Monday, August 14, 1944
The days that marked the Battle of Normandy
The closing of the Falaise pocket is finally ordered. To do this, the Canadians are launching their own operation, called Tractable, which aims to close the major escape route of the Germans, located in the area near the town of Falaise. The British 53rd Infantry Division, three Canadian divisions (2nd and 3rd Infantry, 4th Armored Division), and the 1st Polish Armored Division, are on the offensive after heavy bombing, north and south of Falaise. The 12th ss Panzer Division has difficulty in arresting the Allies.
The 1st and 21st divisions S.S. Panzer, who gradually retreated at the time of the attack to leave the Falaise pocket, launched a counter-offensive north-west towards Soulangy. But the Allies pushed back the attacks while the 1st Polish Armored Division progressed east of Falaise to cut the retreat of the German divisions.
German officers continually received Hitler’s orders, who forbid any retreat towards the east, and who required the officers to defend their positions.
