Editing Operation Totalize (section)

==First Canadian Army attack==

[[File:Totalize.jpg|thumb|Map of Operation Totalize.]]
During the evening of 7 August 1944, the attacking forces formed up in six columns, four vehicles wide, comprising tanks, Kangaroo APCs, [[Half-track|half tracks]], [[Self-propelled anti-tank gun|self-propelled anti-tank guns]] and [[Mine flail]] tanks.{{sfn|Wilmot|1997|p=412}} At 23:00, [[Bomber Command]] commenced the bombardment of German positions along the Caen front. At 23:30, the armoured columns began their advance behind a [[Barrage (artillery)|rolling barrage]].{{sfn|Zuehlke|2001|p=168}} Movement was slow at first, many APC drivers became disoriented by the dust caused by the vehicles.{{sfn|Bercuson|2004|p=228}} Several vehicles became stuck in bomb craters. Simonds had arranged several methods for the columns to maintain direction; some vehicles were fitted with [[radio direction finder]]s, the artillery fired target-marking shells, [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|Bofors 40 mm]] guns fired bursts of [[Tracer ammunition|tracer]] in the direction of the advance. In spite of all these measures, there was still confusion. Several vehicles collided or were knocked out.{{sfn|Roy|1984|p=166}}

The attack broke through the German defences in several places.{{sfn|Zuehlke|2001|p=168}} By dawn, the attacking columns from the 51st (Highland) Division had reached their intended positions. The infantry dismounted from their Kangaroo APCs within {{cvt|200|yd}} of their objectives at the villages of Cramensnil and Saint-Aignan de Cramesnil, rapidly over-running the defenders.{{sfn|Wilmot|1997|p=412}} The columns from the 2nd Canadian Division were delayed by fog and unexpected opposition on their right flank but by noon on 8 August, the Allied forces had captured Verrières Ridge.{{sfn|Roy|1984|p=167}} The novel methods used by Simonds ensured that the attackers suffered only a fraction of the loss which would have been incurred in a normal "dismounted" attack.{{sfn|Wilmot|1997|p=413}} The Allies were poised to move against [[Cintheaux]], {{cvt|2|mi}} south of their furthest penetration but Simonds ordered a halt, to allow field artillery and the 4th Canadian and 1st Polish  armoured divisions to move into position for the second phase of the operation.{{sfn|Zuehlke|2001|p=168}}