July 21, 1944: Operation Goodwood ends in the southwest of Caen, the British having progressed only 7 miles despite several thousands of tons of bombs having been dropped on the German positions. The Allies have suffered 3,600 casualties and 469 Allied tanks are out of commission, and the town of Falaise, which was one of the objectives of the Goodwood offensive, is far from being reached. Despite these discouraging reports, general Montgomery is pleased; the Germans sent many tanks to the southeast of Caen, which will allow the American forces to move south in the days to follow.
There is still no air support in Normandy due to the strong rains which fall constantly. The Americans are about to launch a massive offensive, Operation Cobra, and therefore limit contact with the German forces (which benefit from this and attempt to resupply). The Germans have been severely tested in the area around Saint-Lo, and their incredible resistance of this city has caused serious problems as the troops are exhausted and short on ammunition. In preparation for Operation Cobra, which must begin in the next few days (as soon as good weather returns), the 8th Infantry division organizes reconnaissance missions in the west of Saint-Lo.
1,110 bombers of US 8th Air Force are launched from England against Germany, hitting München (Munich), Saarbrücken (targeting rail marshalling yards), Oberpfeffenhofen, Walldrun (targeting rail marshalling yards), Regensburg, Stuttgart, Schweinfurt, and other locations; a total of 31 bombers and 8 escorting fighters are lost.
On the eastern front, 1st Shock Army of Soviet 3rd Baltic Front captures Ostrov. 42nd Army of Soviet 3rd Baltic Front attacking Pskov. Soviet 1st Byelorussian Front pushing toward Lublin and Brest-Litovsk. German XIII Korps under heavy attack between Kovel and Lvov.
In Italy, on British 8th Army front, German units withdraw from Citta di Castello overnight. New Zealand 2nd Division and South African 6th Armored Division of British 8th Army relieving French Expeditionary Corps (US 5th Army), which is withdrawn from the line to prepare for invasion of southern France. US 12th Air Force attacks transportation lines and bridges over the Po River while US 15th Air Force attacks Mestre.
Hitler makes a public broadcast shortly after midnight: ‘You may hear my voice and know that I am uninjured and well.’
Pictured: Royal Engineers move through the ruins of Caen, looking for mines and booby-traps, July 1944.; An American infantryman dashes down a street to take shelter behind a knocked-out US tank destroyer (left), in the shell-riddled town of Saint-Lô on July 21, 1944; Three Nazi prisoners rounded up during mopping-up operations in Saint-Lô on July 21, 1944. Two of them are bare-footed and without tunics.; Map of Normandy liberated by the Allies, July, 1944
