‘Hill 140’ can be found 15 kilometers west of St-Pierre-sur-Dives on the road D 131 between Maizières and Estrées-la-Campagne. During our visit we noticed a picture with a small note attached, pictured below.

The note read:
Lance Corporal Elmer (Les) Massey, 28th Armoured Regiment (The Dukes), The British Columbia Reg. Fought in the battle for Hill 140 as a driver of a Steward tank under command of Lt (A/Capt.) A.E. Biddlecombe, winner of the MC (Military Cross). Captured while helping a wounded friend, he was sent to Stalag 4B till end of war. B(orn) Feb. 22-1911, D(ied) July 4-1988?
Placed in honor by his son Sean of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Patton started his advance to the north on 11 August when Montgomery the Canadians ordered to head for Falaise and spearhead for Argentan. To support the American advance from the south the French 2nd Armoured Division, under the command of Philippe Leclerc, joint the advance to Argentan. Unfortunately the given orders to the French are soon forgotten and they and they make up their own plans. This means blocked roads full of lost French vehicles. Because of this, the planned attack of the 5th Armoured Division starts with a delay of six hours, enough time for the German 116th Pantzer Division to take positions. It would not be the last time that the French refused to obey their orders and to come in conflict with other allied units. The counterattack that Hitler ordered, to break the lines of the Americans, grinding to a hold. The German troops went from attack to defene. On 13 August the 1st SS and 2nd Pantzer Division arrived around Argentan, but instead to participate in the counterattack, they had to take defensive positions.

For the German 7th Army and the 5th Pantzer Army the situation became hopeless. Josef 'Sepp' Dietrich, commander of the 5th Pantzer Army, warned that if there was not a quick responds to leave the area and retreat east, they would be enclosed. Further more, they ran out of fuel and ammunition.

But suddenly the advance from the Americans stopped near Argentan. A big gap between Argentan and Falaise stayed open. Because of the fast advance, the line of progress became thin, and the danger of 'friendly fire' (to shoot at each other) was another threat. It was to the Canadians to capture Falaise as soon as possible and head south and make the connection with the Americans. The Americans were furious that they had to stop and to wait. Motgomery was very cautious and made a slow advance, to slow in the eyes of Patton. He declared almost war on Montgomery, "Let me go to Falaise,... then we drive the British back into sea like a second Dunkirk!". But Montgomery declared that he was not certain of the strength of the Germans, and he feared for an attack by them and heavy losses on the allied troops.

But it was pure chaos among the German troops. The organisation was in shambles and orders were conflicting. Hitler demanded attacks, but all they could do was defend. Even on 16 August there were generals who were ignorant enough not to see the hopelessness and ordered an attack on the southern sector near Argentan and a firmer grip on the defence of Falaise. This was manly to improve the escape possibility to the east. But the shortage of tanks prevented a serious attack. That night the first attempt was made to escape the area. It went remarkably well, this due to that fact that the allies give the Germans a free hand. On 17 August it all changed dramatic. Montgomery concluded that the Germans were trying to escape instead of fighting. And escaped German troops could later be reformed and put to battle once more. He ordered that the escaping route should be closed. The 2nd Canadian Armoured Army Corps and the 4th Canadian and the 1st Polish Armoured Division were given the assignment to head for Trun and further on to Chambois. Trun is captured fast and the Pools reach Chambois just short of 1 kilometre.

On 18 august the 5th Army Corps attacks from the south, the north-side of Le Bourg-St-Leonard. But the advance is halted halfway. The Germans have just a hole of 8 kilometres wide to make the escape. Under heavy fire from tanks, artillery and fighter-bombers (see Hawker Typhoon) the Germans tried desperate to escape as much men as possible through this gap. On 19 August the encircled area was just 10 kilometres big. In this enclave were the last remains of fifteen divisions, wandering and lost troops, an enormous pack of tanks and other logistic vehicles. In a last desperate attempt to escape and to make the escape route somewhat bigger, the Germans organised a plan of attack. But the British troops pulled the noose around the 'pocket' tighter and the 4th Canadian Armoured Division headed for St-Lambert-sur-Dives and the 1st Polish Division captured the important 'Hill 262' (Mont-Ormel) that had an excellent view on the sector around Chambois and Vimoutiers.

A small unit from the Canadian 4th Armoured Division suffered heavy losses around St-Lambert. Two tanks were knocked out in this village. Major D.V.Currie decides to visit the two wrecks at night. Under constant fire from German mortars he manages to pull the men from their destroyed tanks. Curry then investigate the surroundings for enemy positions. Next day the Canadian advance to the centre of the village. The defence is fierce from the stricken Germans. But the Canadian stay put in their position and on 20 August they got a firmer grip on their positions. Major Curry not content with the success so far, plans to capture the whole village. He orders a new attack. The German troops lost here in three days 800 men, under which 300 killed and 2000 Germans are captured. In and around St-Lambert the Canadians destroy seven tanks and twelve 88mm cannons. Major Curry receives for his outstanding leadership the highest British decoration, the Victoria Cross.

The gap was closet and the only way out to escape was a force a breakthrough. An obstacle was a small stream, the Dives. In small groups manage some Germans to escape to the east. Others are in fierce battles with allied tanks and infantry. The nightly sky is lit up by a constant stream of bullets, flares and explosions. It must have been hell on earth, a nightmare lit in ghostly light. At daybreak of the 20th of August the Germans desperately try to attack the Polish on 'Hill 262'. In a bloody fight the Polish are forced to make a retreat and the gap widens enough for more troops to escape. That day a remarkable thing happens. General Meindl wanted to protect his wounded men and orders the retreating vehicles to a halt for fifteen minutes and puts together a makeshift column. He places red crosses on every vehicle and drove these through the lines of the allies. The allied troops witnessed the whole process and hold their fire. But as soon as the last vehicle has left the vicinity the fighting continues. In the night of 21 August the last Germans alive escape the small gap, before the 'Falaise Pocket' is closet off.

The 'Falaise Pocket' was the biggest defeat so far after Stalingrad. 50.000 Germans were made prisoner of war and 10.000 lost their life. Despite the losses, between the 20.000 and 40.000 managed to escape. But the Germans had to leave an enormous amount of tanks and other vehicles. Those losses could never be replaced by the German industry. The Germans were on the run and on 25 August Paris falls in allied hands. The next month the allies were ready for their next giant operation. Montgomery's wish was to capture Berlin before the winter set in. He came with the plan, to capture all the bridges from the Belgium border to Arnhem, then turn east and head deep into Germany. Operation Market Garden was scheduled for 17 September 1944. But that is another story!

In September 2002, I had a nice surprise. I found out that there are still items to be found that reminds us to that fierce fighting in August 1944. Between Lambert-sur-Dives and Chambois was a small sector where the Germans could escape from the 'Falaise Pocket'. In this so called 'Corridor of Death', I found in a field a 20mm shell, a handle from an ammunition box and a (so far) unknown part (a detonator?).

I have to warn you if you're looking for 'souvenirs'. It is still possible that among the potatoes some 'life' ammunition is hiding. If you may come across an item you don't trust, LET IT BE! DO NOT PICK IT UP! There are some other objects I can recommend. In the town of Falaise is a museum, Musée Août 1944, dedicated to 'The Falaise Pocket'. You find it just south of the castle of William the Conqueror (Château de Guillaume le Conquérant). The museum is dark and neglected. But they have some unique objects, especially the vehicles. Another side you may like to visit is Mont-Ormel. This is the mountain from which the Pools had a good look into the valley of the 'Falaise Pocket'. There is a monument to remember the horrors that took place in these area. Inside is a visitor centre where the whole story is told, step by step. In a little cinema they show fragments from 'The Corridor of Death'. A guide tells the whole story, also in English, of the horrors that took place on this spot.

Many killed Polish fighters are burried at the Polish Cemetery at Grainville-Langannerie on the N158, halfway the road between Caen and Falaise. It is an impressive cemetery with 650 graves.