Chronology of World War II
Americans close Falaise Gap
Friday, August 18, 1944 www.onwar.com

US troops crossing road with abandoned German equipmentOn the Western Front... The Falaise gap is closed by a link up of Polish and American troops at Chambois. Considerable German forces remain trapped to the west. Allied fighter-bombers successfully harass the German columns attempting to withdraw to the east. To the south, patrols from US 3rd Army reach Versailles as the army advances toward the Seine River.

In Southern France... The forces of US 7th Army continue advancing. The US 6th Corps is moving toward Aix-en-Provence and northward in the direction of Gap while the French 2nd Corps advances along the coast to Toulon and eventually Marseilles.

On the Eastern Front... Soviet troops of 3rd Baltic and Leningrad Fronts advance to the north and south of Lake Peipus. In southern Poland, Soviet forces of 1st Ukrainian Front capture Sandomierz on the west bank of the Vistula River.


This chronological study of the Second World War provides a comprehensive day-by-day account of WWII. While focused on the military history of the war, with an emphasis on the battles and campaigns fought, the timeline includes social and political history as well. Some Holocaust related events are already recorded and additional updates are pending. In so far as possible, the images included in this presentation are pictures from the given days. Additional information and images are welcome through the feedback form found on the index.