Initially targeted to be captured on D-Day (June 6, 1944) by British and Canadian forces, heavy German resistance, including elite Panzer divisions, delayed the city’s capture. The fighting around Caen involved multiple operations, such as Operation Perch, Epsom, Charnwood, and Goodwood, which aimed to break through German defenses and secure the city.

The battles were marked by intense urban combat and heavy bombing, which caused significant destruction to Caen. The Allies eventually liberated the city in mid-July 1944, with further operations pushing German forces southward. This victory helped secure the eastern flank of the Allied front and contributed to the eventual breakout from Normandy in Operation Cobra.