What Events Unfolding Prior to Cobra Operation and Sucess (Research Paper Sample)

Operation Cobra
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Introduction
Operation Cobra also known as breakout from Normandy was a strategic plan launched by General Omar Bradley, the commander of US First Army. It was meant to address the slow progress in his front line following the vast network of hedgerows. American had been in a quagmire as they fought a hell war of hedgerow for close to three weeks with little progress and very heavy losses. It is at this stage that Operation Cobra was launched towards the end of July. As the commander of the First Army, General Bradley worked out this plan strategically and carefully. The plan focused on capturing a 7000-yard stretch which was in the front south of Saint-Lô–Periers Road. The plan was to be preceded by aerial bombing of limited areas so as to raze all defenses in that specific area. Following this, the 9th and 30th Infantry Division under Major General Lawton J. Collins’ VII Corps would move in thus creating a breach gap in the German lines. The VII corps units were then to hold flanks while the 1st infantry and 2nd Armored Division would drive through the breach to undertake diversionary attacks, followed by five division exploitation forces. After thorough debate with Bernard Montgomery, the commander of 21st Army group and General Sir Miles Dempsey, commander of the British Second Army, he revised the objectives of the Plan to incorporate not only the seizing of Cotentin Peninsula and cutting out the Germans but also to move south to Brittany and also Atlantic Ports.
The first areas chosen for the combat laid between Hébécrevon and Chapelle-Enjuger. The first attempt of the attack was done in 24th July which turned out disastrous wounding 150 men. However, the second attempt proved successful since there was immense support from fighter bombers and medium bombers. In this attack the German were severely injured with General Bayerlein’s Panzer Lehr being blown to pieces. The force of explosion tore apart German panther tanks. The fighting continued throughout 25th with immense efforts to open up passage for armored vehicles which had been fitted with hedge-cutting devices as was invented by Sergeant Cullins. The vehicles were able to easily penetrate through the thickets. Driving south, they were able to scatter the German. By 26th July, Collin’s VII Corps had advanced a distance of 10 kilometers capturing Saint Gilles first, then Canisy after they had crossed Coutances-Saint-Lô road. This created gaps in the German lines which led to the collapse of the defense the following day.
Although 2nd AD’s primary objective at first was to protect the left flank of the allied line, Major General Brooks’ decision to attack the Germans head on proved to be the most decisive point of Operation Cobra as Combat Command A captured St. Gilles resulting in the first breakthrough and penetration of German lines. This marked the beginning of the exploitation phase of the operation and led to 2nd AD ultimately capturing Hill 183 in order to defend counterattacks and allow for successful follow on operations.
Operation Cobra was released by Bradley and was to be effected in three phases. General Collins’ VII corps bore the main efforts of the execution of the Plan. The vision of Collins’s VII Corps were to pull down the German defense lines and ease the advance to southwest end of Normandy and eventual seize Brittany Peninsula. The decision to attack the German troops was final and had to be done for progress to be realized. It was estimated that there would be no German counterattacks, and if they occurred, it would not exceed the battalion-size operations. The Operation was to concentrate on the 7000 yards in the front line of German defense. The fighter-bombers were charged with bombing the German defense from forward but immediately south of Saint-Lô–Periers road and the heavy bombers were to launch the attack from behind the German line of resistance. This was intended to weaken the German defense. After the disastrous attempt on 24th July, the offensive attacks resumed on 25th and this time there was success. The bombing resulted into upturning of German tanks, destruction of communication, burying anti-gun tanks, and incapacitation of German Panzer Lehr Division. Because of the heavy bombing, the American forces that had began advancing found the ground impassable and there were unable to move as quickly as they desired. The bombs cratered the ground that heavy tanks fell into, and this destroyed the road badly that they had to involve engineers in repairing the roads before they would proceed.
The reach one of the objectives of Cobra, 2nd Armored Division under the control of General Brooks joined the attacks on 26th of July. General Brooks ordered the attack of the Germans who were withdrawing from the VII Corps. They intercepted and trapped them. They continued that advance until two after midnight, 27th of July; they captured Notre-Dame-de-Cenilly. The advances continued to the morning and evening of 27th and they managed to roll through Marigny-St. Gilles gap. The Americans moved in speed to capture the German defense.
The Capturing of St. Gilles was significant to the operation since it marked the beginning of the end of Cobra Operation. After the capturing of St. Gilles, it was eminent that the Germans would in counterattacks to block the operations of American army. Therefore, the CCB was commissioned to move swiftly and secure the See River Bridge at Tirepied while CCA was to move to protect the bridge at Pontaubault, on river Selune. Because of the several dams that were present around Selune River, if the German would move and blow them, the bridge at Pontaubault would be destroyed. CCA moved swiftly before such attacks would be launched. The seventh army of LXXXIV Corps had suffered a massive blow in the Cobra Operation with its elites units such Das Reich Division and Panzer Lehr Divisions scattered or destroyed.
General Maurice Rose was put in charge of Combat Command A whose aim was to perform an offensive against the German troops. The 2nd armored division was lead by General Brook. Team work and proper coordination was in place between the two army generals. Two places had to be captured for the operation to progress well. The first priority was set for the capturing of Canisy which was a vital town for the American troops. The CCA also had a target of capturing Hill 183 which was also vital for the operation. The CCA also prioritized the securing of line which could be used by the Germans to move in reinforcements. It is worth noting that the Germans had many troops in the north which were already engaging the Britons and the Canadian officers. Aerial attack was launched by 3000 military aircrafts with an aim of damaging the German strongholds.
Carpet bombing method helped erase the German resistance and cause panic in the enemy ranks. The initial plan to approach the Lo-periers road from the east could not work because of weather. Parallel approach was launched but turned tragic because some American troops were killed by their own airmen by mistake. The America air strikes killed approximately one hundred soldiers and injured four hundred from their own camp. The number of casualties on the German side was however huge to compare. The CCA only lost one tank in their offensive on the 26h July. In the morning of day two, the 2nd armored division managed to arrive at the vital point of road junction to the north. On the 27th July, the infantry division VII managed to clear. German resistance had been eliminated General Rose’s team experienced resistance when approaching Gills. They later captured St. Gills marking a huge success towards operation Cobra.
On the night of say one, some German soldiers sneaked into the American territory at night and launched some offensive. Major Maurice remained steadfast knowing that the most of the German resistance had been taken down. The high ground next to Mensil was another target for CCA. The troops had to launch night attacks to eliminate the resistance experienced en route Canisy. The armored vehicles and initial aerial attack against the German strongholds made the enemy defense to collapse. The 2nd division went ahead to capture Samson-de-Bonofosse. The management of the...