The memorial

Mémorial de Montormel ©Tourisme 61

Between Chambois and Vimoutiers, in the exact location where the Memorial is situated today, the ultimate and most bitter battle of Normandy took place, from August 18th to 22nd, 1944. Montgomery called it “the beginning of the end of the war”.

A witness of the efforts of four allied nations to fight a common enemy, the Memorial of Montormel proposes an unforgettable experience of the battle of Normandy. Its discovering constitutes a unique emotional and historical experience.

News

  • New oppening hours
    From november 1st to march 31th, the Memorial will be open on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from 10 am. to 5.30 pm (last visit starts at 4.30 pm. 1h duration). The Memorial will be close on Monday 6th November 2023.
  • Guided tours of the battlefield site
    The Pocket of Falaise-Chambois, the “row of death” The “death row” is the name given by the German soldiers to an axis six kilometers long, starting from the Dives river and ending at the foot of Hill 262 North. This narrow corridor, with small dirt roads, is the only way of salvation for the nearly … Read more
  • Emotion and remembrance for the 78th anniversary of the battle of Falaise-Chambois
    This weekend of 20-21 August 2022, the commemorative ceremonies of the Battle of Falaise-Chambois took place. The year is remarkable, as it also marks the 75th anniversary of the creation of the ANS 1re DB, an association that has been cultivating the tradition of General Maczek’s Polish armour in France ever since. This 78th edition … Read more
  • 78th Anniversary of the Battle of Falaise – Chambois
    We are pleased to share the programme of the annual commemorations of the closure of the Falaise-Chambois gap, organised by the Orne department and the National Association of the Remembrance of the 1st Polish Armoured Division. The participation is expected to be large, as the Polish delegations will include more than 80 soldiers from the … Read more







The battle

History : from operation Cobra to the German retreat on the Seine, with a focus on the onslaught of the Dives river valley and the slopes of hill 262, discover the strategic importance of the battle of the Falaise pocket;

Units : 9 allied divisions took part in the surrounding of the German armies in the Falaise pocket, and about thirty others participated in the battle of Normandy – discover here the main features of their stories, origins, and various motivations to fight a common enemy;

Highlights : enlarge or deepen your knowledge on topics related to the battle of the Falaise pocket! Regularly updated, we propose here a series of articles which enlighten different the struggle of summer 1944.