On the coming pages you find the next part of the battle for Normandy. It’s the logical sequel to ‘Operation Overlord’, June 6, 1944. If you have not visited those pages, I recommend, you visit these first, starting at the introduction-page. On this homepage you make a tour along the beaches and the objects who are still there, that reminds us of the ‘day of days’.

On the coming pages the battle continues to close of the Cotentin and the march towards Cherbourg. Later there will be something on te battle for Caen, Operation Cobra The breakout tot eh south by the American troops), and pages on the surrounding of the German troop in the so called ‘Falaise Pocket’.

Carentan was one of the more important points that had to be taken. This town lay at the crossroads towards Insigny-sur-Mer and Omaha Beach. The attack on Carentan came from the northwest across the bridges from LaCroix Pan to Carentan. The last bridge was the most heavy defended by the Germans. Lt.Col. Cole, commander of the 3rd Battalion, 502nd PIR, 101st Airborne Divison, decides the most orthodox method for an attack on the bridge. On June 11 he tells his men to fix bayonets on their rifles, and after a whistle blow, the men storm the bridge. The bridge was taken, and the paratroopers consolidated at a farm a couple of hundred yards to the right of the bridge. Reinforcements from the 1st Battalion follows the 3rd Battalion, and secures the area. From the north attack the 327 Glider and the 1st Battalion 401 Glider, and parts of the 501st PIR of the 101st Division on the eastern side of Carentan.

Lt.Col Cole had the idea to take Hill 30, near the village of Billonnerie, south of Carentan. But after the bayonet attack by the 3rd Battalion, it was out of the question, the men were exhausted. So, the 1st Battalion went ahead. On June 12 the attack was continued from the west and east of Carentan. From the west units of the 506th PIR attacked the town (later reenacted for the HBO TV-series 'Band of Brothers').

The bridge where Lt.Col. Cole his bayonet attack ordered, and awarded him a Medal of Honor, is no longer there. The small Madeleine creek has been moved a bit with a bent for the new roundabout. On the spot of the bridge, is now the roundabout with the route from Carentan towards St-Côme-du-Mont. To see the farm where the men after the bayonet attack took refuge, can be found after taking the third exit on the roundabout from Carentan (head for the southwestern industrial area) The farm is on the left, some hundred yards from the roundabout. There is a marker near the house (with a mention, there was another bayonet attack on a cabbage field from the house?).

Despite some heavy counter attacks by the Germans on Carentan, the town stayed in hands of the 101st Airborne. On June 12 the first contact was made with troops of 29th Infantry Division from Omaha Beach. On June 13 also units of the 2nd Armored Division in Carentan and the connection between Utah and Omaha was a fact.

The picture above is of interest. The picture is was taken on June 20 1944 on the place du Valnoble in Carentan and shows the back of Maj. Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor who speaks to his men. In front of him we see the men who were awarded for their efforts from June 6 onwards. From left to right: Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe, 101st Artillery , LTC Julian L. Ewell, 501st PIR, Lt. George Craft, G/502nd PIR, T/4 ?, 327th GIR, T/5 Robert E. Wright, Medic, 501st PIR, (unknown), Pvt Walter H. Sanderson, D/502nd PIR (later KIA), Pvt. David C. Gifford, D/502nd PIR (later KIA), S/Sgt Bruno E Schroeder, HQ/506th PIR, S/Sgt Harry A. Clawson, H/506th PIR (later KIA), S/Sgt Frederic A. Bahlau, H/506th PIR