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Operation Cobra

United States military strategy

Quick Summary

Operation Cobra was a crucial part of the Normandy Invasion during World War II. Launched on July 25, 1944, it involved a massive air attack that devastated German defenses, creating a gap in their lines. This allowed the U.S. First Army to advance rapidly, taking Avranches by July 30. Shortly after, George S. Patton's newly formed Third Army joined the offensive. The operation's success threatened to encircle German forces in Normandy from the rear, paving the way for the liberation of northern France and the eventual drive into Germany.12

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