The bocage country the breakout
The beachhead shuddered and crackled, our infantry and tanks fighting bitterly, increasing pressure all along the boundaries. To the west the Cherbourg peninsula was secured against moderate resistance and work commenced at once on the great port to insure an increased flow of supplies for the battle. In the bocage country, the battles were local, fiercely fought across the hedgerows, battles not particularly suited to armor. Meanwhile, the enemy attempted to build up a strong defensive line across the base of the Cherbourg peninsula and stretching east.
On July 11, a strong enemy thrust was launched, with elements of a newly arrived panzer division participating in the 1st large scale tank attack experienced by the Corps. Designed to regain Isigny and split the American forces, the attempt proved an expensive effort for the enemy and, having gained no ground, he resumed the defensive, withdrawing slowly under the pressure of continuing American attacks.
In order to gain a decisive victory and to break thru the area of hedgerow defensives, the First United States Army planned Operation "Cobra", a coordinated attack to drive south into areas more suited for armored operations. VII Corps was selected for the main effort. After a tremendous air bombardment, the attack would be led by the 4th, 9th and 30th Divisions, with the 1st Infantry, 2nd and 3rd Armored Divisions poised to exploit the attack once the crust of enemy defenses were weakened.
The planes came, over 3000 of them. The earth trembled with tons upon tons of bombs. A great cloud of dust and smoke rose over the area obscuring the minimum bomb line, and several bombers unloaded on our infantry positions. Initial infantry advances met stubborn resistance but progressed steadily.
On July 26, the Corps "Sunday punch" was committed and the 2nd and 3rd Armored Divisions opened the first large scale armored action of the American forces in Europe. Our armor drove eight kilometers to the south, while infantry divisions widened the penetration. On the following day, the enemy's positions were completely overrun. The days of hedgerow fighting were over. The operation had paved the way for VIII Corps drive down the west coast and for the entrance of the Third United States Army into the battle.
The Third Armored Division plunged southward, swung toward Avranches, and then on toward Mayeme. CCB of the 3rd Armored Division at Mortain blocked the greatest counterattacking force the enemy had been able to muster since D-Day. It was an attempt to drive a wedge between the American .First and Third Armies, to reach the sea along the axis Mortain-Avranches. It failed with the bitterest fighting since D-Day.