LITHAIRE/MONT CASTRE Manche - 5 km east of La Haye-du-Puits The parachutists were exhausted after two months hard fighting After the capture of Cherbourg, the VIIIth Corps of General Middleton launched all his forces southward; it was imperative to exit from the Cotentin where rivers and marshes prevented the deployment of armoured units. On 3 July 1944, the 82nd Airborne Division attacked toward La-Haye-du-Puits, the initial progression was easy facing the low fighting spirit of the Osttruppen. But soon the parachutists reached the main German defense line at the foot of Le Mont Castre. On 4 July they attacked a line of hills toped by the peak of La Poterie which they seized. The next day they overtook the last strongpoints. Lithaire was liberated and the 82nd Airborne division awaited the relieve, because the losses were heavy for a unit who had been fighting since D-day.
82th Airborne Division and 90th Infantry Division monument Monument dedicated to the 82th Airborne Division and 90th Infantry Division soldiers (fighting from 5 to 10 July 1944). Situation : at the edge of the D903 road between La Haye-du-Puits and Carentan     View of Le Mont Castre from Le Plessis-Lastelle.
ROAD MAP			INTERESTING WEB SITES Personal web site about the 82nd Airborne Division http://www.geocities.com/pentagon/5340/division/campaigns/france.html US Army official web site – US Army divisions structure http://www.army.mil/cmh/lineage/cc/comp.htm Manche departmental tourism office web site http://www.manchetourisme.com/ Personal web site about the German Army structure http://web.telia.com/~u18313395/normandy/index.html Personal web site about the German Army http://www.feldgrau.com/index.html   All rights of photos, texts, maps and graphics design are reserved