, a huge fortress in the center of the city Town Hall of Caen Caen train station. ... Combatants United States United Kingdom Canada Free France Poland Nazi Germany Commanders Dwight Eisenhower (Supreme Allied Commander) Bernard Montgomery (land) Bertram Ramsay (sea) Trafford Leigh-Mallory (air) Gerd von Rundstedt (OB WEST) Erwin Rommel (absent) (Heeresgruppe B) Friedrich Dollmann () Strength 326,000 (by June 11) Unknown, probably some 1,000... This article is becoming very long. ...

Situation and Plans

The Allies originally intended Caen to be captured on the first day of the invasion of Normandy. When this failed, the sector of front north of the city saw the heaviest fighting. Location within France Hôtel dEscoville, 16th century, Caen Anonymous pen-and-ink birds-eye view of the fortifications of Caen (Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris) South Wall of the Castle, a huge fortress in the center of the city Town Hall of Caen Caen train station. ...

The Allied buildup in the Normandy beachhead was delayed by a storm which lasted from June 17 to June 23. The Germans were able to take advantage of the weather which grounded Allied aircraft, to move II SS Panzer Corps (under SS General Paul Hausser) to reinforce their troops in Normandy, intending to launch a major counter-offensive with them. June 17 is the 168th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (169th in leap years), with 197 days remaining. ... June 23 is the 174th day of the year (175th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 191 days remaining. ... The II.SS-Panzerkorps was a German Waffen-SS armoured corps which saw action on both the Eastern and Western Fronts during World War II. // Formation - Kharkov The II.SS-Panzerkorps was formed in July 1942 in Bergen in The Netherlands as SS-Panzer-Generalkommando. ... 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...

From ULTRA interceptions, General Bernard Montgomery knew this and planned to forestall them with an attack by the fresh British VIII Corps, under Lieutenant General Richard O'Connor. The attack was launched west of Caen and was intended to cross the River Odon and River Orne southwest of the city, outflanking and surrounding its defenders. Ultra (sometimes capitalized ULTRA) was the name used by the British for intelligence resulting from decryption of German communications in World War II. The term eventually became the standard designation in both Britain and the United States for all intelligence from high-level cryptanalytic sources. ... 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... The British VIII Corps was an army corps formation that existed during World War I and World War II. World War I The VIII Corps was first formed at Gallipoli during World War I. The main British battle front was at Cape Helles on the tip of the Gallipoli peninsula. ... General Sir Richard Nugent OConnor , KT , GCB , GBE , DSO , MC , ADC (August 21, 1889 – June 17, 1981) was a British Army general who commanded the Western Desert Force (WDF) in the early years of World War II. OConnor was the field commander for Operation Compass, in which he...

The Operation

A preliminary attack was launched by units of British XXX Corps to secure ground on the flank of the intended advance. On June 25, the British 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division gained some ground but the weather was still foul and the attackers were hampered by muddy ground and lack of air support. Some dominating terrain on the right flank of the intended attack by VIII Corps was still in German hands. The XXX Corps was an infantry corps in the British Army. ... June 25 is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 189 days remaining. ... This military division was formed on April 1, 1908 as the West Riding Division in the Territorial Force of the British Army. ...

Nevertheless, to be certain of anticipating any German attack the main attack was launched on June 26 . Although held up on parts of the front by infantry of 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend, the British 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division and the 31st Armoured Brigade gained four miles on their left flank. Further to their left the British 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division also gained ground. June 26 is the 177th day of the year (178th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 188 days remaining. ... The 12. ... The British 15th (Scottish) Division was a New Army division formed in September 1914 as part of the K2 Army Group. ... The 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division was a British Territorial Army division first formed in 1908. ...

On June 27, after repulsing small armoured counter-attacks, the 15th Division gained more ground and captured a bridge over the River Odon. The British 11th Armoured Division passed through to capture Hill 112, a mile to the southeast. This deep penetration alarmed the German command and Hausser was ordered to commit his units to contain and eliminate the Allied salient. The German command was in some disarray, as General Friedrich Dollmann, commanding the German Seventh Army died of a heart attack immediately after ordering Hausser to mount the counter-attack and Field Marshals Erwin Rommel and Gerd von Rundstedt were en route to a conference with Adolf Hitler and out of touch with their headquarters. June 27 is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 187 days remaining. ... British 11th Armoured Division: The Black Bull. ... Friedrich Dollmann Friedrich Dollmann (1876-June 30, 1944) was a German general during World War II, most notably serving during the early phases of the D-Day Invasion. ... The German Seventh Army (German: ) was a World War II field army. ... Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel ( ) (November 15, 1891 – October 14, 1944) was one of the most distinguished German field marshals of World War II. He was the commander of the Deutsches Afrika Korps and also became known by the nickname The Desert Fox (Wüstenfuchs,  ) for the skillful military campaigns he... Karl Rudolf Gerd von Rundstedt (December 12, 1875 - February 24, 1953) was a field marshal of the German Army during World War II. He held some of the highest field commands in all phases of the war. ... Hitler redirects here. ...

The weather was improving, and Allied aircraft harassed Hausser's units as they moved into position. The attack was launched against the Scottish division's right flank on the evening of June 29. The main attacking force was 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen, supported by several other small "battlegroups" from other Panzer units. The attackers were hit hard by aircraft, artillery and anti-tank fire. Although some tanks reached two miles into the British lines, the attack was held by nightfall. June 29 is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 185 days remaining. ... The official cuff title worn by men of 9. ...

Nevertheless, the British salient was cramped and under fire from several sides. Fresh units could not be introduced to advance further. The Germans succeeded in recapturing Hill 112 on June 30, and the British operation was stopped. June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 184 days remaining. ...

Results and Aftermath

The Germans scored a defensive success in containing the Allied offensive. The British suffered heavy infantry casualties in the first days of the operation. (At one point, the River Odon was said to be choked by bodies). On the other hand, the Germans had been forced to commit their Panzer units piecemeal and counter-attack at a disadvantage. The Panzer units lost several tanks and were disrupted and worn down. Because there were few infantry units available the Panzer units were forced to remain in the front line.

Using information from ULTRA (and the fortuitous capture of a set of German orders), Montgomery had been able to force the Germans to react to Allied moves. As the German Panzer units were forming up to attack the salient across the River Odon, the British 11th Armoured Division was being withdrawn into reserve, ready for fresh attacks while the Germans were still trying to contain the last Allied offensive.

A few days after Epsom ended, Operation Charnwood finally captured the northern half of Caen in a frontal offensive. During World War 2, Operation Charnwood (Allies, 1944) had the objective to capture Caen and its surroundings during the ongoing Battle of Normandy. ...

Sources

• Struggle for Europe, Chester Wilmot, Collins, London
• The Battle for Normandy, Eversley Belfield and H. Essame, Pan Books, London
• Steel inferno, Michael Reynolds, Dell Publishing, New York

See also

Operation Aberlour, Operation Dauntless, and Operation Windsor.