Sword Beach - Aftermath

Aftermath

The day ended after 28,845 men, of I Corps, having come ashore across Sword Beach. The British campaign historian, L.F. Ellis notes that "in spite of the Atlantic Wall over 156,000 men had been landed in France on the first day of the campaign." British losses, in the Sword beach area, amounted to around 683 men.

The advance on Caen resumed the following day and the British and Canadians linked up; however, three days into the invasion the advance on Caen was halted. On 7 June Operation Perch, a pincer attack by the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division and XXX Corps was launched to encircle Caen from the east and west. However the 21st Panzer Division halted the highlanders advance while XXX Corps's attack resulted in the Battle of Villers-Bocage and the withdrawal of XXX Corps leading elements soon after. The next offensive, codenamed Operation Epsom, was launched by VIII Corps on 26 June to envelope Caen from the West. German forces managed to contain the offensive, but to do so were obliged to commit all their available strength.

On 27 June the 3rd Infantry Division and tanks, launched Operation Mitten. The objective was to seize two German-occupied châteaux—la Londe and le Landel. The initial evening assault was repulsed, but the following morning further attacks gained the objectives and destroyed several German tanks. Operation Mitten cost at least three British tanks and 268 men. Historian Terry Copp calls the fighting for these châteaux the "bloodiest square mile in Normandy". Divisional historian Norman Scarfe claims that had the operation gone more smoothly, further elements of the division and elements of the 3rd Canadian would have then launched Operation Aberlour, an ambitious plan to capture several villages north of Caen. However, this attack was cancelled by Lieutenant-General John Crocker. Several days later I Corps launched a new offensive, codenamed Operation Charnwood, to gain possession of Caen. In a frontal assault the northern half of the city was finally captured. However, German forces retained possession of the city south of the Orne river and this area would only be liberated during Operation Atlantic by Canadian infantry.