Breakout
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| Start of Operation Totalise - © IWM B8817 |
August 1944
The 51st Highland Division was relieved in place on 31st July and moved to North West of Caen to refit and rest.
The Background
The next phase of the campaign was be to achieve the breakout from the bridgehead.
Operation Totalise
The 51st Highland Division was placed under command of the Canadian Corps and on 6th August moved forward to begin the operation called Operation Totalise. The attack began on the night of the 7th August and when the operation ended on the 10th August the 51st Highland Division had secured all its objectives.
Subsequent Operations
The Division turned east and crossed the River Dives and pressed on towards the River Vie. On the 18th August 153 Brigade forced a bridgehead over the Vie at Grandchamp and on the 22nd August Lisieux fell to 153 Brigade. The occupation of Lisieux brought the breakout to an end for the Division.