SAINT-COME-DU-MONT Manche - 3 km north of Carentan German paratroops held the retreat route to the south On D-day the landing of American troops on Utah Beach was a success. On 7 and 8 June the German forces retreated inland in uncoordinated movements. The joining between Utah and Omaha Beach bridgeheads was the main objective. The American parachutists attempted to cut the retreat route of the German columns in Saint-Côme-du-Mont. In the early morning of 8 June, with support of motorized artillery Colonel Sink commanding the 506th Parachutist Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division launched an attack toward Saint-Côme-du-Mont. But they were facing a crack unit : the German paratroops under Colonel von der Heydte. The Germans opposed stubborn resistance to keep control of this road, their counterattacks broke against American positions. After the evacuation they blew up the bridges over the river Douve. On 8 June at 4 p. m. American parachutists of the the 506th Regiment entered Saint-Côme-du-Mont left cleared by German paratroops 's withdrawal.
Dead man's Corner Museum The museum is situated in a house near a fierce June 1944's fighting place. At the crossroads the Americans suffered losses to liberate the town, a tank was destroyed. The body of the tank commander had been hanging in the wreck during several days. The museum houses an important collection dedicated to American and German paratroops.
101st Airborne Division plaque Plaque in memory of the American parachutists of the 101st Airborne Division. Localisation : in front of the Dead man's Corner Museum
ROAD MAP			INTERESTING WEB SITES Manche departmental tourism office web site http://www.manchetourisme.com/ Personal web site about D-day http://www.6juin1944.com/ Personal web site about the 101st Airborne Division http://www.101airborneww2.com/ Personal web site about the German paratroops http://www.eagle19.freeserve.co.uk/index.html Page of US Army official web site about assault units of D-day http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/reference/normandy/UnitList.htm   All rights of photos, texts, maps and graphics design are reserved