Falaise Pocket

The Falaise Pocket was an area of Normandy in which German troops became trapped during World War II.

In August 1944, American mechanized forces broke out from the western end of the Normandy Peninsula through Avranches. Hitler ordered a counterattack from the town of Mortain. This not only failed, but sent German forces west at a time when they needed to retreat to the east to save themselves.

American forces under Patton sped soutwards, fanning out all over France. Meanwhile, British and Canadians attacked near Caen, breaking out and threatening to encircle the Germans from the north.

German troops attempted to retreat through a narrow area remaining to them, but a Polish unit was able to set up positions on a hill called The Mace ?, overlooking them and causing great carnage. SS armored units from the east rolled in and helped to break out the Germans, but many were captured or had to abandon their heavy equipment to escape.