The story
The 5th Infantry Division again shifted the axis of its advance, this time from northeast to east, as General George S.Patton’s Third Army sought both to close the Falaise Pocket and also to drive deep into France.
In concert with the newly arrived 7th Armored Division, the next objective for the 5th Infantry Division was Chartres, considered by many to be the gateway to Paris.
The Germans had designated Chartres as an “absorption point” where retreating units would rendezvous and reorganize, so defenders were numerous and resistance was fierce.
The American armor arrived first and had difficulty in the narrow streets, but the 5th Infantry Division’s infantrymen soon caught up to assist.
Combined 18 arms teams of tanks and infantry cleared Chartres block by block.
More than 2,000 prisoners were captured, in addition to the airport, warehouses, depots, a bomb assembly plant, and 50 planes.
There's more to discover
You have arrived at just one small part of Back to Normandy — a personal project dedicated to preserving stories, images, music and memories of the Second World War.
Every record is a doorway to a larger story. Explore Back to Normandy to discover more, or visit Fred Vogels' personal website to learn about the person and the projects behind it.