Today in World War II History—August 7, 1944

US troops in Mortain, France (US Army Center of Military History)

70 Years Ago—Aug. 7, 1944: In Normandy, Canadian forces launch drive toward Falaise, and Germans open counteroffensive in US First Army area, retaking Mortain. Cherbourg Harbor opens for Allied traffic in France. At Harvard University, IBM reveals the Harvard Mark I, the first program-controlled computer (has 50 ft panel, adds in 1/3 second).