The story
The 1st Infantry Division broke through the crust of enemy coastal defenses and pushed inland.
On 9 June, after tough fighting, just outside of Bayeux the division linked up with the British 50th Infantry Division fighting its way inland from Gold Beach.
Meanwhile, reinforcements were pouring ashore into the perimeter secured by the 1st Infantry Division, and the American 2nd Infantry Division came alongside it on its right flank.
The attack pressed forward into difficult Norman bocage.
Here troops encountered fields separated by thick hedgerows that divided the terrain into small compartments.
Ground had to be seized one field at a time, and the defenders enjoyed numerous tactical advantages.
The division nevertheless battled its way forward, forcing crossings of the Aure and Drome Rivers and advancing over 20 miles in the first week.
On 13 June it seized the strategic high ground around Caumont, and cleared that town the same day.
There's more to discover
You have arrived at just one small part of Back to Normandy — a personal project dedicated to preserving stories, images, music and memories of the Second World War.
Every record is a doorway to a larger story. Explore Back to Normandy to discover more, or visit Fred Vogels' personal website to learn about the person and the projects behind it.