Battle

Falaise pocket

12 Aug 1944 – 21 Aug 1944 · Falaise–Chambois, Normandy

After the failure of the German Mortain counter-attack, American forces swinging north from Le Mans and British, Canadian and Polish forces driving south from Caen closed on the German 7th Army and 5th Panzer Army around Falaise. The Polish 1st Armoured Division held Hill 262 (Mont Ormel) against desperate break-out attempts, and the pocket was sealed at Chambois on 21 August 1944. About 50,000 Germans were captured; the Battle of Normandy was decided.