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CONTENTS

LAUNCHING THE INVASION................................................1
Tactical Aspects of the Terrain.......................................3
Enemy Defenses........................................................4
The VII Corps Plan....................................................7
Mounting the Operation...............................................12

THE AIRBORNE ASSAULT.................................................14
The 101st Airborne Division Lands....................................14
Fighting for the Northern Beach Exits................................17
Capture of the Southern Beach Exits..................................20
Securing the Southern Flank..........................................23
The 82d Airborne Division Astride the Merderet.......................30
The Capture of Ste. Mere-Eglise......................................31
Along the Merderet...................................................34
The Airborne Divisions at the End of D Day...........................41

THE SEABORNE ASSAULT.................................................43
Task Force U Moves In ...............................................43
Clearing the Beaches ................................................47
The 4th Division Pushes Inland.......................................50
The Landing in Retrospect............................................55
German Reaction to the Landings......................................57

SECURING THE BEACHHEAD (D PLUS 1)....................................61
The 82nd Division at Ste. Mire-Eglise................................61
The 12th and 22d Infantry Regiments Pursue Their D-Day Objectives....65
The Southern Flank on D Plus 1.......................................71
The Beachhead at the End of D Plus 1.................................74

THE BATTLE FOR CARENTAN (8-15 JUNE)..................................77
St. Come-du-Mont.....................................................77
The Causeway Attack..................................................78
The Left-Win, Attack on Carentan.....................................87
Securing Carentan....................................................90

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BREAKING THE GERMAN LINE IN THE NORTH................................95
The Penetration at Ecausseville......................................95
The Montebourg-le Ham Highway......................................100
The Advance Toward Montebourg.......................................103
Crisbecq and Azeville...............................................104
Ozeville............................................................107
The Capture of Quineville...........................................110
The Enemy Situation.................................................115

SECURING THE DOUVE LINE.............................................119
Crossing the Merderet...............................................119
The 90th Takes Over the Attack......................................125
The 9th Division Is Committed.......................................131
Attack Along the Douve River Line...................................136

SEALING OFF THE PENINSULA...........................................141
The 9th Division Cuts the Escape Routes.............................142
The Enemy Gamble....................................................145

THE DRIVE ON CHERBOURG..............................................150
The First Day.......................................................151
Advance to the Fortified Line.......................................158
German Defenses in the Hilly North..................................164
The Corps Front on 21 June..........................................165

THE FORTRESS IS BREACHED............................................171
The Final Drive Begins..............................................172
The Right Flank.....................................................173
The Center..........................................................177
The Left Flank......................................................179

THE FALL OF CHERBOURG...............................................183
The City Is Reached.................................................183
The Drive Into the City.............................................187
Organized Resistance Ends...........................................193

APPENDIX A: Clearing the Cap Levy and Cap de la Hague Areas.........201

APPENDIX B: Battle Casualties Sustained by VII Corps,
            6 June-1 July 1944......................................209

APPENDIX C: Allied Chain of Command and Order of Battle.............211

APPENDIX D: Enemy Chain of Command and Order of Battle..............213