bigpigeon.us webpage WW II-Germany > The ETO > Liberation > ETO, 6 August 1944, © 2023 by Robert A. Christiansen, updated by RAC 7 Nov 2022.
The Northern France Campaign began with Operation Cobra on 24 July 1944, and when Cobra ended on 31 July the US VIII Corps had smashed through the left flank of the German lines and was speedily advancing.
The Northern France Campaign began with Operation Cobra on 24 July 1944, and when Cobra ended on 31 July the US VIII Corps had smashed through the left flank of the German lines and was speedily advancing.
On 1 August, George Patton's armor-heavy Third Army was unleashed, with VIII Corps, reassigned from the First Army, initially the major Third Army component.
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Until the beginning of August, ETO combat had been confined to Normandy. Now combat would spread to neighboring Brittany.
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Herein is the organization of front-line ETO ground forces on 1 August 1944, after Operation Cobra ended.
The two army groups, four armies, and nine corps are listed roughly clockwise from east to west.
Includes changes since the last order of battle page, 30 June 1944.
Not yet complete.
The two army groups, four armies, and nine corps are listed roughly clockwise from east to west.
Includes changes since the last order of battle page, 30 June 1944.
Not yet complete.
British 21st Army Group (Bernard Montgomery)
Canadian First Army (Harry Crerar), from British Second Army, operational 23 July.
◼ British I Corps (Crocker)
◼ Canadian II Corps (Simonds), operational 7 July.
British Second Army (Miles Dempsey)
◼ British XII Corps (Ritchie)
◼ British VIII Corps (O'Connor)
◼ British XXX Corps (Bucknall)
US 12th Army Group (Omar Bradley), operational 1 August.
US First Army (Omar Bradley --> Courtney Hodges 1 August):
◼ V Corps (Gerow)
◼ VIII Corps (Middleton) First Army --> Third Army 1 August --> Ninth Army 5 September --> First Army 22 October.
The following three Third Army corps entered the line after 1 August 1944:
XV Corps, operational 31 July, entered combat 2 August --> Seventh Army 29 September
As of 19 August:
as of 16 August
US Corps assigned to ETO field armies after August 1944:
Canadian First Army (Harry Crerar), from British Second Army, operational 23 July.
◼ British I Corps (Crocker)
◼ Canadian II Corps (Simonds), operational 7 July.
British Second Army (Miles Dempsey)
◼ British XII Corps (Ritchie)
◼ British VIII Corps (O'Connor)
◼ British XXX Corps (Bucknall)
US 12th Army Group (Omar Bradley), operational 1 August.
US First Army (Omar Bradley --> Courtney Hodges 1 August):
◼ V Corps (Gerow)
- 2nd Infantry Division, arrived continent 7 June --> entered combat 8 June --> XIX Corps 17 August --> VIII Corps 18 August --> V Corps 11 December.
- 5th Infantry Division, arrived continent 9 July --> entered combat 14 July --> Third Army reserve 1 August --> XX Corps 4 August.
- 35th Infantry Division, arrived continent & assigned to XIX Corps 8 July --> entered combat 11 July --> V Corps 27 July --> Third Army reserve 5 August --> XX Corps 6 August --> VII Corps 9 August --> XII Corps 13 August.
- 28th Infantry Division, entered combat 27 July
- 29th Infantry Division, entered combat 6 June, --> XIX Corps 14 Jun --> V Corps 12 Aug --> VIII Corps 19 Aug
- 30th Infantry Division, entered combat 11 June, VII Corps --> XIX Corps 28 July --> V Corps 4 August.
- 1st Infantry Division, entered combat 6 June, V Corps --> VII Corps 15 July.
- 4th Infantry Division, entered combat 6 June
- 2nd Armored Division, landed at Omaha Beach 9 June
- 3rd Armored Division, entered combat 29 Jun
◼ VIII Corps (Middleton) First Army --> Third Army 1 August --> Ninth Army 5 September --> First Army 22 October.
- 8th Infantry Division, entered combat 6 July
- 9th Infantry Division.
- 4th Armored Division, entered combat 17 July, VIII Corps --> XII Corps 13 August.
- 6th Armored Division, entered combat 27 July, VIII Corps --> XII Corps 20 September.
- 79th Infantry Division, VIII Corps --> XV Corps 3 Aug --> XIX Corps 29 Aug.
- 83rd Infantry Division, VIII Corps --> VII Corps 1 July --> VIII Corps 15 July.
- 90th Infantry Division, VIII Corps --> XV Corps 1 August.
The following three Third Army corps entered the line after 1 August 1944:
XV Corps, operational 31 July, entered combat 2 August --> Seventh Army 29 September
As of 19 August:
- 80th Infantry Division, arrived continent 3 August --> XX Corps 7 August --> XV Corps & entered combat 8 August --> XX Corps 10 August --> V Corps 17 August --> Third Army reserve 23 August --> XII Corps 26 August.
- 90th Infantry Division ... VII Corps --> XV Corps 1 August
- 2nd Armored Division
as of 16 August
- 5th Infantry Division, arrived continent 9 July --> entered combat 14 July --> Third Army reserve 1 August --> XX Corps 4 August.
- 7th Armored Division, arrived continent --> XX Corps 10 August, entered combat 13 August -- XIX Corps 25 September --> British VIII Corps 8 October --> XIII Corps 9 November.
- 35th Infantry Division, arrived continent & assigned to XIX Corps 8 July --> entered combat 11 July --> V Corps 27 July --> Third Army reserve 5 August --> XX Corps 6 August --> VII Corps 9 August --> XII Corps 13 August.
- 4th Armored Division, arrived continent 13 July --> VIII Corps 15 July --> entered combat 17 July --> XII Corps 13 August.
US Corps assigned to ETO field armies after August 1944:
- III Corps (entered line w/ Third Army 10 October)
- XIII Corps (entered line w/ Ninth Army ~November)
- XVI Corps (w/ Ninth Army)
- XXI Corps (w/ 6th Army Group from 17 Jan 1945).
The ETO Situation Map, 1 August 1944
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More about corps:
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The ETO Situation Map, 1 August 1944
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Sources for Big Pigeon's The ETO > Normandy Campaign > ETO, 1 August 1944 webpage:
- Most Orders of Battle sources are noted in the Sources list in Big Pigeon's The ETO > ETO Orders of Battle.
- https://i0.wp.com/www.military-history.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Cobra-map.jpg?ssl=1
- The ETO Situation Map, 1 August 1944, https://www.loc.gov/resource/g5701sm.gct00021/?sp=57&r=-0.537,-0.019,1.955,0.993,0.