Route The Outcome
Le Denouement (the Outcome) is starting in Caen and is ending in L'Aigle.
Eight itineraries in chronological sequence clearly signposted “Normandie Terre – Liberté” through whole Normandy. See an example at the beginning of this small video.
It enables the visitor to discover these history-packed places and follow the unfolding of this huge battle in the first 80 days of the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe.
01. Caen
Mémorial de Caen. One of the most beautiful and complete WWII museums in Western Europe
To gain an overview of the huge stakes involved, both the causes and consequences of World War Il, the Peace Memorial in Caen tells the story of the XXth century up to the end of the Cold War. Its new exhibition areas encourage visitors to think about the kind of peace they want for the Xlfilst century.
Address: Esplanade Général Eisenhower, 14050 Caen, France
02. Falaise
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-eXuPhHrus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHZwKu3EiA8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjJ9ors9Nso
A concerted attack on Falaise started on August 7th at 23.00. Over 1000 Allied bombers dropped 5,000 tons of bombs on German positions on the approaches to Falaise. Over 700 artillery guns supplemented the attack. Behind the artillery’s rolling barrage, 600 Allied tanks advanced as part of Operation Totalise. The Allies had to cover 15 miles to get to Falaise and by August 8th they had covered 8 miles, constantly pushing back the Germans. As a result of this success, Kluge postponed the counter-attack against Avranches until August 11th with Hitler’s agreement. While the Germans were being pushed back in the north, they were also being pushed back in the south by the Americans. They were effectively being driven into a pocket – hence the term ‘Falaise Pocket’.
03. Mont-Ormel
Montmormel Memorial. Exhibition telling the story of the Falaise Chambois Pocket (August 18th-22nd 1944). Information in English, Polish, German and French.
Address: Memorial de Montormel Les hayettes 61160 MONTORMEL
General Maczek formulated a plan for cutting off the German retreat routes. First, a task force, consisting of two armored regiments and three infantry battalions from his division’s eastern group, was to capture and hold Mont-Ormel, a complex consisting of Hills 262 North and 262 South, which the Poles referred to as the Maczuga (mace) because the hills’ map contours resembled that weapon.
04. Chambois
The Battle of Chambois was a battle during World War II in August 1944. During the battle, the German 7th Army and several other battered units withdrew to the city, where they were entrapped in a 6-mile (9.7 km) gap by the forces of the Americans, Canadians and the Polish Armoured Division in the west. They faced a battle of annihilation, as the Allied troops closed in and forced the Germans to surrender. The Germans in the battle were killed, wounded or captured by the Allied forces and this fight closed the Falaise Pocket.
United States 90th Infantry Division troops patrol in streets of Chambois https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXk23lq3rEo
05. L'Aigle
June 44 Museum. Life-sized waxworks of people who played a prominent role during the period 1940-45, along with recordings of their voices (Marshal Pétain, General de Gaulle, Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, General Leclerc, General Eisenhower, Hitler and even Jean Hérold Paqui, the French Lord Haw-Haw). 13 scenes and a 36 m2 strategic map illustrating the Battle of Normandy.
Address: Mairie de L’Aigle Place Fulbert de Beina - BP 117 61303 L’AIGLE Cedex
