Operation Tractable

Operation Tractable incorporated lessons learned from Operation Totalize, notably the effectiveness of mechanized infantry units and tactical bombing raids by heavy bombers. By August 10, Canadian troops had reached Hill 195, north of Falaise, they are unable to advance farther immediately and they had been unable to capture Falaise

By August 10, Canadian troops had reached Hill 195, north of Falaise

By August 10, Canadian troops had reached Hill 195, north of Falaise

Many of the bombers mistakenly dropped short of their targets, causing 400 Polish and Canadian casualties.

Operation Tractable began at 12:00 on August 14 when 800 Lancaster and Halifax bombers struck German positions along the front.

The Canadians attempt to encircle the 5th Panzer, 7th Army & Panzer Gruppe Eberbach.

Throughout the day, continual attacks by the 4th Canadian and Polish 1st Armoured Divisions managed to force a crossing of the Laison River.

Crerar's army continued the advance from the Caen sector toward Falaise and Trun.

Launches another operation against Falaise

Operation Tractable began at 12:00 on August 14 when 800 Lancaster and Halifax bombers struck German positions along the front. Many of the bombers mistakenly dropped short of their targets, causing 400 Polish and Canadian casualties

Simonds launched Tractable as the next armoured drive from the Caen-Falaise axis.

Although the first days progress was slower than expected, Operation Tractable resumed on August 15; both armoured divisions pushed southeast towards Falaise

The drive for Trun by Polish and Canadian Armoured Divisions began on August 16, with preliminary attacks in preparation for an assault against Trun and Chambois. The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division break into Falaise, encountering minor opposition from Waffen SS units and scattered pockets of German infantry

Refuses to carry out an order from the OKW to counter-attack

The drive for Trun by Polish and Canadian Armoured Divisions began on August 16, with preliminary attacks in preparation for an assault against Trun and Chambois. Stanislaw Maczek, the Polish divisional commander, split his forces into three battlegroups each of an armoured regiment and an infantry battalion

The drive for Trun by Polish and Canadian Armoured Divisions began on August 16, with preliminary attacks in preparation for an assault against Trun and Chambois. The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division break into Falaise, encountering minor opposition from Waffen SS units and scattered pockets of German infantry

Authorizes a retreat

Trun is liberated on the morning of August 18. The Polish 1st Armoured Division had outflanked the 12th SS Panzer Division, enabling several Polish formations to both reach the 4th Armoured Divisions objectives and significantly expand the bridgehead northwest of Trun

Novel tactics by Polish 1st Armoured Division, under the command of Stanislaw Maczek during the drive for Chambois, enabled the Falaise Gap to be partially closed by August 19, 1944, trapping about 150,000 German soldiers in the Falaise Pocket

Novel tactics by Polish 1st Armoured Division, under the command of Stanislaw Maczek during the drive for Chambois, enabled the Falaise Gap to be partially closed by August 19, 1944, trapping about 150,000 German soldiers in the Falaise Pocket

Surrender and capture of the remaining units of the German 7th Army which were trapped in the Falaise Pocket. Elements of the First Canadian Army relieved the Polish Armys survivors of this Battle and the Canadian Army was finally able to close the Falaise Pocket by linking up with the troops of the American 3rd Army on the other side

Surrender and capture of the remaining units of the German 7th Army which were trapped in the Falaise Pocket. Elements of the First Canadian Army relieved the Polish Armys survivors of this Battle and the Canadian Army was finally able to close the Falaise Pocket by linking up with the troops of the American 3rd Army on the other side

Elements of the First Canadian Army relieved the Polish Armys survivors of this Battle and the Canadian Army was finally able to close the Falaise Pocket by linking up with the troops of the American 3rd Army on the other side

This record states: And it was a part of the largest encirclement on the German Western Front during World War II.

This record states: Operation Tractable is the final offensive conducted by Canadian Army and Polish Army troops as part of the Battle of Normandy.

This record states: The goal of operation Totalize is to capture the strategically important French town of Falaise, and following that, the smaller towns of Trun and Chambois.

This record states: This operation was undertaken by the Polish 1st Armoured Division and the First Canadian Army against the Wehrmachts Army Group B.