Editing Operation Goodwood (section)

===Epsom, Windsor and Charnwood===
{{main|Operation Epsom|Operation Windsor|Operation Charnwood}}

After a few days to recover from the storm, the British began [[Operation Epsom]] on 26 June. The newly arrived [[VIII Corps (United Kingdom)|VIII Corps]] (Lieutenant-General [[Richard O'Connor]]), was to attack west of Caen, southwards across the [[River Odon|Odon]] and Orne rivers, capture an area of high ground near [[Bretteville-sur-Laize]], encircling the city.{{sfn|Clark|2004|pp=31–32}} The attack was preceded by [[Operation Martlet]], to secure the VIII Corps flank by capturing high ground on the right of the axis of advance.{{sfn|Clark|2004|p=21}} The Germans managed to contain the offensive by committing all their strength, including two panzer divisions just arrived in Normandy, earmarked for an offensive against British and American positions around Bayeux.{{sfn|Hart|2007|p=108}}{{sfn|Reynolds|2002|p=13}}{{sfn|Wilmot|McDevitt|1997|p=334}} Several days later, the Second Army made a frontal assault on Caen [[Operation Charnwood]].{{sfn|Williams|2004|p=131}} The attack was preceded by [[Operation Windsor]], to capture the airfield at [[Carpiquet]] just outside Caen.{{sfn|Jackson|2006|p=60}} By 9 July, Caen north of the Orne and Odon rivers had been captured but German forces retained possession of the south bank and a number of important locations, including the [[Colombelles]] steel works, whose tall chimneys commanded the area.{{sfn|Williams|2004|p=131}}{{sfn|Bercuson|2004|p=222}}{{sfn|Trew|Badsey|2004|p=53}}

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-721-0353-27A, Collombelles, Soldaten auf Feld vor Fabrik.jpg|thumb|{{centre|A German patrol moves towards the [[Colombelles]] factory area. Some of the tall chimneys used by German observers are visible in the distance.}}]]
Shortly after the capture of northern Caen, the British mounted a raid against the Colombelles steelworks complex to the north-east of the city, which was a failure. The factory area remained in German hands, its tall chimneys providing observation posts that overlooked the Orne bridgehead. At 01:00 on 11 July, elements of the [[153rd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|153rd (Highland) Infantry Brigade]], supported by [[M4 Sherman|Sherman]] tanks of the [[148th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps]], moved against the German position.{{sfn|Trew|Badsey|2004|p=49}} The intention was to secure the area for troops from the [[Royal Engineers]] to destroy the chimneys before retiring.{{sfn|Daglish|2005|p=35}} At 05:00, the British force was ambushed by [[Tiger I|Tiger]] tanks and was forced to withdraw after losing nine tanks.{{sfn|Trew|Badsey|2004|p=49}} The Second Army launched two preliminary operations; according to General [[Bernard Montgomery]], their purpose was to "engage the enemy in battle unceasingly; we must 'write off' his troops; and generally we must kill Germans". Historian Terry Copp called this the moment where the Normandy campaign became a [[Attrition warfare|battle of attrition]].{{sfn|Copp|2004|p=135}}