Although neither side knows it at the time, the battle for the Normandy bridgehead has ended by late July. With the Allies in possession of St. Lo and Caen and the defenders bled white, the stage is set for the final breakout from the beachhead, although the Allies do not expect it to come as quickly as it will.

US First Army has planned Operation COBRA for the Jul II turn. Although they hope for the best, many feel it will be another hard fought battle for the gain of another hex. The campaign has been one of bloody attrition, with EXchange followed by EXchange in the combat die rolls. While costly in lives, this is a victory for the Allies, as the Germans cannot make good their losses.

Montgomery's plan of attracting the German armor to the front opposite the British has worked. Only 2nd SS Pz XX, and the cadres of 17th SS PzG and Panzer Lehr divisions face the Americans as a representation of German mechanized strength. Why it has worked is easily seen from the Second Front map. The Germans must react more to the British than to the Americans. An American advance in the western Contentin threatens nothing of immediate importance and even a significant breakthrough would seem relatively easy to contain and not seem to threaten immediate disaster for the Germans. A breakthrough by the British however, could separate 7th Army from the 15th Army and threaten the entire German position in the West.

Stretched finally beyond its breaking point, the German line will snap in the Jul II turn. Hitler's unwillingness to accept a defeat will throw away 7th Army in the Falaise pocket in August and the Battle for France will be over.

Battle for Normandy Europa as History

The Players
The Plans
The Game (Allied June I 1944 Turn) Set Up
The Game (Allied June I 1944 Turn) Combat: Douve and Carentan
The Game (Allied June I 1944 Turn) Combat: Merderet Valley
The Game (Allied June I 1944 Turn) Combat: Utah Beach
The Game (Allied June I 1944 Turn) Combat: Omaha Beach
The Game (Allied June I 1944 Turn) Combat: Gold and Juno Beach
The Game (Allied June I 1944 Turn) Combat: Sword Beach
The Game (Axis June II 1944 Turn)
The Game (Allied and Axis Jul I 1944 Turn)
The Game Poised for a Breakout