Les Dunes de Varreville in Normandy 1944

LES DUNES DE VARREVILLE Manche - 20 km north of Carentan
The American troops assaulted the Atlantic Wall
On 6 June 1944, the 4th American Infantry Division landed in Normandy on Utah Beach, 2.5 km souther than expected. An under estimation of the strong tidal current and the loss of several control vessels were the main causes for this upset of the timetable. It turned out to be an advantage for the Landing Forces, since the zone was at limit range of Azeville and Saint-Marcouf batteries, and the shore defenses were less strong there. Shelled and isolated, the German positions were hit by the assault of the first American wave at 6:40 am, then the attack of the amphibious tanks. One hour later the beach was cleaned by the engineers and the Americans penetrated inland, a battalion moved westward in order to make the junction with the parachutists. Northward, along the coast, they neutralized several strongpoints and went through Les Dunes de Varreville.

Landing monument - 2nd Armoured Division - M8 vehicle
Monument commemorating the Landing on 6 June 1944 at dawn of the Allied Forces, and on 30 July of the 2nd French Armoured Division under General Leclerc at Utah Beach. Near the monument a light armoured M8 vehicle is exposed. The M8 was an excellent all terrain vehicle with a four men crew, it was armed with a 37mm gun and a machine gun. Near 12 000 vehicles were built until 1945.
Situation : at the edge of the D421 road, (follow road sign)

2nd Armoured Division Sherman Normandie
This Sherman tank M4 belonged to the 2nd French Armoured Division under General Leclerc. It was named Normandie and fought in the 2nd Company of the 1st Squadron of the 12nd "Régiment de chasseurs d'Afrique". The Sherman tank M4 weighted 30 tonnes, its maximum speed was 35 km/h, it was armed with a 75 mm gun and two caliber 30 machine guns (7,62 mm), it had a five men crew : the tank commander, the gunner and the radio in the turret, the pilot and the pilot-assistant in the front compartment.
Situation : near the Landing monument

2nd Armoured Division steles
Several steles commemorating the 2nd Armoured Division commanded by General Leclerc, and presenting all its units..
Situation : near the Landing monument

Borne N°1
The milestone N°1 is the starting point of the 2nd Armoured Division commanded by General Leclerc, from ithe Landing to the liberation of Strasbourg, so they fulfiled the oath in Koufra.
Situation : near the Landing monument

		M3 Half-track This armoured half-tracked vehicle was the American standard vehicle; more than 40 000 vehicles were built, it was originally a troops transport but was featured in many versions. Situation : near the Landing monument

ROAD MAP

INTERESTING WEB SITES
Personal web site about the 2nd French Armoured Division http://www.marechal-leclerc.fr.st *Official web site of the* 4th US Infantry Division http://www.4thinfantry.org/home.html Page of US Army official web site about units of D-day http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/reference/normandy/UnitList.htm Page about the naval forces of D-day http://www.naval-history.net/WW2194406.htm *Personal web site about the Atlantic Wall in the* Cotentin http://perso.wanadoo.fr/batteries.du.cotentin/index.html

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