The story
The 79th Infantry Division expanded and reinforced its bridgehead across the Seine River.
Another infantry regiment rowed across the Seine to join the one already across, while division engineers installed a tread-way and then a Bailey bridge.
Soon tanks, artillery and trucks were rolling across in large numbers.
The Germans launched fierce counterattacks to re-establish the Seine as a defensive barrier, but the 79th Infantry Division beat these back and continued the build-up.
The division then advanced on La Roche-Guyon and captured the command post of German Army Group B.
Meanwhile yet another encirclement of retreating German forces had taken place west of the Seine River, and Allied columns advanced on Paris.
On 25 August the French 2nd Armored Division and American 4th Infantry Division liberated Paris in the midst of wildly exuberant crowds.
More bridgeheads across the Seine went in, and plans for pursuit beyond the Seine began to take effect.
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.