Falaise Bloody Falaise.

[von Poop]

Yet this was an overwhelming Victory. the complete destruction of 180,000 men and their armour and artillery as a fighting structure.
Yet the carpers and snipers sat in their comfortable armchairs back in the UK, never gave Monty any credit for what was in fact, one of the greatest victories of WW2, Not only did he destroy the German army in Normandy with his tacitcs. But he did it ten days ahead of schedule.

His Victory was Complete, just as it had been in North Africa.
Sapper

Firmly agree with that.
(though some debate on the specific figures for German losses would be worthwhile.)

It's often said that even more damage could have been done, I'm unclear as to whether this is really true, a major 'what if' of that campaign.

So supposing we were to accept that there was a slight fumble at the end; who do we think was responsible for not quite closing the pocket as fast and firmly as Monty envisioned in the initial planning for France. I read of blame placed on the French, the Americans, the Canadians & the British depending which book it is, and when it becomes a blame game I begin to suspect that it just couldn't have had any other outcome than the admittedly excellent one it did. I also get the feeling that the number of Germans that did manage to get out often did so by sheer fighting tenacity despite their appalling situation.

(can I just recommend the excellent and new 'Ruckmarsch' by after the battle for intense and high quality photographic coverage of the German retreat in France.)

[Owen]

Erik H has some good Falaise photos on his site.
Canada at War - Photos: Normandy - Falaise

I'll include one here of a Panther amongst the carnage of dead horses.

Art Bridge sent me this photo, St Lambert-sur-Dives.

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (P.L.)

ST. LAMBERT-SUR-DIVES
By the middle of August 1944, the German Seventh Army was in full retreat in Normandy. It was close to being totally encircled by the allied armies and captured whole. It was a disaster with as much gravity as the huge defeat at STALINGRAD a year and a half before. The British and Canadians were closing in from the north while the Americans were closing in from the west and south. Only a small opening near the town of FALAISE remained for the Germans to retreat through. It would come to be known as the FALAISE GAP.
The Germans were being mercilessly pummelled by allied artillery and air power. Losses were enormous and units were involved in a confused race to get through the gap before it was closed by Canadian and Polish forces.
On 18 August 1944, "B" Company of the Argylls was placed under command of "C" Squadron of The South Alberta Regiment (SAR) which was commanded by Major Dave Currie. This composite group was tasked to close the road running through ST. LAMBERT-SUR-DIVES which was the main German escape route between the towns of CHAMBOIS and TRUN.
In the early morning of 19 August 1944, "B" Company and "C" Squadron attacked ST. LAMBERT and cleared half of the town and consolidated in the centre having insufficient troops to clear the rest. The fighting was vicious with German tanks being destroyed at close range with grenades and PIATs. Company Sergeant Major George Mitchell and Private MR Holmes distinguished themselves by rescuing the driver of a burning SAR tank while under fire. The Argylls suffered 6 wounded that day. "C" Company of the Argylls joined the force in ST. LAMBERT at 1900 hours (7:00 PM).
On the 20th of August 1944, heavy counter attacks were beaten off as the desperate Germans attempted to force their way past the Canadians. Thousands of Germans were trying to flee down the road through ST. LAMBERT. Major Ivan Martin, Officer Commanding "B" Company went forward on foot alone twice to call down artillery fire on German self propelled guns. He was killed later in the day. After the battle, he was awarded an American Distinguished Service Cross.
The fighting was confused and desperate and lasted all through the day. The Argylls lost 3 killed and 13 wounded.
By 21 August 1944, most of the heavy fighting was over and the town was finally cleared of enemy resistance. The roads leading to ST. LAMBERT were clogged with destroyed vehicles and abandoned equipment. Private McAllister of "B" Company won acclaim by single handedly taking 150 prisoners. The 21st would see 5 Argylls killed and 2 more wounded.
Within the town itself, 300 Germans had been killed, 500 wounded and 2100 taken prisoner. Seven tanks, twelve 88mm guns and 40 other vehicles were destroyed. Major Dave Currie of the SARs would win a Victoria Cross for his leadership at ST. LAMBERT.
By the end of the action, "B" and "C" companies had only 70 men between them. They would be amalgamated on 22 August 1944 under the command of Major Alex Logie, son of Major General WA Logie who had been first Commanding Officer of the Argylls in 1903. Lieutenant General Guy Simmonds, Commander of 2nd Canadian Corp, came forward to inspect the town. He had to get out of his staff car and walk as the piles of wreckage made the road impassable.
The battle at ST. LAMBERT-SUR-DIVES was a significant victory for Canada, the Argylls and the SARs. Less than 200 Canadians held off attacks by literally thousands of Germans for three days and played a major role in closing the FALAISE GAP which signalled the defeat and destruction of the German Seventh Army.

[Gotthard Heinrici]

I think that ultimately Falaise achieved all it could have achieved. Writers will talk of missed opportunities and of blame but VP's post is right on the money and Sapper is also right, it was a crushing blow in the West and a huge victory ensuring that France would be overrun very quickly.

[Owen]

Mark Clarke missed an opportunity like this in June 1944 in Italy but chose to visit Rome instead and doesn't get half the flak that Monty gets for inflicting a crushing blow but gets slated for letting a few slip the net.

[Gotthard Heinrici]

To be honest I think that Monty does get a raw deal and that History has not been kind to him, the problem is that you either get the American View which is entirely negative or the British View which accepts no negativity at all!!! So where does his reputation lie??

[sapper]

Was he not? I doubt that. Certainly he was in charge of the area of the Falaise bag. Of course the Americans were involved, but the real battle at the neck of the bag was fought by the Canadians and the Poles.

Patton? Oh he was off doing his own thing.. rampaging around the empty French countryside rather than join the battle to close the bag.

I fought with the Yanks and they are good lads, wont here a word against them. But it must be remembered that we took on the might of the Panzers to enable the Yanks to get on in the West. To such an extent that the whole oif the USA army at one time only had half a Panzer div to deal with......
Sapper

[von Poop]

Just as a small clarification as there's a smidge of uncertainty in the air, double-checked and Monty was still in command of Ground forces on the 19th of August when the pocket closed, He handed over command to Ike on 1st of September (and was created Field-Marshall). I assume the mild confusion arises as the dates are so close and Monty's influence on actual affairs on the ground was surely waning. Regardless of other sub-operations and movements the overall plan was his.
Cheers,
Adam.

[sapper]

Just let me say this......No one can imagine what Falaise was like.. it was beyond imagination, That is unless you can visualise roads covered with dead from each side of the road, not only covered, but heaped up where the panic stricken enemy had tried to clamber over their dead mates.

I have witness sights there that seem impossible now 62/3 years on.
The stench of death and decaying bodies? remain with all the Vets, Always.
One thing is gratifying about it. The No 2 Das Reich SS Panzer div was caught up in the carnage.
But no fate could be as bad as they deserved, remembering what they did at Orador sur glan.....

One can only hope that those that died in the pocket, will have to listen to the screams of the women and little children that they burned alive in the Church at Orador. I pray they have to listen to those sounds for all eternity.
Sapper

[Gotthard Heinrici]

cheers for clearing that up VP and Sapper I'm sorry for questioning whether Monty was commander. Mea Culpa and all that!

As for the SS well I'm with you 100% on that. Every occupied country had its Ouradour or Lidice and those men should be made suffer for it

[sapper]

Cheers No bother.
Sapper