1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 21–22 AUGUST 1944 ]
Div, occupies 5-mile sector W of Florence, replacing
Br units.
CBI—On Salween front. after mines under
enemy positions on Sung Shan are exploded, Ch
troops with flame throwers clear this feature, which
has held out for so long, but scattered pockets of
enemy remain about Sung Shan.
SWPA—CTF 77 issues Operations Plan 8–
44 for Morotai operation.
NEW GUINEA—Gen Krueger declares the Biak
operation at an end. Base development is well advanced.
Although airfields were not ready in time
to support Marianas operation as hoped, they are to
contribute materially to subsequent offensive in
SWPA and POA. TF HURRICANE, during period 27
May to date, has suffered about 400 killed, 2,000
wounded, 150 injured in action, and 5 missing, aside
from those removed from action because of sickness.
Japanese, during the same period, have lost
about 4,700 killed and 220 captured. 41st Div continues
to mop up Biak for some months to come.
21 August
N FRANCE—21 Army Group: In Cdn First
Army area, 2 Corps, leaving Pol 1st Armd and Cdn
3d Divs to complete reduction of Falaise–Argentan
Pocket, drives E toward the Seine at Rouen.
In Br Second Army’s 30 Corps area, 11th Armd
Div, spearheading for corps, bypasses Gacé and
drives on toward Laigle.
12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s V Corps
area, 80th Div is relieved of responsibility for its
sector near Argentan by Br 30 Corps. 102d Cav Gp,
which has closed in Sées area, begins rcn NE of Sées
and E of Exmes. VII Corps commits 9th Div in
defensive role in Mortagne area. In XIX Corps area,
2d Armd Div bypasses Verneuil and advances toward
Breteuil. 28th Div moves up to clear Verneuil.
30th Div overruns Nonancourt.
In U.S. Third Army’s XV Corps area, while 79th
Div improves and expands bridgehead across the
Seine in Mantes-Gassicourt area, 5th Armd Div continues
N toward Louviers. In XX Corps area, 7th
Armd Div drives to Arpajon–Rambouillet area. 5th
Div overruns Etampes. In XII Corps area, 4th Armd
Div captures Sens. 35th Div pushes through Pithiviers.
S FRANCE—In U.S. Seventh Army area, 1st
ABTF begins clearing coastal sector around La
Napoule in preparation for drive on Cannes. In
VI Corps area, 30th Inf of 3d Div, assisted by FFI
forces, takes Aix-en-Provence, from which most
Germans have withdrawn. Gen Truscott orders
3d Div to halt on line Le Puy–Rognac until strength
of enemy armor can be determined. 45th Div columns
are moving on Avignon, Apt, and Volonne.
[ 253 ]
TF Butler, turning over roadblocks below Grenoble
to 36th Div, drives W through Die and Crest to the
Rhône Valley, destroying enemy vehicle convoy N
of Livron. 36th Div shuttles to Grenoble corridor
to relieve TF Butler and continues across the Durance
toward Grenoble; is ordered to provide reinforcements
for TF Butler in Rhône Valley. In Fr
Army B area, 2d Corps continues drive on Toulon
and Marseille. 1st Div takes Hyères, on E approach
to Toulon. Groupe de Commandos takes Mt. Coudon
and Linares Group of 3d Algerian Div neutralizes
Mt. Caumes, both hilltop fortresses N of Toulon.
Bonjour Group, 3d Algerian Div, gets rcn elements
to Bandol, on coast W of Toulon, completing
investment of Toulon. Chapuis Group, 3d Algerian
Div, and elements of 1st Armd Div continue W
on N flank of 2d Corps toward Marseille, reaching
Aubagne.
EASTERN EUROPE—Continuing counteroffensive,
Germans regain Tukums, 35 miles E of Riga.
ITALY—AAI: Orders U.S. Fifth Army, which
has been pretending to build up forces in vicinity
of Pisa and Fucecchio, to extend its feigned concentrations,
particularly in Florence area, to cover
preparations for main Br Eighth Army push.
In U.S. Fifth Army’s II Corps area, 88th Div sends
350th Inf to Leghorn to assist IV Corps. Br 13
Corps prepares for limited operations across the
Arno, since enemy appears to be withdrawing.
In Br Eighth Army area, Pol 2 Corps continues
northward in Adriatic sector, forcing enemy to withdraw
behind the Metauro R, night 21–22.
NEW GUINEA—In Wakde-Sarmi area, RCT 20
reverts to 6th Div from attachment to 31st Div.
22 August
N FRANCE—21 Army Group: In Cdn First
Army’s Br I Corps area, Deauville falls to Belgian
Brig, under command of Br 6th A/B Div. 6th A/B
Div is engaging enemy in Pont Evêque area. Br
49th Div crosses the Touques near Pont Evêque. Br
7th Armd Div thrusts beyond the Touques, passing
through S outskirts of Lisieux. 2 Corps, less elements
mopping up Falaise–Argentan pocket, reaches
Touques R.
In Br Second Army’s 30 Corps area, 11th Armd
Div, speeding eastward, reaches Laigle.
12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s V Corps
area, Br 30 Corps units relieve 80th Div, from which
CCL is detached and reverts to Fr 2d Armd Div.
80th and 90th Divs assemble for maintenance and
rehabilitation while awaiting new orders. V Corps,
now entirely out of contact with enemy, is given
mission of freeing Paris. Fr 2d Armd Div is alerted
for the task. 4th Div is transferred to V Corps from
VII Corps. Advance into Paris is to begin at con-