Operation Totalize

Operation Totalize
Part of Operation Overlord

A Cromwell tank and jeep pass an abandoned German 88 mm anti-tank gun during Operation Totalize, 8 August 1944.
Date8–9 August 1944
Location
Normandy, France
49°11′10″N 0°21′45″W / 49.18611°N 0.36250°W / 49.18611; -0.36250
Result Allied victory
Belligerents
 Canada
 United Kingdom
Poland Poland		  Germany
Commanders and leaders
Canada Guy Simonds
Canada Harry Crerar		 Nazi Germany Kurt Meyer
Strength
85,000 men
2,000 aircraft
720 artillery pieces
3 infantry divisions
2 armoured divisions
2 armoured brigades[1]		 3 infantry divisions,
1 SS Panzer division
1 heavy tank battalion
At least 74 tanks[2]
Casualties and losses
At least 1,256[a]
146+ tanks[b]		 3,000 casualties[c]
At least 45 tanks[5]

Operation Totalize (also spelled Operation Totalise in recent British sources) was an offensive launched by Allied troops in the First Canadian Army during the later stages of Operation Overlord, from 8 to 9 August 1944.[6] The intention was to break through the German defences south of Caen on the eastern flank of the Allied positions in Normandy and exploit success by driving south, to capture the high ground north of the city of Falaise. The goal was to collapse the German front and cut off the retreat of German forces fighting the Allied armies further west. The battle is considered the inaugural operation of the First Canadian Army, which had been activated on 23 July.[7]

In the early hours of 8 August 1944, II Canadian Corps launched the attack using mechanized infantry. They broke through the German front lines and captured vital positions deep in the German defences. It was intended that two fresh armoured divisions would continue the attack but some hesitancy by these two comparatively inexperienced divisions and German armoured counter-attacks halted this offensive.[8][9][10] Having advanced 9 mi (14 km), the Allies were halted 7 mi (11 km) north of Falaise and forced to prepare a fresh attack.[5]

  1. ^ Hart 2004, p. 23.
  2. ^ Hart 2004, p. 32.
  3. ^ a b Reynolds 2001, p. 246.
  4. ^ a b Copp 2004, p. 211.
  5. ^ a b Wilmot 1997, p. 414.
  6. ^ Wilmot 1997, pp. 410–414.
  7. ^ Bercuson 2004, p. 229.
  8. ^ Fellgiebel 1986, p. 366.
  9. ^ Számvéber 2018, p. 168.
  10. ^ Bergström 2014, p. 172.


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