CARENTAN Manche
 American parachutists against German paratroops
In the first days of June 1944, Carentan was a key position between the two American landing beaches of Utah and Omaha. The Germans launched only local attacks, or they entrenched in their strong points. On 9 June, the Americans made little progress in front of Carentan, which was naturally protected by the river Douve in the west and the river Vire in the east. They encountered difficulty against a crack unit, the paratroops of the 6th Para Regiment, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel von der Heydte, and an eastern volunteers unit. On 11 June, the Americans launched several attacks both from the north and the south. On 12 June, after heavy shelling of the town, the parachutists of the 101st Airborne Division renewed the assault simultaneously on three axes. They drived back the Germans out of Carentan, and ended up clearing the city in the evening.
   
 
 

Liberation monument
 Monument recalling the Liberation of Europe by the Allied Forces, and the liberation of Carentan by the 101st Airborne Division.
 Situation : in front of the town hall
 
  Carentan
The city and the marshy land from the north.
 
    101st Airborne Division stained glass window
 Stained glass window dedicated to parachutists of the 101st Airborne Division.
 Situation : in Notre-Dame church
 
  502th Parachute Infantry Regiment and Hancock stele
 Stele commemorating the liberation of the city. From there, on 11 June 1944, started the decisive assault of the Company C of the 502th Parachutist Infantry Regiment (101st Airborne Division), under captain Fred Hancock that enabled to liberate Carentan.
 Situation : on the northern exit of Carentan (in industrial estate), to the left
  
  101st Airborne Division plaque
 Plaque honouring the "Screaming eagles" of the 101st Airborne Division who died in Normandy in June and July 1944.
 Situation : in front of the town hall
ROAD MAP
 
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Personal web site about the 101st Airborne Division
http://www.101airborneww2.com/
Page of US Army official web site about assault units of D-day
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/reference/normandy/UnitList.htm
Personal web site about the German parachutists
http://www.eagle19.freeserve.co.uk/index.html
Manche departmental tourism office web site
http://www.manchetourisme.com/
 
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