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HEADQUARTERS VIII CORPS
APO 308, U.S. Army
10 August 1944
SUBJECT
:
Report After Action against Enemy
TO
:
The Adjutant General, United States Army, Washington, DC
THRU
:
Commanding General, First United States Army, APO 230.
1.
In compliance with letter Headquarters First United States Army, File No. 319.1/401 (C),
Subject: Action Against Enemy, Reports After/After Action Reports, dated 13 July 44, and Par. 10 (C3)
AR 345-105, the attached report covering the action of the VIII Corps against forces of the German
Army on the Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy, France, is submitted. The report covers the period 1-31
July 44.
2.
Map references are to GS, GS 4250, France, scale 1:50,000 and GS, GS 4249, France, scale
1:100,000. Maps A and B refer to the report for the period 15-30 June 44, and were submitted with that
report. Maps C, D and E are attached hereto. Time is indicated in British Double Summer Time.
TROY H. MIDDLETON,
Major General, US Army,
Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS VIII CORPS
APO 308, US Army,
11 AUGUST 1944.
REPORT OF THE VIII CORPS AFTER ACTION AGAINST ENEMY FORCES ON THE
COTENTIN PENINSULA, NORMANDY, FRANCE, FOR THE PERIOD IN 1-31 JULY, 1944.
During the period 15-30 June, 1944, the VIII Corps gradually expanded the line across the
Cotentin Peninsula from Carentan to Port Bail on the West Coast, with the mission of protecting the
southern flank of the VII Corps, while the latter advanced north and captured Cherbourg. The extension
of the VIII Corps line was accomplished by the successive acquisition of the 101st Airborne Division,
the 82nd Airborne Division, and the 90th and 79th Infantry Divisions. These divisions were disposed
generally along the areas inundated by the Germans who, in the preparations of their defenses against
the Allied landings, opened the locks of the Douve, Merderet and Taute rivers and permitted the sea to
flood the river basins. Small bridgeheads across the inundated areas were established to facilitate the
jump-off for an attack south, which was scheduled for the first day of July. Toward the end of June, the
forces available to the Corps were grouped for the attack, and the artillery support built up to nine
battalions of medium and heavy artillery, including two 240-mm howitzer battalions. In addition, four
battalions of the VII Corps Artillery were made available to the VIII Corps for initial support of the
projected attack.
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