June 29,1944: In Cherbourg, the VII Corps of general Collins eliminates the last pockets of resistance, leaving the town entirely in the hands of the Americans. The repair work on the harbors has begun but it is going to take a while (likely several weeks) before the vital deep-water harbors are available for docking supply ships.
North of Saint-Lo, "punch" attacks by the 115th American Infantry Regiment continue against the German defensive positions near the Wood of Bretel. The Allies progress is measured foot by foot and at high cost through the Normand bocage and hedges, which form almost impenetrable walls.
At Caen, Operation Epsom continues - the Scots of the 15th Infantry Division take the areas surrounding Gravus, but the German Panzer Lehr strongly defends the village and counterattacks the 2nd Battalion of Argylls. Tough battles with heavy weaponry commence but the allied air superiority (benefitting from from good weather conditions) allows the destruction of the German armor. The 11th British Armored division, which has been holed up since the night before, leaves the strategic position of the Hill 112. Lieutenant-General Dempsey fears a massive counter-attack of the Hitlerjugend forces and prefers to pull back tanks of the 11th Armored division to the left bank of the Odon river. Only the men of 4th King's Shropshire Light Infantry defend the position. The Germans attack and take Hill 112 again - the battles are intense, sometimes even resorting to hand-to-hand combat. The dead strew the banks of the Odon river and the battlefields in the surroundings of the hill 112. The spectacle is atrocious, the losses are terrifying. Several thousand British soldiers (more than 4,000 by nightfall) have been killed or injured since the beginning of Operation Epsom (just four days ago). Montgomery worries about the the staggering losses and starts to consider an end of Operation Epsom.
Over France, RAF Bomber Command sends 286 aircraft to attack V-weapons sites during the day and US 9th Air Force bombers and fighters attack gun positions, transportation lines, and other targets.
Over Germany, US 8th Air Force attacks Leipzig with 705 bombers (15 are lost) escorted by 674 fighters.
On the eastern front, the initial objectives of the Soviet summer offensive are reached. The 1st Belorussian Front captures Bobruisk. The forces under Rokossovsky have destroyed over 350 armored vehicles, 2600 artillery pieces, killed 50,000 troops and captured 20,000 Germans in less than a week. The forces of 1st Belorussian now aim northwest toward Minsk with the aim of encircling German 4th Army, and the remnants of 9th Army, with forces of the 3rd Belorussian Front advancing southwest, while 2nd Belorussian pins down the German forces east of Minsk.
In Italy, British 8th Army continues advancing as German rear guards withdraw and US 5th Army continues pushing northward, attacking around Belvedere, Sassetta, and Cecina. US 12th Air Force aircraft attack bridges, transportation lines, airfields, supply depots, and other targets.
Pictured: Partial view illustrating the Cherbourg Arsenal after the German surrender, June 29, 1944; A column of German prisoners, captured in fighting for the outer defenses of Cherbourg are marched to a prisoner of war stockade behind the lines on June 29, 1944.; Fuel tanks of the B-24H Liberator “Little Warrior” with the 861st Bomb Squadron explode over Fallersleben, Germany after anti-aircraft hit, June 29, 1944. Photo taken by Clifford A Stocking, waist gunner on “Green Hornet.”; The 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division near Caen
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