The Last Battle of Normandy

Away from the D day beaches and crossing much of the ground the allies had taken, fighting every step. The German Army Group B , who for 4 years had had the upper hand in Western Europe but were now learning to accept defeat. Many had seen action on the eastern front, a mixture of young inexperienced men, learning the art of battle very quickly, older men that probably thought their front line days were over, to the fanatical SS Panzer Divisions, fighting for their very existence. The Battle of the Falaise Pocket was the decisive engagement of the Battle of Normandy. A ring was formed around a large area between Falaise and Argentan, in which the Germans encountered natural obstacles like the river Dives, as well as the allies. Also open to constant Aerial bombardment, the battle resulted in the destruction or surrender of most of Army Group B west of the Seine, which opened the way to Paris and the Franco-German Border for the Allied armies on the Western Front. this tour is a real WW2 eye opener.

We will start the tour in Caen and follow the road to Falaise that was taken by the Brit/Can. Stopping off at the Canadian cemetery en route. This tour covers a lot of ground and so we will be spending a lot of time driving around the pocket and stopping at strategic places for discussions and photo opportunities. We can try to imagine what it was like for those young German soldiers who for 4 years had had the upper hand in Western Europe, but were now learning to accept defeat, many of these had been in action on the eastern front. The Museum at Mont Ormel is among the best in Normandy, with it's passionate curator, it sits high up, the last escape for the SS and saw some of the fiercest fighting during the whole of the Normandy Battle, between SS and Polish forces who when joined by their Canadian allies Closed the gap. We can then drive down to Argentan and retrace the route of the 3rd Army, as it made its way north to the Brit/Can/polish forces. This tour really demonstrates the varied topography.