Jump-Off point for Operation Cobra

 Second World War 1939-1945, place with historical importance, interesting place, invisible

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This is the approximate location of the jump-off point for the July 25, 1944 allied offensive called Operation Cobra. The operation was initiated with a saturation bombing effort directed to the area roughly deliniated by this by the east and west borders of this box and to the south of the St. Lo - Periers road which can be seen running east to west through this box.

The defending German forces were located to the south of the road, attacking American forces to the North. The saturation bombing tactic caused some U.S. "friendly fire" casualties however the German units within the bombed area were all but annihilated.

Units if the U.S. VII and VIII proceeded south from this area, achieving a major break-through against the remnants of the defending German forces. This operation effectively ended the costly Normandy campaign and transformed the Western front into a fluid theatre advantageous to the highly mobile and well supplied allied forces. Most of France would be liberated within weeks of this success.