The Battle of Normandy

[Fhil]

Situation report
20:00 hrs



While the Americans in the Utah beach sector are isolated from the rest of the landings, their comrades from Omaha sector pushed some 20 kms inland and English/Canadian forces are heavilly attacking in the Caen area.

Axis forces dispositions shown on the map: (1) 243.Inf.Div´s Gren.Regt.920 (2) 243.Inf.Div´s Gren.Regt.922. I didn´t moved them towards the other side of the peninsula, they are kept as a reserve. (3) Gruppe v Schlieben HQ created, local divisions will be attached under it´s command this night. (4) 709.Inf.Division + STURM Btl. defending Montebourg area (5) 91.Luftland Div., 243.Inf.Div´s Gren.Regt.921, Fallschirm.Regt.6 (two btls) defending Etienville area. (6) Fallschirm.Regt.6´s II.Btl covering Carentan (7) 352.Inf.Div. and Schnelle.Brig.30 (8) Reinforcements from 77.Inf.Div. and 3.Fallschirmjäger Div. on the way to the Omaha sector via St.Lô (9) a gap with a collection of minor forces from 12.SS and 21.Pz.Div. with a KG from Panzer Lehr´s panzer regiment (10) Caen grouping - 12.SS Hitlerjugend Pz.Div., 21.Pz.Div., Panzer Lehr Division (parts) 716.Inf.Div. (remnants).

St.Mere Eglise



A small Kampfgrupped managed to capture some American paratroopers and crossed the Merderet towards Chef du Pont (1). But the forces are too few and they are disrupted, so they´re orders will change to withdraw back across the river and to guard the bridge until some engineers come to destroy it. Another group of American paras that tried to bypass Ftesville got surrounded by a counterattack (2).

Carentan



With Carentan bridges destroyed, local engineers received orders to destroy the bridges over the Vire river. There are two heavy and one medium bridge, the bridge at Auville bridge will be destroyed only after the forces from Omaha sector are evacuated through it.

Trevieres



A very dangerous situation develops here, most of the 352.´s units are disrupted, heavily fatigued and getting isolated here and there. Trevieres itself was captured, Longueville falls soon. Orders for the northern part of the defences are to withdraw behind the Vire river (1). Schnelle.Brig.30 is also badly damaged after spending a day in this area.

Bayeux



Allied forces captured Bayeux and advanced some 10kms further south. I´ve sent Pz.Regt.130 from Panzer Lehr to block further advance here. American tanks (A-blue) will be isolated by it´s panzers and destroyed. The whole Pz.Regt. was divided into smaller KGs that were sent to seal the creating gaps in the lines.

Caen



English units cut the Bayeux-Caen road in another place, between Bretteville and Rots. The rest of the Panzer Lehr division joins the fighting already. Every village is turned into strongpoint in an effort to stop or ´break´ the wave of Allied forces. NE parts of Caen itself are already under enemy direct fire. The main road from Caen to Villers-Bocage must stay in our hands at all costs.



Losses are mounting up on both sides, but this day was bloody especially for tanks and other vehicles, on both sides it got doubled today!