Omar Nelson Bradley Biography and Timeline

Brigadier General

Appointed Brigadier General

Brigadier General

Appointed Brigadier General

Role range: 1939-1945

First Army

Commands the US First Army during Operation Overlord

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Overlord

Commands the US First Army during Operation Overlord

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Overlord

The HQ for the 1st US Army opens in England

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Overlord

Arrives in England to take command of the First Army

Role range: 1939-1945

Commander of 2nd Corps

Appointed Commander of the II Corps in Tunisia

Commander of 2nd Corps

Appointed Commander of the II Corps in Sicily

Battle of Tunisia

Commander of US troops at the Battle of Tunisia

Role range: 1939-1945

Commander of 2nd Corps

Appointed Commander of the II Corps in Tunisia

Role range: 1939-1945

Commander of 2nd Corps

Appointed Commander of the II Corps in Sicily

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Overlord

3 Airbourne Divisions land behind enemy lines at St Mere-Eglise & Caen

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Overlord

Lands the 2nd British Army from the river Orme to St-Vaast-La-Hogue

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Overlord

The US Army succesfully captrures Omah & Utah beaches

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Cobra

Omar Bradleys intention was to take advantage of the German preoccupation with British and Canadian activity around the town of Caen, and punch through the German defenses penning in his troops while his opponent was distracted and unbalanced

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Overlord

Commands paratroopers who land on the eastern side of the Cotentin Peninsular only

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Overlord

The US 5th Corps capture Isigny on the way to uniting the Utah & Omaha

Role range: 1939-1945

Capture of Carentan

Carentan is captured, uniting all the American forces

Role range: 1939-1945

Capture of Barneville

The Cotentin Peninsular is sealed isolating 4 German Divisions & the port of Cherbourg. The Americans capture Barneville

Role range: 1939-1945

Capture of St Lo

An attack of St Lo is launched but is slowed down by the Normandy countryside, bocage

Role range: 1939-1945

Capture of Cherbourg

The US forces arrive at the hills overlooking Cherbourg

Role range: 1939-1945

Capture of Cherbourg

The US Army captures the Fort du Roule, the key to the defences of Cherbourg

Role range: 1939-1945

Capture of Cherbourg

Cherbourg falls to the Allies

Role range: 1939-1945

Capture of La-Haye

Captures La-Haye-du-Puits

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Cobra

To gain good terrain for Operation Cobra, Bradley and Collins conceived a plan to push forward to the Saint-L“-Periers road, along which VII and VIII Corps were securing jumping-off positions. The American 29th and 35th Infantry Divisions managed to gain the vital heights of Saint-Lo, driving back General der Fallschirmtruppen Eugen Meindls II Parachute Corps

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Cobra

Forced to postpone Operation Cobra due to heavy rainfall

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Cobra

Operation Cobra is postponed for a 2nd time

Role range: 1939-1945

Capture of St Lo

The US advances across St Lo to Periers Road

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Cobra

Gives the go ahead for Operation Cobra

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Cobra

After the one-day postponement, Cobra got underway at 09:38 on 25 July, when around 600 Allied fighter-bombers attacked strongpoints and enemy artillery along a 300 yd (270 m)-wide strip of ground located in the St. Lo area

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Cobra

2,500 bombers from the Eighth & 9th Air Forces open a gap west of St Lo

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Lutch

Notified of the counterattack in advance through signals intercepted via Ultra radio intercepts and deciphering and thus prepared his troops and their commanders to defeat this counteroffensive and to encircle as much of the Wehrmacht force as possible

Role range: 1939-1945

Wehrmacht

Notified of the counterattack in advance through signals intercepted via Ultra radio intercepts and deciphering and thus prepared his troops and their commanders to defeat this counteroffensive and to encircle as much of the Wehrmacht force as possible

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Cobra

Pushes Patton through a gap in the German defence toward Avranches

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Cobra

By 28 July, the German defenses across the US front had largely collapsed under the full weight of VII and VIII Corps advance, and resistance was disorganised and patchy

Role range: 1939-1945

Capture of Avranches

Avranches is captured by Patton

Role range: 1939-1945

First Army

Lieutenant General Courtney Hodges assumed command of the First Army and Bradley was promoted to overall command of both armies, named Twelfth Army Group

Role range: 1939-1945

Twelfth Army Group

Lieutenant General Courtney Hodges assumed command of the First Army and Bradley was promoted to overall command of both armies, named Twelfth Army Group

Role range: 1939-1945

Twelfth Army

Lieutenant General Courtney Hodges assumed command of the First Army and Bradley was promoted to overall command of both armies, named Twelfth Army Group

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Overlord

Orders Patton to clear Brittany with a "minimum forces"

Role range: 1939-1945