| |
GRAIGNES
Manche
- 18 km south of Carentan
The Americans parachutists beleaguered by the Germans
In the night of 5-6 June 1944, a lot of American parachutist landed
far away from their drop-zone. They were 130 paras from the 507th
Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division, gathered in Graignes south
of Carentan. The Americans blew up the bridge, but they were soon
beleaguered by the Germans, with several Norman people of the town.
The Americans were overwhelmed, and a bunch of paratroopers escaped
through the marshes. One month later on 7 July, the 30th Infantry
Division coming from the east reached Le Dezert. The landscape of
deep valleys where rivers run, and large marshes, made the progression
difficult. Graignes controled the access of the river Taute valley.
On 9 July the Americans of the 113rd Cavalry Group crossed the Taute-Vire
canal, a company of the Götz von Berlichingen Division had no
choice but withdrawing, to avoid encirclement. It enabled the Americans
to occupy Graignes without fighting.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Graignes Memorial
507th Parachutist Infantry Regiment stele
