The story
The 79th Infantry Division again shifted the direction of its attack, this time from north towards Argentan to east towards Paris and the Seine River.
Even as the Falaise Pocket was closing, General George S. Patton envisioned deeper hooks, further entrapments, and a hot pursuit across the German border.
The 79th Infantry Division raced ahead against ineffective resistance, seizing Nogent-le-Roi and a bridgehead across the Eure River on 16 August.
The Seine River was next.
The 79th Infantry Division had reached Mantes- Gassicourt by the evening of 19 August.
Here the river varied in width from 500 to 800 feet. In the midst of a torrential rainfall an infantry regiment inched across the top of a dam in single file, each man touching the man ahead to maintain contact and avoid missteps.
This daring approach worked.
By the following day the division was solidly established on the far side of the Seine, and the Allies had their first bridgehead across that critical river.
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.