‘Operation Overlord’, the largest offensive in military history, had gone as the Allies planned. American, British and Canadian troops, supported by three airborne divisions, landed in Normandy under extensive enemy fire. While the operation succeeded in crushing the German defence, the cost to the Allies was many thousands of dead. German positions along the coastline of northern France were obliterated and the Allies threatened the remaining defensive lines.

The US army lead by General Bradley moved in the direction of Cherbourg, while British and Canadian forces under the command of General Montgomery approached the town of Caen, the door to the German defence in Paris.

The British 7th Armoured Division were set to assault the town of Villers-Bocage, which appeared to be an easy target, being defended by only a handful of German infantry with no heavy weapon or armour support. The British hoped that by June 13th, they would secure the town. Doing so would open a southern flank towards Caen.

Conquering Caen would then allow the Allies to approach Paris in several days and thus seal the fate of the German forces in France. All that stood in the way of an easy victory at Villers-Bocage was a handful of tanks of the 501st Heavy Tank Battalion – lead by Sturmführer Michael Wittman. Not only were the Germans in Caen depending on their success, but so too were all the German forces in France. If they held out, so would the Western Front!