Editing Operation Totalize (section)

==Background==
[[Caen]] had been an objective of the British forces assaulting [[Sword Beach]] on [[D-Day]].{{sfn|Van der Vat|2003|p=110}} The German defences were discovered to be strongest in this sector and most of the German reinforcements sent to [[Normandy]] were committed to the defence of the city.{{sfn|Bercuson|2004|p=215}} Positional warfare ensued for the next six weeks. Several attempts by British and Canadian forces to capture Caen were unsuccessful until 9 July, when all of the city, north of the [[Orne River]], was captured during [[Operation Charnwood]]. Between 18 July and 20 July, British forces launched [[Operation Goodwood]] to outflank the city to the east and south, while Canadian forces mounted [[Operation Atlantic]] to cross the Orne River and clear the remaining portions of the city. Although Operation Goodwood was halted with many tank losses, the two operations secured a bridgehead {{cvt|6|mi}} wide and {{cvt|3|mi}} deep south of the Orne.{{sfn|Van der Vat|2003|p=157}}

The Germans retained their hold on the commanding terrain of the [[Verrières Ridge]] {{cvt|5|mi}} south of the city. The British and Canadian attacks launched around Caen (in part to distract the Germans from the western part of the front, where the [[First United States Army]] was preparing to break out of the Allied lodgement) had caused the Germans to defend Verrières ridge with some of their strongest and most determined formations, including elements of three [[SS Panzer Division order of battle|SS Panzer divisions]] of the [[I SS Panzer Corps]].{{sfn|Van der Vat|2003|p=161}}

Within 48 hours of the end of Operation Goodwood, the [[2nd Canadian Division|2nd Canadian Infantry Division]] launched an attack against the "formidable" German defences on Verrières Ridge.<ref>{{harvnb|Bercuson|2004|p=222}}</ref> The Canadians suffered over 1,300 casualties and territorial gains were minimal. From 25 July to 27 July, another attempt was made to take the ridge as part of [[Operation Spring]]. Poor execution resulted in around 1,500 Canadian casualties.{{sfn|Reid|2005|p=52}}{{sfn|Stacey|Bond|1960|p=194}} The [[Battle of Verrières Ridge]] had claimed upwards of 2,800 Canadian casualties.{{sfn|Zuehlke|2001|pp=166–168}} While the ridge remained in German hands, the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division gained a foothold on the ridge between the village of Verrières to [[Saint-Martin-de-Fontenay|St.Martin-de-Fontenay]], which would allow the troops to assemble free of German observation while they prepared to launch Operation Totalize.{{sfn|Bercuson|2004|p=226}}{{sfn|Reid|2005|p=57}}

On 25 July, the American First Army began [[Operation Cobra]], which after the first two days, broke through the German defences south of [[Saint-Lô]].{{sfn|Wilmot|1997|pp=390–392}} By the end of the third day of the operation, American forces had advanced {{cvt|15|mi}} south of the Cobra start line at several points.{{sfn|Wilmot|1997|p=393}} On 30 July, US forces captured [[Avranches]], at the base of the [[Cotentin Peninsula|Cotentin peninsula]]. The German left flank had collapsed and within 24 hours, units of the US [[United States Army Central|Third Army]] entered [[Brittany]] and advanced south and west through open country, almost without opposition.{{sfn|Wilmot|1997|p=394}} The [[1st SS Panzer Division|1st SS]], [[9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen|9th SS]] and [[116th Panzer Division|116th]] [[Panzer Divisions|Panzer divisions]] were shifted westward from Verrières Ridge to face this new threat.{{sfn|Bercuson|2004|p=226}}

[[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[Bernard Montgomery]] (commanding the ground forces in Normandy), wanted an attack on the eastern flank of the front to capture Falaise, intending that such a move would precipitate a general German collapse. The First Canadian Army (Lieutenant General [[Harry Crerar]]), held this part of the Allied front. It consisted of the British [[I Corps (United Kingdom)|I Corps]], responsible for the extreme eastern flank of the Allied lines and II Canadian Corps (Lieutenant General [[Guy Simonds]]) south of Caen.{{sfn|Wilmot|1997|p=410}} The II Canadian Corps, which was to launch Operation Totalize consisted of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, [[3rd Canadian Infantry Division]], [[49th (West Riding) Infantry Division]], [[51st (Highland) Infantry Division]], [[4th Canadian (Armoured) Division]], [[1st Polish Armoured Division]], [[2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade]] and the British [[33rd Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|33rd Armoured Brigade]].{{sfn|Delaforce|2003|p=138}}{{sfn|Van der Vat|2003|p=166}}