CHAMBOIS

The Battle of Chambois
The battle honour “Chambois” was awarded to the Governor General’s Foot Guards (operating as the 21st Canadian Armoured Regiment) for their decisive role in sealing the escape routes of the retreating German Army during the final phase of the Battle of Normandy.
The Mission: Following days of intense combat to close the Falaise Gap, Allied forces had narrowed the German escape corridor to just a few miles. On the afternoon of August 19, 1944, loose contact was made between American and Polish forces. However, desperate German battle groups were still fiercely launching breakout attempts to escape.
Securing Point 239: The GGFG was tasked with moving to Point 239 (located directly opposite Point 240, south and east of the village of Les Champeaux) to dominate and block the vital roads radiating from St. Lambert-sur-Dives and Chambois.
The Defensive Force: A powerful combined arms force was placed under the command of GGFG Lieutenant-Colonel E.M. Smith. This force included B Company of the Lake Superior Regiment (Motor Battalion) and a troop of self-propelled anti-tank guns from the 5th (SP) Anti-Tank Regiment. The battle group moved into position at last light on August 20, 1944.
Smashing the German Breakout: At 8:15 a.m. on the morning of August 21, 1944, a column of German tanks and infantry attempted a desperate final breakout up the minor road directly below the GGFG’s position. The Guards, the Lake Superiors, and the self-propelled anti-tank guns opened a devastating and continuous volume of fire, completely smashing the retreating German column.
The Aftermath: By that afternoon, the battle was won, and the Falaise Gap was effectively sealed. The action at Chambois decimated the German forces in Normandy, reducing once-mighty panzer and infantry divisions to shattered, depleted remnants.