MaJ Gen Maczek had brought his Polish 1st Armoured Division up onto the heights above Coudehard when he swung his advance eastwards around Trun on his way to capture Chambols (1) to meet up with the Americans. In doing so he placed his division across the route of those Germans trying to escape the pocket being formed in front of the River Dives (2) [/B. Once on this high ground of Mont Ormel, the Polish Division soon became engaged by the enemy streaming up and over its slopes towards Vimoutlers. Almost Immediately, Maczek's division was cut off from Canadian First Army and surrounded. The Poles had no option but to fight on alone, eventually being supplied with ammunition and food from the air. In the valley of the River Dives below, individual troops and tracked vehicles from German Seventh Army and Fifth Panzer Army try to make their way across fields to reach the routes that lead out of the area. Artillery fire (3) from the Americans to the south and Canadians to the north is exploding across the valley floor as these two Allied armies close around the enemy forces trapped in the pocket. Along the road that leads up from Chambols towards Vlmoutlers (4) a burning German column (5) has been hit by rocket-firing Typhoon aircraft and blocks the road. On 20 August, Eberbach's 11 SS Corps attacked the Poles from the direction of Vimoutlers to hold open the route eastwards for one last desperate attempt to escape by the fleeing Germans inside the pocket. Polish 1 st Armoured Division was hit by tank.s and panzergrenadlers of the 2nd SS Panzer Regiment, from 2nd SS Panzer Division 'Das Reich'. The force of the assault brought the SS troops right amongst Maczek's positions. The enemy tank (6) is a Panzer V Panther which had been in action since June; the wavy texture to the surface of the Panther's 'Zlmmerlt' anti-magnetic paste, designed to prevent the attachment of magnetic charges, Is showing signs of wear (7). The 'Das Relch' Division arrived in Normandy from Montauban in southern France after a notorious march during which it committed the infamous atrocities and massacres of French civilians in Tulle and Oradour sur Glane. A Polish light tank MS Stuart (8) from a reconnaissance platoon has been knocked out by the German tank and is burning furiously. It has been almost blown apart by the Panther's main weapon; the crew would not have had time to ball out. A Sherman tank from Polish 1st Armoured Regiment (9) of the division has reversed into a hedge backed by trees in an effort to escape the German tank and is trying to bring Its gun to bear on the Panther. Although almost overrun by the 2nd SS Panzer Division, the Polish troops hung on tenaciously to their high ground, refusing to give way. In the afternoon the attack was broken off by the SS troops and Maczek was able to send a battle group down to Chambols to close the gap with the Americans.
But why jim,did Pattons troops,already in Falaise;not engage the Germans.Even Patton said he could block the Germans escape.HEhad good Comms with Canadian First army,and Monty and Bradley?.17pdr.
