July 26

Operation Cobra — Breakout from Normandy

U.S. General Omar Bradley launched Operation Cobra with a massive carpet bombing of German lines near Saint-Lô, followed by armored exploitation that tore a hole in the German front. Patton's Third Army roared through the gap and began the liberation of France.

Cobra ended the grinding Normandy hedgerow campaign and began the mobile war of liberation across France, leading to the liberation of Paris within a month.