PR photograph commemorating the linking up of the Polish and American forces that closed the Falaise Gap

prphotographcommemoratingthelinkingupofthepolishandamericanforcesthatclosedthefalaisegap.jpg

Major Leonard C. Dull (359th IR, 90th ID) and Lt Wladyslaw Klaptocz of the Polish 10th Dragoons point at the map where their units linked up on August the 19th closing the noose around the Falaise Pocket, trapping the remains of the German 7th Army. Picture taken on the 20th of August.

Lt Wladyslaw Klaptocz later met his death fighting in Holland.

The actual individuals credited with meeting up initially were Private Wellington of the 359th and Corporal Grabowski of of the 10th Dragoons, both pictured here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mlq/3159159657/

The 10th Dragoons were a part of the 1st Polish Armoured Division, composed of Polish troops who escaped the fall of Poland in 1939 and who fought with great distinction.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Armoured_Division_(Poland)