Falaise Pocket

The words

1. Argentan

   Bradley halted the American XV Corps south of Argentan on August 13. Canadian forces were still north of Falaise, leaving a gap between the armies.

   Ch. XXVI, p. 506, Bradley’s halt · Army history: the developing pocket (opens a new tab)

2. Canadians

   Canadian forces advanced from the north toward the German escape corridor. The Canadian Grenadier Guards later relieved the surrounded Polish troops on the heights.

   Closing the gap and Mace hill · Veterans Affairs Canada: the Falaise gap (opens a new tab)

3. Cauldron

   Here, a metaphor for a confined battle area.

   The Montormel Memorial describes a cauldron of Falaise. The image conveys a confined battlefield where retreating troops faced Allied positions and repeated attacks.

   Maczuga section, the confined battlefield · Montormel Memorial: fighting on August 20 (opens a new tab)

4. Chambois

   Polish troops joined American forces at Chambois on August 19. The meeting helped close the gap, but fighting over the remaining openings continued.

   Closing the gap and Mace hill · Veterans Affairs Canada: the Falaise gap (opens a new tab)

5. Closing the Gap

   Closing the gap required more than a single linkup. Canadian and Polish troops still had to block scattered openings while German forces attacked to escape.

   Mace hill, remaining openings after the linkup · Veterans Affairs Canada: the Falaise gap (opens a new tab)

6. Destruction

   The road from Moissy toward Coudehard became clogged with wrecked German equipment. Bombardment and gunfire killed and wounded men trying to pass through.

   Moissy et Saint-Lambert, the congested road · Montormel Memorial: fighting on August 20 (opens a new tab)

7. Domfront

   American pressure around Domfront endangered the German southern flank. German armor became tied to defensive fighting there as commanders struggled to organize another counterattack.

   Ch. XXVI, pp. 516–517, southern pressure · Army history: the developing pocket (opens a new tab)

8. Envelopment

   An advance around an enemy’s flanks.

   The Allies pressed around the German forces from different directions. American troops near Argentan formed the southern jaw while Canadian forces approached from the north.

   Ch. XXVI, pp. 506–507, the two jaws · Army history: the developing pocket (opens a new tab)

9. Escape Route

   The bridge at Saint-Lambert and the ford at Moissy offered ways across the Dives. Congestion and Allied fire made these remaining passages dangerous.

   Moissy et Saint-Lambert, river crossings · Montormel Memorial: fighting on August 20 (opens a new tab)

10. Falaise Pocket

    German forces withdrew inside a narrowing pocket west of the Dives. Their escape depended on keeping the eastern exit open long enough for the retreat.

    Ch. XXVII, pp. 528–529, withdrawal and geography · Army history: closing the pocket (opens a new tab)

11. Maczuga

    Polish for “mace,” a heavy striking weapon.

    The Polish commander named the wooded hill Maczuga, or mace. The position stood east of the Canadian line, in the path of German escape efforts.

    Mace hill, the Polish position · Veterans Affairs Canada: the Falaise gap (opens a new tab)

12. Mont Ormel

    Polish troops held the heights despite attacks from inside and outside the pocket. They continued directing artillery fire against German columns attempting to withdraw.

    Maczuga section, defended heights and artillery · Montormel Memorial: fighting on August 20 (opens a new tab)

13. Poles

    The 1st Polish Armoured Division held its hill position under repeated attack. Surrounded and short of supplies, its troops endured until Canadian relief arrived.

    Mace hill, isolation and relief · Veterans Affairs Canada: the Falaise gap (opens a new tab)

14. Trapped

    Some German units surrendered when they could not force a passage. Others escaped through remaining crossings, so the encirclement did not capture everyone inside it.

    Moissy et Saint-Lambert and Chambois, escape and surrender · Montormel Memorial: fighting on August 20 (opens a new tab)

15. Typhoon

    RAF Typhoons attacked retreating columns with rockets and cannon. Alongside artillery and ground forces, these fighter-bombers inflicted losses on German troops and transport around the gap.

    Closing the Gap at Falaise, pp. 35–37, aircraft and road columns · Hallion: air attacks around Falaise (opens a new tab)