TOURNAI-SUR-DIVES Orne - 12 km north-east of Argentan
The 7th German Army surrendered
On 13 August 1944 the German forces were nearly trapped in the Falaise pocket. The Canadians moved in the vicinity of Falaise to the north, while the Americans moved south of Argentan. The 7th German Army was retreating and shelled night and day by allied artillery and airforce. On 17 August Falaise was liberated, on 18 August the Canadians entered Trun, on 19 August the Americans took Chambois seven kilometers away from Trun. In this narrow corridor the 7th Army was dismantled under the deluge of the allied artillery. On 20 August the on the "Death corridor", Tournai-sur-Dives was in the middle of hell crowded with German wounded soldiers. On 21 August a counter-attack of the IInd SS Panzer-Korps enabled to evacuate still a few thousands men. In Tournai-sur-Dives a priest - Father Launay - obtained the surrender of eight hundred German soldiers. the Falaise pocket is closed. On 22 August the Canadian troops liberted Tournai-sur-Dives and made a lot of prisoners.
   
 
 
 

Surrender plaque
Plaque commemorating the surrender of German troops in a farmyard. On 21 August 1944 between 14.30 pm and 17 pm, more than 2 000 soldiers and officers laid down their weapons in front of only one Canadian; at 18.30 p. m. the Battle of Normandy was over.
Situation : at the edge of the D717 road, facing the town hall
  M3 Armoured car- Surrender plaque
 This armoured half-tracked car was the American standard vehicle; more than
40 000 vehicles were built, it was originally a troops transport but it knew a lot of versions. 
Situation : in the town center, on the main place
Ron Currie plaque - Civilian casualties plaque
Plaque dedicated to the pilot F/O Ron Currie RCRAF (RAF) - squadron 184 shot down on 18 August 1944. A second plaque is in memory of the civilian casualties.
Situation : on the wall of the communal cemetery
 
 

"Mirror of souls" monument (casualties of the Battle of Normandy)
 Monument in memory of all the casualties of the Battle of Normandy : Allied soldiers, "Résistance" forces, civilians... and German soldiers.
Situation : 500m at the western exit of the town, at the edge of the D717 road toward Villedieu-lès-Bailleul
   
         
ROAD MAP
 
INTERESTING WEB SITES

Personal web site about D-day and Normandy battle
http://www.debarquement-normandie.com/
Orne departmental tourism office web site
http://www.ornetourisme.com/
Personal web site about the Canadian Army http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/
Personal web site about the German Army
http://www.feldgrau.com/index.html
Personal web site about the German infantryman
http://www.deutschesoldaten.com/
 
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