Why was the battle of Colmar France known as the Colmar Pocket?

Colmar Pocket

The Colmar Region of France was one of the last regions in France that German Forces occupied. This "pocket" of German troops were attacked by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army in January & February 1945.

To elaborate some on the answer already given.

The "Colmar pocket" was formed by the Rhine , since the German troops concentrated around Colmar-Munster-Mulhouse formed sort of a halfcircle, with the flat side to their rear which was the Rhine. The Rhine could only be crossed at certrain points (the Germans had only three quality crossings). In that sense, the Germans were caught in a "pocket", but it was of course also a pocket of resistance.

As it was, said elements of the US 7th Army were largely but not exclusively French (or Arab, really). The battle of the Colmar pocket was fought by 28th, 75th and 3rd US divisions and 12th US Amd division, along with seven Free French divisions (1st Free French, 1st French Armoured, 2nd French Armoured, 5th French Armoured, 2nd French (Moroccan), 4th French (Moroccan Mtn), 9th French Colonial - plus a number of smaller units, such as paras etc). In terms of numbers, 125 000 Americans and 295 000 French (mostly Arab) took part. The French lost some 14 000 men, the US some 6 500.

The Germans were soundly beaten, but able to score an unexpected success by the evacuation of 50 000 troops from the pocket along with much important materiel.

As a sidenote; during the battle, US General Cota (28th Div) stopped short of the city core of Colmar, to allow the Free French of 5th Div to be the first to enter as liberators. A gentlemanly courtesy still celebrated in Colmar.

First answer by Chris. Last edit by Chris. Contributor trust: 2892 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 90 [recommend question]