Sunday, August 13, 1944
The days that marked the Battle of Normandy
For the Germans, the situation in Normandy is now catastrophic. Several dozen divisions are encircled by the Allies and the vise is tightened. The Americans attack south of the pocket along three major axes; to the east, the 19th Corps of the 1st Army pushed four German divisions, one armored. On its right flank, the 7th Corps of the 1st Army, the 2nd French Armored Division and the 15th US Corps advance to close the trap.
The Germans of the 7th Army, led by General Hausser, began to evacuate a maximum of divisions from the pocket which closed on them. Large units such as S.S. Panzerdivisionen have priority and especially tanks. The Allied air force bombarded the pocket, a “training ground” for fighter-bomber pilots with an impressive number of targets.
At the end of the day, more than 10,000 German soldiers belonging to the 12th Panzer Division have already left the pocket and headed for the Seine.
