Falaise pocket

The Falaise pocket was a German position in Normandy during World War II. Following the Allied breakout at Avranches, the Germans attempted a counterattack at Mortain which moved some of their forces west. This left them vulnerable to being surrounded and cut off. When the Germans did attempt to retreat, the path was blocked. In particular there was a Polish unit at the top of a hill called the "Mace" which did damage and helped to direct the devastating Allied artillery barrages. German units who had escaped the pocket attacked west in an attempt to keep the corridor open, but in the end around 60,000 Germans were killed or captured, with many more being forced to retreat without their heavy equipment.

Allied ground attack aircraft also took a heavy toll on the Germans, who left around 500 tanks and assault guns on the field.