Falaise falls to 1st Canadian Army - Normandy 1944

(Scroll down for English) Hitlers opdracht dat de Duitse troepen in Normandië niet mochten terugtrekken, zorgde ervoor dat de bij Operatie Cobra uitgebroken Amerikaanse eenheden onder George Patton op hun zuidflank bijna geen tegenstand ondervonden. Intussen begon Bernard Montgomery met Operatie Totalize een aanval tegen de Duitse eenheden bij Caen. Dit bracht twee Britse pantserdivisies ver genoeg naar voren om bedreigend te worden voor de achtergelegen delen van de Duitse linie. Door de combinatie van beide aanvallen liepen 28 Duitse infanteriedivisies en 11 pantserdivisies het risico in een Geallieerde tangbeweging genomen te worden. Na het afbreken van Operatie Lüttich kreeg het Duitse 5e pantserleger bevel, in zuidwestelijke richting aan te vallen, hoewel het daarmee het risico liep, tussen Falaise en Argentan ingesloten te worden door Geallieerde strijdkrachten (12-21 Augustus 1944).
Following Operation Cobra, the American breakout from the Normandy beachhead, rapid advances were made to the south and south-east by the Third U.S. Army under the command of General George Patton. Despite lacking the resources to defeat the U.S. breakthrough and simultaneous British and Canadian offensives south of Caumont and Caen, Field Marshal Günther von Kluge, the commander of Army Group B, was not permitted by Adolf Hitler to withdraw but was ordered to conduct a counter-offensive at Mortain against the U.S. breakthrough. Four depleted panzer divisions were not enough to defeat the First U.S. Army. Operation Lüttich was a disaster, which drove the Germans deeper into the Allied envelopment (12-21 August 1944).
Source: Library and Archives Canada

[@jamieblair6511]

My father took part .Sargent Jimmy Blair 15 th Scottish division /2 nd Glasgow highlanders.From his first battle at cheux to hill 112 he led his platoon (all his officers were killed by a single mortar round) he always talked about his Canadian allies and the great friendship he formed when he was finally relieved of command by an officer from the “canloan” scheme.He loved Canada.I was just a wee boy when he told me these tales and cannot remember the officers name but I know they did meet up several times throughout my fathers life.

[@garethsprack1234]

My wife's Aunt fell in love with a Canadian while he was stationed here in the UK, he fell in action, she was broken hearted and never married. Sadly we never knew his name, she wouldn't say, so we can't honour a man who was so nearly a relative. Honour to all Canadians who fought or fell.

[@JMorarii]

Some very interesting footage flavoured with a patriotic soundtrack for the folks back home. For the sake of accuracy, it should be acknowledged that the First Polish Armoured Division attached to the Canadian Army formed the pointy end of the spear and were involved in some of the most desperate fighting to try and close the Falaise Pocket near Trun.

[@BarnDoorProductions]

Absolutely. Not forgotten here in Canada.

[@nicholaspatton1742]

Concur, we are well aware. Bless them all.

[@tedkrasicki3857]

An Army was nine divisions allotted into three Corps. Canada had five Divisions in two Corps. 1st Polish Armoured Division completed 2nd Can Corps. While fighting as an Army one of these British Corps or parts thereof were added-7th, XXX. British Pioneers to Dutch liaison Officers were attached. For short periods--104th U.S. Infantry Division, 82nd AB and I think 101 AB. Smaller formations--1st Belgian Independent Brigade, 1st Czechoslovak Independent Armoured Brigade Group, 51st Infantry Regiment FFI, Royal Netherlands Brigade. Shortage in Corps and Army resources was filled with--1st Heavy Regiment, RA--32nd Heavy Regiment, RA--109th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA-- 125th Light Anti-aircraft Regiment, RA. Resistance forces aided or fell under command-French, White Brigade(Belgium),Orange Brigade(Netherlands). Civilians risked their lives to bring in information, repair bridges, and more. Their families remember. In Ry, France two troopers from a burned out scout car were temporarily buried. Every year on the date of their death, flowers are placed at the memorial and a French and Canadian flag are carried by local veterans. Read that nineteen divisions were at times under the command of the Canadian Army Commander. When you think "Canadian Army", recognize the scale of the effort and give credit to all.

[@georgelewis6603]

In the Commonwealth armies formations above division had flexible organisations. A Corps must have at least 2 divisions but could have more eg: the Canadian Corps in WW 1 had 4 divisions. An army is 2 or more Corps, therefore could have any number of divisions.

[@robertneven7563]

thanks the brave Cnadians, thye liberate my home town , my mother always w as gratfull to the brave Canadian s

[@patricktherrien9487]

I had a friend who fought 1945 January to the end.

[@davidgiles5030]

My 3 uncles fought there. Alec,John,and Hubert Jacobs. They all survived.

[@forestsun1542]

Honor and Glory to the Heroes! General Stanislaw Maczek

[@minhthunguyendang9900]

6:21 Unimpressed cat 🐱

[@stephenatkins13]

My father [Fort Gary Horse] was someplace in that battle.

[@Kermit-bi7dl]

My family will always be grateful of the Canadian who liberated our home town. Thank you to all who served .

[@bastogne315]

Err don't think they went to Sesame Street bruv?

[@billbergin8953]

Well done the Canadians.

[@AxelBuddenbaum]

My dad was an 18 year old german soldier (Infantry, 7th army) in Normandy. He was serious wounded on the 7th August 1944, noon, near the road Urville-Breville, after a heavy fight in the fields and around a small "ferme" (wooden shag). He wanted to cover the retreat of his group. In the moment he was hit by a bullet, he turned around an ran a few meters in the opposite side, broke down, heavy bleeding. A canadian officer came up with a small transport vehicle and told his men "Give him a cigarette, but NO water!". After the situation in that area was cleard, the canadian offices drove his wounded prisoner, keeping him awake, to a field hospital where they cared for him. My dad often wished to know or to meet this canadian officer, who saved his live, personally. A few days later he was carried by an open landing craft to Southhampton an further on to a POW-camp near Liverpool. In Febr. 1945 he was part of a prisoner-exchange via Gibraltar, Marseilles and Switzerland. The ship was the "Arundle Castle". Back in Germany they had nearly forced him to be an active soldier again in Schleswig-Holstein. But, glad to say, the war ended in Bremen on the 26th April 1945.

[@ohlordy2042]

Never heard of such a prisoner exchange. Very interesting. I'll look it up.

[@AxelBuddenbaum]

@@ohlordy2042 In Februars 1945, arranged by the Red Cross via Switzerland, Basel.

[@printolive5512]

Well done Canucks ! But, the saddest cemetery in Europe is the Canadian one at the base of Monte Cassino in Italy where the families of the soldiers killed were able to have a final comment about their loved one carved on the tombstone. Heatbreaking.

[@rpm1796]

Every stone... every kid has their families lament hewn🩸🍁.

[@paulforrest6000]

My great uncle Pvt. George Forrest is buried there. He served with the Hasty P's. He was killed by a sniper on May 23 1944.

[@richardgriffn]

My dad was there with SAR South Alberta Regiment.

[@chaz1550]

Its often overlooked but should never be forgotten the tremendous contribution and sacrifices made by the Canadian forces in the defeat of the Germans.

[@johnkwaczala9527]

Not enough is written or known about the Canada armed forces in WW2

[@DavidBrown-cs1tq]

Luck was on the B-24 crews side. Having to jump but thank God over friendly forces.

[@jimf1964]

Pretty neat to see actual Canadian army reels. I'm Canadian, my grandfather and his brother both volunteered. Grandpa was in the 1st surveyors artillery, and his brother the black watch. Does anyone know if this channel has more Canadian content?

[@rpm1796]

Slain te' Jimmy Mon🍻 ...For me, it's the terrific Break Through productions and the old 'Canada at War series' at NFB.

[@jimf1964]

R PM Thanks, I'll look for them. I know NFB has some interesting stuff, and I should have thought of that, since there's a big department almost literally down the street from me. 🙄. 😃. I've discovered the war amps too

[@steveweatherbe]

Google "Canadian Army Newsreels" the War Amps have put out the entire series

[@douglasprewer7913]

My father was in a tank with The Sherbrooke Fusiliers, he said he didn't feel sorry for the Germans as his unit had been ambushed badly near Caen after D-Day.

[@robertbroderick18]

It amazes me that the Canadians free Europe and we didn’t have a seat at the table and the French did

[@johnzajac9849]

In French, 'Falaise' means cliff. The Nazis fell off it.

[@billyrock8305]

Canadians. Easily the best fighting force in both WWI and WWII. 🇨🇦. Incredible how these quiet, polite guys are so deadly when ticked. A Canadian sniper broke the world record for the longest confirmed kill shot. The soldier shot an IS terrorist dead between the eyes from 3,540 metres, which is just over two miles away!!, (in Iraq.). Grandpa was right, it’s always the quiet guy in a bar fight that you should watch out for

[@tonybarnes3858]

Footage at 5:45

[@billyrock8305]

🙂 🇨🇦

[@sgtcrab2569]

28... Beaver?

[@mikeohagan2206]

i cant see the youth of today being nearly as tough as the men and women of that era.

[@rpm1796]

Gee them a break Mikey... You ask any Brit, ANZAC, Yankee, or NATO squaddie..who are the ones you would want on your flank? All our kids fought like devils in Afghanistan....and were renowned ..again...by all our allies'... as by far, still.... the Second to None....our young kids.🩸🍁

[@mikeohagan2206]

@@rpm1796 they did but you cant compare the two. we are talking millions against thousands of combatants. i am talking about everyone not just soldiers.

[@mikeohagan2206]

@@rpm1796 i mean everyone in general food rationing giving money and labour, sacrificing.. the kids are spoiled now and probably wouldnt finish boot camp without suing the army. there are always going to be good soldiers just not as many of them.

[@robinharris2818]

The sub titles make little sense. Proof reading is required

[@neil03152]

I'm sorry to cause a dampener on all our brave Allies but the vast bulk of the Germans needlessly escaped the Falaise Gap. We were too cautious and should have gone hell for leather for the closure earlier. We paid more than dearly in fighting those troops again and again who escaped.

[@rpm1796]

I'm sorry for you too....There is no Dampener laddie. Because If you bothered....(I was there in the '90s and followed the whole bluudy track South)and as a former, more recent Regular Light Infantry member, made the point to have many a brew when I was honoured to be with a great Argyll who was there...and historians who also wrote later. I'm also half Patton. Patton on his breakout East after Cobra....had established light forward recce up to just a few K south from St.Lambert....but was given a direct order, against Patton's vehement insistence.... to fall back & withdraw by Bradley and to change 3rd Army's whole course and drive direct east, under LeClerc's 2nd Free French Armd Div forming on their right...and drive full hog for the Seine....to try and ''catch the bigger bag''

[@rpm1796]

Yes, Kitching was slow to reinforce, and paid the price...but, Currie's Argyll and South Alberta Tank Battle Gp.... was in place and was wreaking havoc....but Patton was there too... seen...in close proximity... just down the road...and was pulled away......Bradley....not Simmonds. My very best to you,