Falaise in Calvados, Normandy, France — Western Europe
Objectif Falaise
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Objective Falaise
Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025
1. Objectif Falaise / Objective Falaise Marker
De l’Occupation à la Libération, Mémoires du Pays de Falaise
Début août 1944, après l'échec de la contre-offensive allemande de Mortain (opération Lüttich), Eisenhower espère encercler et anéantir la 7ᵉ armée allemande en faisant pivoter à l'est les Américains et en lançant vers Falaise les Anglo-Canadiens. L'opération Totalize est menée entre le 7 et le 11 août. Quelques kilomètres sont gagnés au prix de lourdes pertes. Montgomery relance l'offensive le 14 avec l'opération Tractable. La 2ᵉ division d'infanterie canadienne atteint Falaise le 16 août.
Un détachement de la 12ᵉ SS Hitlerjugend placé sous le commandement du Sturbahnfürher Krause défend la ville. Le South Saskatchewan Regiment (lieutenant-colonel Clift), le Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada (lieutenant-colonel Gregory), le régiment francophone des Fusiliers Mont-Royal (lieutenant-colonel Gauvreau), soutenus par deux escadrons de Shermans du Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment passent à l'attaque dans la matinée du 16 août pour la conquête de
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Quelques civils sont encore réfugiés notamment dans l'église Trinité. Le 17 août, malgré des tirs sporadiques de snipers allemands, Falaise est presque entièrement sous contrôle des Canadiens.
Captions
(Photo #1) Route d'Argentan, à l'angle de la rue Lebaillif et de la rue Aristide Briand, cadavre d'un grenadier de la «Hitlerjugend».
(Photo #2) 2 Rue de l'Abbatiale, 17 août 1944, civils fuyant la ville.
(Photo #3) 17 août 1944, rue des Ursulines. Les Canadiens lancent l'ultime assaut contre le dernier bastion allemand de résistance (l'Ecole Supérieure de Jeunes Filles).
From Occupation to Liberation, Memories of the Falaise Region
In early August 1944, after the defeat the German counteroffensive (Operation Lüttich) suffered in Mortain, Eisenhower was hoping to encircle and wipe out the 7th German army by wheeling American forces round to the east and by setting Anglo-Canadian forces onto Falaise. Operation Totalize was conducted between August 7th and 11th. A few miles were secured at the cost of heavy losses. Montgomery revived the offensive on the 14th with Operation Tractable. The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division reached Falaise on August 16th.
A detachment of the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend which was
Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025
2. Objectif Falaise / Objective Falaise Marker
A few civilians were still in town, having notably taken refuge in the Trinity Church. By August 17th, despite sporadic shots being fired by German snipers, Falaise was almost entirely under Canadian control.
Captions
(Photo #1) Road leading to Argentan, at the corner of the streets known as "rue Lebaillif" and "rue Aristide Briand", body of a dead grenadier from the "Hitlerjugend" division.
(Photo #2) "Rue de l'Abbatiale", August 17, 1944, civilians fleeing town.
(Photo #3) August 17, 1944, standing on its own, one last German bastion (the Young Girls' Higher Secondary School) was still holding out.
Erected by Mairie de Pont-d’Ouilly, Potigny, Ville de Falaise, Pays de Falaise, Conseil Général du Calvados, Région Basse-Normandie.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II
Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025
3. The view of the marker along the street
Location. 48° 53.582′ N, 0° 12.137′ W. Marker is in Falaise, Normandie (Normandy), in Calvados. It is at the intersection of Rue de la Porte du Château and Route D511, on the right when traveling west on Rue de la Porte du Château. The marker is located on the south side of the Château Guillaume-le-Conquérant near the parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Falaise, Normandie 14700, France. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, a coastal Mediterranean country, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a French colony and also the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Le champ de bataille de Falaise / The Battlefield at Falaise (here, next to this marker); «Bombes et mitraille pleuvaient de toutes parts» / Bombs and bullets hailed down in every direction (a few steps from this marker); La Basse Cour / The Lower Yard (a few steps from this marker); L’Opération Overlord / Operation Overlord (a few steps from this marker); Falaise sous la botte allemande / Falaise under the German boot (within shouting distance of this marker); La Chapelle Castrale / The Castel Chapel (within shouting distance of this marker); L’apparition des armes à feu / Firearms are introduced (within shouting distance of this marker); Château Guillaume-le-Conquérant / William the Conqueror’s Castle (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Falaise.
Also see . . . Falaise pocket. Wikipedia
The Falaise pocket or battle of the Falaise pocket (German: Kessel von Falaise; 12–21 August 1944) was the decisive engagement of the Battle of Normandy in the Second World War. Allied forces formed a pocket around Falaise, Calvados, in which German Army Group B, consisting of the 7th Army and the Fifth Panzer Army (formerly Panzergruppe West), were encircled by the Western Allies. The battle resulted in the destruction of most of Army Group B west of the Seine, which opened the way to Paris and the Franco-German border.(Submitted on June 19, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 19, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 102 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 19, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
