 Caen had been an objective of the British forces assaulting Sword Beach on D @-@ Day . However , the German defences were strongest in this sector , and most of the German reinforcements sent to Normandy were committed to the defence of the city . Positional warfare ensued for the next six weeks . Several attempts by British and Canadian forces to capture Caen were unsuccessful until 9 July , when all of the city , north of the Orne River , was captured during Operation Charnwood . Between 18 July and 20 July , British forces launched Operation Goodwood to outflank the city to the east and south , while Canadian forces mounted Operation Atlantic to cross the Orne River and clear the remaining portions of the city . Although Operation Goodwood was halted with heavy tank losses , the two operations ultimately secured a bridgehead 6 mi ( 9 @.@ 7 km ) wide and 3 mi ( 4 @.@ 8 km ) deep south of the Orne . 
