Monday, June 19, 1944
The days that marked the Battle of Normandy
The American advance north of the Cotentin continues and the 4th American infantry division seizes the city of Montebourg on 19 June. The town of Valognes, which for the moment is closing the road to Cherbourg, is still in the hands of the German forces, which are opposing vigorous resistance. The fighting on the outskirts of Valognes began.
Allied forces, however, face a major problem: they are heavily dependent on supplies of life, equipment, ammunition and fuel from artificial harbors.
The weather is rather bad on June 19 in Normandy, and the air support is limited. The artificial harbors of Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer and Arromanches are hard hit by a storm in the English Channel that is gradually increasing in intensity since June 17th. The waves destroy the caissons of the outer jetties and run aground in various places. The confusion is immense in the two artificial ports: boats also run aground, some sink and floating bridges break their moorings.
The supply of the front is extremely delayed, to such an extent that General Montgomery’s Epsom operation, which is aimed at definitively piercing the front to the north-west of Caen, is adjourned. On the other hand, the fighting continues in the vicinity of Tilly, which is released during the day, and the British troops seem to progress again after long days past without being able to clearly advance.
