No Holding Back

On the morning of August 8, 1944, the Canadian Army roared into action in Operation Totalize, a massive armored attack that aimed to break through enemy defenses south of Caen and trap the Germans in Normandy by linking up with Patton’s U.S. Third Army. After initial gains, the assault lost momentum and failed to achieve all of its objectives. Brian A. Reid’s landmark account covers the strategic context and planning of this controversial operation, details the actions of the men who fought and bled in this sector of Normandy, and sheds new light on who killed German panzer ace Michael Wittmann.