Operation Cobra (25-31 July 1944) was the codename given to the breakout from Normandy by the US 1st Army under Omar Bradley, during which the Americans smashed the German 7th Army at the town of Saint-Lo and proceeded to advance on Paris alongside the British, Canadian, and Polish forces from the southwest, enclosing the Germans in the Falaise Gap. The battle saw heavy losses on both sides, but the Allied breakout succeeded.
Background[]
On 6 June 1944, the Allied Powers launched a massive invasion of France on five beaches in Normandy, the northern countryside of France along the English Channel. The invasion succeeded, with most German forces being tied down at the Pas-de-Calais by Allied trickery. With the Allied forces established on the beaches, the Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered a breakout from Normandy so that the Allies could push towards Paris and liberate France. The British, Canadians, and Polish would handle the sector of Caen, the capital of Normandy, while the Americans would focus on pushing the German 7th Army back. Together, the two armies would encircle and destroy the Germans. However, the Germans had the Americans in a tough position, as they defended the hedgerows and sought to drive the Allies back into the sea. General Omar Bradley, commander of the 21st Army Group, masterminded "Operation Cobra", the breakout from Normandy at the town of Saint-Lo. The Americans would push down the St. Lo-Perriers Road and push the Germans back, and they would be able to resume their liberation of France from there.
Battle[]
Saint-Lo came under heavy bombardment from the US Air Force, which softened up German position so that the American infantry divisions could advance into the town. Unfortunately, many Americans were killed by friendly fire, including Lieutenant-General Lesley McNair, and the ensuing battle would be costly for both sides. American armored units spearheaded the assault on Saint-Lo, with infantry moving with the armor into the city to assist in its capture. The Germans inflicted heavy losses with their own armor and machine-gun positions in French houses, but the Americans pushed through the town square and succeeded in taking over the city in house-to-house fighting. Paul Hausser attempted to launch a counterattack against the Americans with his armor and infantry, but the Americans succeeded in pushing them back due to support from their own armor and air force. With the Germans retreating from Saint-Lo for good and the Americans able to advance further into France, the Americans had won a victory with Cobra.
Aftermath[]
1,600 American soldiers were lost in the battle, while German losses were unknown, but probably heavy. The victory at Saint-Lo allowed for the Americans to liberate large amounts of land, and when the British broke through at Caen, the Americans and the Commonwealth were able to advance and trap the Germans in the Falaise Gap.