Overview of Front Line 7–12 June 1944

Following the initial beach landings on 6 June, the five Allied beachheads made mixed progress inland. In the west, assisted by paratroop drops, the British had secured the vital bridges across the Caen Canal, although Caen itself was still firmly in German hands. Juno and Gold made strong progress inland thanks to the concentration of German armoured units in the area around Caen, making Bayeux the first French town to be liberated by the Allies on 7 June. Following a somewhat disastrous first phase, troops at Utah beach finally secured their beachhead and were able to make good progress inland. Moving southwest to link up with troops from Omaha beach, they took the town of Carentan together on 12 June. The American troops at Omaha were assisted by large paratroop drops behind the beach, which they used to consolidate their position ready for a push up the Cotentin Peninsula.