Lüttich and Totalize

On 6^th August 1944 German Panzer Divisions in Normandy launched an initially successful counter-attack at Mortain, south of Vire.  This was the beginning of launch of Operation Lüttich, a German counter-offensive to re-take Avranches and cut off the Americans advancing into Brittany from the rest of the Allies.  Fighting continued in the Mortain area (east of Avranches) for several days but the initiative was unsuccessful and led to the outflanking of western German forces in the Falaise pocket.  The American commander, Bradley, was warned of the attack by Ultra (British Intelligence) and saw it as an opportunity to destroy the German armoured forces.

British and Canadian forces push towards Falaise in Operation Totalize. On the night of 7^th August the Canadian 1^st Army began to advance south of Caen towards Falaise.  After initial success, assisted by a heavy bombardment by RAF and USAAF planes, they were blocked on 11^th August by the strong German defensive positions around Quesnay on the Caen to Falaise road.

 

The advance of British VIII and XXX Corps had slowed at the end of Operation Bluecoat although 59^th (Staffordshire) Division in XII Corps succeeded in securing a bridgehead over the River Orne at Grimbosq, north of Thury-Harcourt. (From 'The Final Battle for Normandy'.) 

Eric Brewer (and possibly the rest of 61st Reconnaissance Regiment) was "Still in reserve, taking it easy waiting for orders" (from Eric Brewer’s Diary by kind permission of Derek Brewer and his family.)