The Battle for CHERBOURG

72 years ago around June 24th & 25th began
the battle for the deep-sea water port of Cherbourg.

It was a vital port the allies had to take control
so that allied shipping coming in from England
could support the war effort and bring more material into Normandy.

General Von Schlieben in charge of the 709th Infantry division
had been ordered to fight to the death
(an order sent by Hitler via a coded message on the Enigma machine)
but when he saw he was surrounded by overwhelming American forces,
decided to give up and surrend.
(probably thinking there was no point in having more German blood on his hands).
4 weeks later the port was up and running,
better than when it was held by the Germans.

The 4th Inf. Div. was the main force in attacking and taking Cherbourg
lead by General “Lighting” Joe Collins.

Friday June 2nd to Monday June 5th 2017

In Sainte Mère Eglise

9 a.m.- 7 p.m.: Reconstruction of a US paratrooper camp “Geronimo Camp”
Late evening on Saturday until 11 p.m.
Exhibition of vehicles and equipment, events representations…
Organization:
Airborne Museum
ph: 0033 233 41 41 35 

www.airborne-museum.org

Friday 2nd June to Monday 5th June

Carentan

Reconstruction of a US camp with 1940’s military and civilian exhibitions: “Arizona camp“.
Public opening: from 9 a.m.
Organization: CAPA
phone:  0033 634 03 46 45
Email: camp.arizona.normandie@gmail.com

Did you know…

On June 6th the Canadian soldiers getting off their landing crafts were issued bicycles that they had to carry on their backs then upon arriving dry land would ride into battle ! Most of the soldiers just tossed them aside or gave them to the thankful French (who had been deprived of their bikes by the Germans) who welcomed the free transportation.

It just wasn’t practical to ride a bicycle during combat, you can’t dismount fast engough to take cover, you can’t fire your weapon as you need both hands and the craters made by the aerial bombardment made it even harder to cycle around them or through them. A good idea in theory a bad idea in real combat situation !

Thursday 2nd June to Tuesday 6th June

Utah Beach, Sainte Marie du Mont

Normandy International World War II Film Festival

Awards will be attributed to:

• Outstanding World War II Feature Film

• Outstanding World War II Documentary Film

• Outstanding World War II Short Film

• Outstanding Veteran Produced World War II Film

• Outstanding Student Produced World War II Film

• Outstanding Writer World War II Documentary Film

• Outstanding Videography World War II Documentary Film

Beginning of July – December

Sainte Mère Eglise

Exhibition: «Battle of the Bulge, Bastogne, Winter 1944 », at the Airborne Museum.
December 16th, 1944, Hitler ordered a major German offensive campaign to take back Anvers harbor and stop Allied advance.
The surprise attack caught the Allied forces completely off guard: it was sudden, quick and efficient.
Decisions had to be made: General Eisenhower sent reserve units from France in reinforcement.

The Battle of the Bulge was a very exhausting
(physically and emotionally)
and deadly experience for the Allied.
These men had to face extremely cold winter and a lack of food and ammunition supplies.
The defeat of German Army has happened after a salutary break: supply could reach ground troops and eased General Patton arrival.
The Battle of the Bulge lasted until end of January 1945.

This exceptional exhibition also enhances the “Way of Liberty”, starting from
Sainte-Mère-Eglise, Normandy with “Borne 0” and ends in Bastogne, Belgium.
A part is dedicated to General Patton’s role in The Battle of the Bulge.

This exhibition will last until the end of the year.
Organization: Airborne Museum – 0033 233 41 41 35 – www.airborne-museum.org

Thursday 2nd June to Tuesday 6th June

Utah Beach, Sainte Marie du Mont

Normandy International World War II Film Festival

The Festival includes:

• An opening night red carpet event

• Film screenings and receptions over 5 nights at the Utah Beach Museum

• Q & A sessions with the actors, directors and producers

• Q & A sessions with World War II veterans

• An Awards event

• The latest in gaming technology

• Two documentary films focused on the D-Day Invasion on June 6, 1944:

  Over Normandy on D-Day (A documentary shot entirely by a Drone camera)

  Return to Pointe-du-Hoc featuring Drone footage and interviews with 2nd Rangers George Klein and Tom Ruggiero.

Honorary Chairperson: Kyle Chandler

Organization: WW2 foundation – http://www.wwiifoundation.org/filmfest/

Did you know ?

That Operation Fortitude was a large scale deception plan elaborated by the allies to fool the German high command (Hitler included) into believing that landings would take place at the short point between England & France.

Operation Fortitude consisted of a fake army (FUSAG) 1st US Army Group to be led by General George S. Patton, dummy props such as tanks, planes,trucks,artillery pieces and even fake landing crafts. Fake radio transmissions were also part of the deception but other operations like Fortitude North was also put into place to make the Germans think that the landing could also take place in Norway.

The German high command (and Hitler) were so convinced the landings would take place at the shortest point about 1month later they were still convinced by July 7th 1944 so many men and material was poured into Normandy the was no way the Germans could kick us back into the ocean. Operation Fortitude was the biggest military poker bluff of all time, and was successfully pulled off…today with satelite technology this would no longer be possible !

June 6th 2017: Normandy celebrates its Liberation with 73rd D-Day Anniversary in Carentan, Utah Beach, Sainte Mère Eglise, Picauville, Amfreville, Brévands, Sainteny,…

Each year, ceremonies, US camp reconstructions, historic march, military fairs,
historic parachute drops, parade and exhibition of military vehicles…

In 2017, June 6th is on a Tuesday, Pentecost week-end (with Sunday and Monday) Saturday 3rd, Sunday 4th and Monday 5th.
Let’s enjoy a long week-end to commemorate D-Day and celebrate June 1944 liberation.

Don’t hesitate to look often at this program, it is regularly updated.

The Pegasus Memorial Museum in Benouville

When we have a 2 or 3 day tour we can also go and see this museum or you can check it out on your own either way it’s a great museum and it shows the British side of things, but it’s a drive to get there because it’s on the eastern side of the landing beaches here in Normandy, near Sword Beach, in fact the plan was the capture of the bridge so that the forces getting off at Sword beach could link up with the gliderborne & airborne troops in Benouville thus creating a bridgehead as to get a foothold in Normandy.

British paratroopers had a single quick release mechanism for their chutes, which was quickly adapted by American airbone, after the D-Day fiasco of June 6th.

The museum was naugurated on June 4th 2000 by HRH the Prince of Wales. The Memorial Pegasus is dedicated to the men of 6th Airborne Division and their role during the Battle of Normandy from June to September 1944.

It was designed and constructed within a few months by the D-Day Commemoration Committee presided by Admiral Brac de la Perrière.

Guided visits, within a thematically laid out exhibition hall,
enabling the visitors to discover the different missions of the division.
Missions carried out before the seaborne landings on the beaches in June 1944.
It really was “The Longest Day”.

Hundreds of historical objects and photos of the era are presented in the museum.
The original Bénouville Bridge, renamed Pegasus Bridge after the liberation,
is on display in the park of the museum along with a Bailey bridge
and a full size copy of a wartime Horsa glider.

The collection is constantly increasing in size,
the historical relevancy to 6th Airborne Division
is carefully controlled by the British Airborne Assault Normandy Trust.

Here is their website and contact information :

http://www.memorial-pegasus.org/mmp/musee_debarquement/index.php?lang=uk