The Campaigns of Normandy and France is the first of a series of six reports describing XX Corps' operations in the European Theatre of Operations from 1 August 1944 to 8 May 1945. These reports should not be regarded as a unit history. They are, rather, operational studies whose purpose it is to set forth the various factors which determined the decisions of the Corps Commander and to recount the manner in which those decisions were implemented, by both the planning staffs and the assault troops. It is believed that a record of this sort, analysing and reporting as it does a great variety of tactical experiences, will be of considerable value to future students of military operations. The divisions of the Corps operational report into six studies has been dictated by the fact that XX Corps' operations fall naturally into six major actions. Each operation has been considered as an independent action, although its relation to preceding and subsequent operations and to concurrent actions by other major units has not been neglected. The facts appearing in the six reports have been obtained from the after action reports of the participating units, from personal interviews with the staffs and commanders of these units, and from pertinent field orders, operational instructions, and G-2 and G-3 periodic reports. More detailed information is available in the Corps and Division after-action reports which have been submitted to the Adjutant General in accordance with AR 345-105. The six phases of XX Corps' operations in Europe are the following: the campaigns of Normandy and France; the reduction of Fortress Metz; the capture of the Saar - Moselle Triangle and Trier; uncovering the Siegfried Line and the drive through the Palatinate; the assault crossing of the Rhine and into Germany; and crossing the Danube River and the drive into Austria.

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