Saturday, 29 July 1944
The days that marked the Battle of Normandy
It was the fifth day of Operation Cobra, which, since the previous day, had seriously advanced American troops, who had infiltrated more than 13 kilometers inside the German lines. As of July 29, three main axes of advance could be distinguished: to the east, the 3rd Armored Division was advancing south of the town of Coutances, reached the previous day and liberated that day. In the center and east of the breakthrough, the 2nd Armored Division was advancing along two axes: toward Saint-Denis-le-Gast and toward Villebaudon.
The Germans attempt to regroup on the same line further south, connecting the villages of Bréhal, Cérences and as far as Percy in the east. This line is called the “Weisse Linie” (the “white line”). However, many soldiers of the 84th Corps are surrounded in the vicinity of Roncey by the 2nd and 3rd US armored divisions. Columns of vehicles try to escape the encirclement and head towards Coutances but it is too late. Three American divisions attack the pocket and silence it by means of violent bombing.
Almost 1,500 German soldiers are put out of action and another 4,000 are taken prisoners. Henceforth, the American forces wanted to persue the German troops and to destroy them. They must also attack the white line.
On the evening of July 29, the American forces reached the villages of Cérences, Cambry, Lengronne and Saint-Denis-le-Gast. The 2nd Armored Division attacks in the direction of Percy.
Back to the historical calendar