224:
191:
1242:, was given the objective of destroying the battery. However, when the battalion arrived over Normandy in the predawn of 6 June, their parachute descent was dispersed over a large area, so instead of over 600 men with heavy weapons or equipment, only 150 with neither arrived at the battalion assembly point. Regardless, they pressed home their attack against an estimated German force of 130 engineers and artillerymen. Reduced to 75 men, the British succeeded in capturing the battery, only to discover that the guns were World War I-era
141:
1563:
four attackers survived to reach
Casemate Four, which they assaulted by firing into its apertures and throwing grenades into air vents. The other casemates were cleared of personnel with fragmentation and white phosphorus grenades, as the crews had neglected to lock the doors leading into the battery. During the bombing raid, the battery's guns had been moved inside the casemates and the steel doors left open for ventilation. During the battle, 22 Germans were killed and a similar number made
1615:, whose guns had been repaired and were again firing toward and several miles short of the landing beaches. Since the first assault the battery had been reoccupied and it was now heavily defended by mortars and landmines. Approaching from Le Plein to the south, No. 4 Troop moved across the open ground before taking up position behind the hedgerows 300 yards from the battery and from there laid down covering fire for No. 5 Troop which approached from the east with fixed bayonets.
173:
162:
127:
1536:
1400:
1628:
41:
1363:, where over seven days the Royal Engineers had built a full-scale replica of the battery, including obstacles and barbed wire fences. The following five days were spent holding briefings and getting acquainted with the layout of the battery. They carried out nine practice assaults, four of them at night. Due to the nature of the mission, the battalion was given additional medical support from No. 3 Section
1662:
After the
Germans reoccupied the battery position, Steiner was unable to see Sword from his command bunker, so even though he was able to get two of his guns back in action, he was unable to direct accurate fire several miles short of the landings. However, observers with the 736th Infantry Regiment,
1562:
Otway launched the assault as soon as the first glider overshot the battery, ordering the explosives to be detonated to form two paths through the outer perimeter through which the paratroopers attacked. The defenders were alerted by the detonations, and opened fire, inflicting heavy casualties; only
1511:
4 km (2.5 mi) inland. However, the battalion was scattered, with a number of paratroopers landing a considerable distance from the designated drop zone. Lieutenant
Colonel Otway landed with the rest of his "stick" 400 yards (370 m) away from the drop zone at a farmhouse being used as a
1558:
as its tow rope had snapped during bad weather. The other two gliders, unable to locate the battery, did not land where assigned. On their run in, both gliders were hit by anti-aircraft fire. One landed around 2 miles (3.2 km) away, the other at the edge of the minefield. The troops from this
1618:
After a stubborn German defence, in which a number of
Commandos, including Major Pooley, were killed, the Commandos took the battery, however, shortly afterwards they were counterattacked by a German force supported by half-tracks and self-propelled artillery. Casualties during this German
1704:
A medical section was composed of: an officer (doctor) and a staff sergeant (nursing orderly); under their command were three nursing orderlies, a clerk, a dutyman and thirteen stretcher bearers. All members of No. 3 Section attached to the 9th
Parachute Battalion became casualties in the
1506:
had been damaged when they landed, and the smoke and debris from the bombing obscured their marker lights from the pilots of the transport aircraft. The main body of the 9th
Parachute Battalion and their gliders were to land from 01:00 at drop zone 'V', located between the battery and
1512:
command post by a German battalion; after a brief fire-fight, they helped other scattered paratroopers, and reached the drop zone at 01:30 AM. By 02:50 AM, only 150 men had arrived at the battalion's assembly point with 20
1007:
1551:. The reconnaissance party had cut a way through the barbed wire, and marked four routes through the minefield. Otway divided his men into four assault groups, and settled down to await the arrival of the three gliders.
1249:, which only had an effective range of some 8,400 m (9,200 yd), just over 5 miles. Still, using what explosives they had been able to recover, they attempted, with only partial success, to disable the guns.
2844:
2834:
1000:
2257:
1574:. After the raid, he set out for the battery, but was unable to gain entry due to the volume of fire from the British paratroopers. At the same time, a reconnaissance patrol from an army
1425:. Other buildings on the site included a command bunker, a building to accommodate the men, and ammunition magazines. During a visit on 6 March 1944, to inspect the defences,
2829:
993:
1670:
The
British never succeeded in completely destroying the battery, and it remained under German control until 17 August, when the German Army started to withdraw from France.
1651:
just before 05:00 AM on 6 June 1944, the battalion's survivors, just 75 men of the 150 who had set out, left the battery and headed for their secondary objective, the village of
1648:
1632:
1309:
1231:
208:
2889:
1332:
1593:
to try to destroy the guns. By this time, Steiner had returned to
Franceville-Plage, and directed his regiment's 2nd and 3rd Batteries to fire onto the Merville Battery.
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2370:
1498:
started their bombing run, which completely missed the battery to the south. The pathfinders in the meantime were ineffective, as those who had arrived at the correct
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447:
2839:
2755:
323:
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2301:
2601:
1055:
565:
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mounting a large anti-aircraft gun arrived. The crew had intended to seek cover at the position, but instead used the gun to engage the paratroopers.
838:
1172:
73:
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974:
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having assisted the 9th
Parachute Battalion in capturing the heights around La Plein was now ordered to perform its own assault on the battery.
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1313:
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1543:
Aware of the time constraints, Otway decided he could wait no longer, and the reduced battalion headed for the battery and joined up with
1447:
obstacles 15 feet (4.6 m) deep by 5 feet (1.5 m) high, which also acted as the exterior border for a 100-yard-deep (91 m)
1317:
1280:. Allied planners had judged from the size of the concrete emplacements that their guns must be around 150 millimetres (5.9 in) in
1253:
371:
228:
316:
1467:
Raimund
Steiner, who commanded 50 engineers and 80 artillerymen from the 1st Battery, Artillery Regiment 1716, part of the
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2240:
2128:
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2016:
1503:
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was given the task of securing the left flank of the Allied seaborne landings. One of their objectives was the destruction of the
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1368:
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693:
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1655:. The battalion, being too weak, only managed to liberate around half of the village, and had to await the arrival of the
1285:
309:
2521:
2311:
1436:
1260:
failed to disable the guns or recapture the battery, which remained under German control until 17 August, when the
955:
752:
2819:
2287:
1656:
848:
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1571:
613:
66:
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674:
603:
392:
2527:
2400:
1060:
875:
870:
726:
669:
640:
553:
1374:
The predawn assault was planned to be completed and the battalion clear of the position by 05:00 AM, when the
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1443:
arrayed in 15 gun positions, all enclosed in an area 700 by 500 yards (640 by 460 m) surrounded by two
1426:
1261:
865:
860:
1371:, tasked with providing covering fire for the 9th Battalion's approach to and withdrawal from the battery.
2735:
1544:
1479:
Just after midnight on 6 June, the 9th Parachute Battalion's advance party landed with the brigade's
1355:
landing onto the position to coincide with the ground assault. In April 1944, the force was taken to
1212:
880:
686:
628:
407:
385:
1640:
1480:
1256:
had withdrawn, two of the guns were put back into action by the Germans. Another attack the next day by
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2485:
1137:
657:
618:
1367:. Another unit that would be present during the attack but not directly involved was A Company of the
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2406:
1636:
1612:
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glider became involved in a fire fight with German troops heading to reinforce the battery garrison.
1419:
1277:
1243:
1216:
828:
799:
397:
195:
296:
6 June 1944: 450 men failed to arrive at the battalion assembly area following the parachute landing
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2745:
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2509:
2456:
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2358:
1513:
1284:, with an estimated range of about 8 miles (13 km). At this distance, they could threaten the
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920:
843:
806:
792:
719:
635:
364:
357:
1585:
With the battery in their hands, but no sappers or explosives, the British gathered together what
1432:
ordered the builders to work faster, and by May 1944, the last two casemates were completed.
1410:
The Merville Battery was composed of four 6-foot-thick (1.8 m) steel-reinforced concrete gun
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818:
785:
778:
745:
738:
681:
623:
608:
570:
414:
333:
2262:
1619:
counter-attack were high and eventually the Commandos were forced to withdraw back to La Plein.
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1535:
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2012:
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1204:
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459:
378:
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913:
833:
771:
582:
531:
178:
2616:
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2426:
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1627:
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587:
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32:
301:
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421:
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172:
161:
132:
1667:, were able to direct his guns in that direction until that position was neutralised.
1491:
George Smith, and a reconnaissance party left to scout the battery. At the same time,
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2663:
2564:
1525:
1388:
1344:
1320:
521:
352:
166:
45:
Overhead view of the battery, showing the damage caused by a bombing raid in May 1944
1455:
covering any approach from the nearby coast. The original commander of the battery,
2315:
1488:
1464:
1429:
1356:
1352:
1348:
1208:
223:
190:
146:
2740:
2584:
2558:
1607:
On 7 June, Nos. 4 and 5 Troops of 3 Commando under command of Major John Pooley
1590:
1567:. The rest of the garrison escaped undetected by hiding in underground bunkers.
1517:
1444:
1440:
1289:
1224:
538:
511:
2750:
2578:
2572:
2552:
1601:
1579:
1555:
1375:
1293:
548:
543:
516:
214:
1199:
was a series of British assaults beginning 6 June 1944, as part of
88:
75:
2035:
1508:
1499:
1456:
1448:
1422:
1360:
1340:
2223:
1223:
150 mm (5.9 in) guns that could threaten the British landings at
2694:
2028:
On wings of healing: the story of the Airborne Medical Services 1940–1960
1411:
1404:
1246:
813:
1351:. Three of the gliders, transporting 50 volunteers, were to carry out a
1570:
Steiner was not present during the bombing, but at a command bunker in
1378:
1328:
1281:
1220:
1692:
1626:
1534:
1398:
1324:
1323:. The battalion's normal complement of 600 men was supported by a
1297:
1575:
2283:
2199:. Volume 37 of Fortress Series. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing.
2064:
D-Day 1944 (3): Sword Beach & the British Airborne Landings
989:
305:
1418:. Each was designed to protect First World War-vintage Czech
2047:. Volume 1 of Elite series. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing.
1463:
bombing raid on 19 May 1944. He was replaced by
2233:
Commando: Memoirs of a Fighting Commando in World War Two
1547:
Smith's reconnaissance party just outside the village of
1691:
Other sources give the number as 635 paratroopers and
2845:
Military operations of World War II involving Germany
2140:
Men of Steel: Canadian Paratroopers in Normandy, 1944
2081:
Ford, Ken; Zaloga, Steven J; Badsey, Stephen (2009).
2835:
Battles of World War II involving the United Kingdom
2718:
2682:
2631:
2594:
2537:
2472:
2322:
1343:and trailers, and stores including explosives, an
1333:591st (Antrim) Parachute Squadron, Royal Engineers
1300:invasion troops were to begin to land after dawn.
2263:Personal account of the battle at BBC Peoples War
1308:The unit assigned to destroy the battery was the
2030:. Edinburgh, United Kingdom: William Blackwood.
2258:Merville Gun Battery Museum (at webarchive.com)
25:
2830:Military history of Canada during World War II
2011:. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Tempus Publishing.
1953:
1951:
2295:
2121:Wings Of War –Airborne Warfare 1918–1945
1830:
1828:
1001:
317:
8:
2310:Primary articles on the Battle of Normandy,
2602:American logistics in the Normandy campaign
1554:In England, one of the gliders diverted to
1403:2010 photograph of one of the concrete gun
2799:Weather forecasting for Operation Overlord
2607:British logistics in the Normandy campaign
2302:
2288:
2280:
1878:
1876:
1874:
1872:
1853:
1851:
1849:
1659:later in the day to complete its capture.
1017:British airborne forces operations of the
1008:
994:
986:
324:
310:
302:
22:
2890:Battles of World War II involving Germany
2275:Transcript of 9th Bn Report on the battle
2161:. Hersham, Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing.
1414:facing the English Channel, built by the
1387:was set to open fire on the battery with
2825:Battles of World War II involving Canada
2195:Zaloga, Steven J; Johnson, Hugh (2005).
2100:Gregory, Barry; Batchelor, John (1979).
1755:
1753:
1743:
1741:
1739:
1589:they had been issued for use with their
1717:
1684:
2342:American airborne landings in Normandy
2840:British airborne landings in Normandy
2216:The Green Beret: The Commandos at War
2214:Saunders, Hilary St. George (1959) .
2180:. Santa Ana, CA: Graphic Publishers.
2123:. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
7:
2875:Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)
1264:started to withdraw from the area.
2395:Greenline, Pomegranate and Express
2142:. Toronto, ON: Dundurn Press Ltd.
1227:, only 8 miles (13 km) away.
14:
2085:. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing.
2066:. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing.
1365:224th (Parachute) Field Ambulance
1119:Caen canal and Orne river bridges
448:Caen canal and Orne river bridges
2885:1st Canadian Parachute Battalion
2870:Glider Pilot Regiment operations
2855:History of Calvados (department)
2371:Capture of Caen and Orne bridges
2197:D-Day Fortifications in Normandy
2159:D-Day Piercing the Atlantic Wall
1369:1st Canadian Parachute Battalion
222:
189:
171:
160:
139:
125:
39:
2789:People of Western Europe speech
2710:Military cemeteries in Normandy
2231:Durnford-Slater, John (2002) .
2007:Buckingham, William F. (2005).
1539:Plan of the battery and assault
386:Taxable, Glimmer & Big Drum
2784:June 6, 1944, order of the day
1813:Ford, Zaloga and Badsey, p.224
1469:716th Static Infantry Division
1435:The battery was defended by a
1197:Battle of Merville Gun Battery
26:Battle of Merville Gun Battery
1:
2218:. London: Four Square Books.
1945:Durnford-Slater 2002, p. 194.
1936:Durnford-Slater 2002, p. 193.
1286:3rd British Infantry Division
1274:British 6th Airborne Division
263:
2850:Military history of Normandy
2543:
2539:
2104:. Exeter, UK: Exeter Books.
2083:Overlord: The D-Day Landings
1459:Wolter, was killed during a
1437:20 mm anti-aircraft gun
108:6 June 1944: British victory
16:Battle during D-Day landings
2619:(Pipe-Line Under The Ocean)
2235:. London: Greenhill Books.
2102:Airborne Warfare, 1918–1945
1611:, carried out an attack on
1288:'s landing area, codenamed
110:7 June 1944: German victory
2908:
2119:Harclerode, Peter (2005).
1532:section were all missing.
1451:. Another obstacle was an
1339:glider loads transporting
1215:intelligence believed the
2756:Allied forces in Normandy
2178:Silent Wings Savage Death
2043:Ferguson, Gregor (1984).
1647:Following the assault of
1244:Czech M.14/19 100 mm
1028:
393:Combined Bomber Offensive
345:
295:
275:
245:
201:
153:
118:
49:
38:
30:
2268:13 December 2010 at the
2157:Kershaw, Robert (2008).
2009:D-Day The First 72 Hours
1843:Zaloga and Johnson, p.35
1822:Zaloga and Johnson, p.29
234:Artillery Regiment 1716
177:Major John Pooley
2176:Nigl, Alfred J (2007).
2026:Cole, Howard N (1963).
1957:Saunders 1959, p. 242.
1649:9th Parachute Battalion
1633:9th Parachute Battalion
1310:9th Parachute Battalion
1232:9th Parachute Battalion
229:716th Infantry Division
209:9th Parachute Battalion
2736:D-Day naval deceptions
1993:Harclerode, pp.319–320
1866:Buckingham, pp.142–143
1644:
1540:
1407:
1219:was composed of heavy-
855:Air and Sea operations
648:Anglo-Canadian Sector
527:Anglo-Canadian Sector
154:Commanders and leaders
1630:
1538:
1528:, jeeps, sappers and
1402:
1314:3rd Parachute Brigade
1240:6th Airborne Division
1236:3rd Parachute Brigade
1158:2nd Parachute Brigade
1104:6th Airborne Division
1034:1st Airborne Division
887:Supporting operations
276:Casualties and losses
2506:(Canada, Poland, US)
2459:(Canada, Poland, UK)
2453:(Canada, Poland, UK)
2138:Horn, Bernd (2010).
1657:1st Commando Brigade
1278:Merville Gun Battery
1272:On 6 June 1944, the
1254:British paratroopers
1217:Merville Gun Battery
1124:Merville Gun Battery
339:(Battle of Normandy)
283:(during the assault)
89:49.27000°N 0.19639°W
2767:Operation Bodyguard
2761:Liberation of Paris
1597:Assault 7 June 1944
1514:Bangalore torpedoes
1475:Assault 6 June 1944
1420:M.14/19 100 mm
85: /
2820:Operation Overlord
2794:Rommel's asparagus
2778:Operation Jedburgh
2623:Operation Chastity
2062:Ford, Ken (2011).
1645:
1587:plastic explosives
1549:Gonneville en Auge
1541:
1408:
1318:Lieutenant Colonel
682:Normandy massacres
571:Operation Chastity
335:Operation Overlord
286:7 June 1944: heavy
94:49.27000; -0.19639
2865:Conflicts in 1944
2807:
2806:
2772:Operation Dragoon
2447:(UK 6th Airborne)
2206:978-1-84176-876-2
2187:978-1-882824-31-1
2168:978-0-7110-3323-8
2149:978-1-55488-708-8
2111:978-0-89673-025-0
2092:978-1-84603-424-4
2073:978-1-84908-721-6
2045:The Paras 1940–84
1975:Harclerode, p.320
1900:Buckingham, p.145
1882:Harclerode, p.319
1857:Harclerode, p.318
1635:marching through
1572:Franceville-Plage
1524:, anti-tank gun,
1496:Lancaster bombers
1485:second in command
1416:Todt Organisation
1292:, to the west of
1258:British Commandos
1205:Normandy landings
1190:
1189:
983:
982:
839:Mantes-Gassicourt
503:Normandy landings
300:
299:
284:
260:
255:
252:6 June 1944: 150
114:
113:
2897:
2880:June 1944 events
2780:(France, UK, US)
2774:(France, UK, US)
2746:Hobart's Funnies
2700:Hillman Fortress
2612:Mulberry harbour
2545:
2541:
2538:Landing points (
2516:Merville Battery
2385:(Deception plan)
2304:
2297:
2290:
2281:
2246:
2227:
2210:
2191:
2172:
2153:
2134:
2115:
2096:
2077:
2058:
2039:
2022:
1994:
1991:
1985:
1982:
1976:
1973:
1967:
1964:
1958:
1955:
1946:
1943:
1937:
1934:
1928:
1925:
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1916:
1910:
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1787:
1786:Cole, pp.222–223
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1748:
1745:
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1722:
1706:
1702:
1696:
1689:
1613:Merville battery
1565:prisoners of war
1209:Second World War
1023:
1021:
1020:Second World War
1010:
1003:
996:
987:
614:La Haye-du-Puits
599:American Sector
507:American Sector
453:Merville Battery
433:Airborne assault
340:
336:
326:
319:
312:
303:
282:
281:6 June 1944: 75
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265:
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227:
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2810:
2809:
2808:
2803:
2714:
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2659:Longues-sur-Mer
2627:
2590:
2533:
2522:Verrières Ridge
2468:
2361:(UK and Canada)
2318:
2308:
2270:Wayback Machine
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1763:
1758:
1751:
1746:
1737:
1732:
1728:
1723:
1719:
1710:
1709:
1703:
1699:
1690:
1686:
1676:
1663:holding out at
1625:
1599:
1530:field ambulance
1493:Royal Air Force
1477:
1461:Royal Air Force
1453:anti-tank ditch
1397:
1316:, commanded by
1306:
1270:
1247:field howitzers
1201:Operation Tonga
1193:
1192:
1191:
1186:
1024:
1019:
1016:
1014:
984:
979:
966:
753:Verrières Ridge
675:Le Mesnil-Patry
598:
596:Ground campaign
506:
469:American Sector
436:British Sector
435:
341:
338:
334:
332:
330:
290:
285:
266:
256:
254:(assault force)
221:
212:
196:Raimund Steiner
188:
179:
170:
169:
159:
140:
138:
137:
126:
124:
109:
93:
91:
87:
84:
79:
76:
74:
72:
71:
70:
44:
33:Operation Tonga
17:
12:
11:
5:
2905:
2904:
2901:
2893:
2892:
2887:
2882:
2877:
2872:
2867:
2862:
2860:1944 in France
2857:
2852:
2847:
2842:
2837:
2832:
2827:
2822:
2812:
2811:
2805:
2804:
2802:
2801:
2796:
2791:
2786:
2781:
2775:
2769:
2764:
2758:
2753:
2748:
2743:
2738:
2733:
2728:
2722:
2720:
2716:
2715:
2713:
2712:
2707:
2705:Pegasus Bridge
2702:
2697:
2692:
2690:Falaise pocket
2686:
2684:
2680:
2679:
2677:
2676:
2671:
2666:
2661:
2656:
2651:
2646:
2641:
2635:
2633:
2629:
2628:
2626:
2625:
2620:
2614:
2609:
2604:
2598:
2596:
2592:
2591:
2589:
2588:
2582:
2576:
2570:
2569:
2568:
2556:
2549:
2547:
2535:
2534:
2532:
2531:
2528:Villers-Bocage
2525:
2519:
2513:
2507:
2501:
2495:
2489:
2483:
2476:
2474:
2470:
2469:
2467:
2466:
2460:
2454:
2448:
2442:
2436:
2430:
2424:
2418:
2412:
2404:
2398:
2392:
2386:
2380:
2374:
2368:
2362:
2356:
2350:
2344:
2339:
2338:(assault plan)
2333:
2332:(overall plan)
2326:
2324:
2320:
2319:
2309:
2307:
2306:
2299:
2292:
2284:
2278:
2277:
2272:
2260:
2253:
2252:External links
2250:
2248:
2247:
2241:
2228:
2211:
2205:
2192:
2186:
2173:
2167:
2154:
2148:
2135:
2129:
2116:
2110:
2097:
2091:
2078:
2072:
2059:
2053:
2040:
2023:
2017:
2003:
2001:
1998:
1996:
1995:
1986:
1984:Kershaw, p.307
1977:
1968:
1959:
1947:
1938:
1929:
1927:Kershaw, p.150
1920:
1918:Kershaw, p.148
1911:
1909:Kershaw, p.149
1902:
1893:
1884:
1868:
1859:
1845:
1836:
1834:Gregory, p.108
1824:
1815:
1806:
1797:
1788:
1779:
1770:
1761:
1749:
1747:Ferguson, p.18
1735:
1733:Kershaw, p.135
1726:
1716:
1715:
1714:
1708:
1707:
1697:
1683:
1682:
1681:
1680:
1675:
1672:
1624:
1621:
1598:
1595:
1526:mine detectors
1504:Eureka beacons
1476:
1473:
1396:
1393:
1337:Airspeed Horsa
1312:, part of the
1305:
1304:British forces
1302:
1269:
1266:
1234:, part of the
1203:, part of the
1188:
1187:
1185:
1184:
1177:
1170:
1162:
1161:
1153:
1152:
1145:
1140:
1135:
1128:
1127:
1126:
1121:
1108:
1107:
1099:
1098:
1091:
1086:
1079:
1072:
1065:
1062:Turkey Buzzard
1058:
1053:
1046:
1038:
1037:
1029:
1026:
1025:
1015:
1013:
1012:
1005:
998:
990:
981:
980:
978:
977:
965:
964:
953:
946:
939:
932:
925:
918:
911:
904:
897:
884:
883:
878:
876:Pierres Noires
873:
868:
863:
852:
851:
846:
841:
836:
831:
826:
821:
816:
811:
804:
797:
796:
795:
783:
776:
769:
756:
755:
750:
743:
736:
731:
724:
717:
710:
703:
696:
691:
690:
689:
679:
678:
677:
672:
670:Villers-Bocage
660:
655:
646:
645:
644:
643:
633:
632:
631:
621:
616:
611:
606:
604:Brécourt Manor
593:
592:
591:
590:
585:
575:
574:
573:
557:
556:
554:Port-en-Bessin
551:
546:
541:
536:
525:
524:
519:
514:
499:
498:
493:
488:
483:
478:
465:
464:
457:
456:
455:
450:
430:
429:
424:
419:
412:
405:
403:Transport Plan
400:
395:
390:
389:
388:
383:
376:
369:
355:
346:
343:
342:
331:
329:
328:
321:
314:
306:
298:
297:
293:
292:
287:
278:
277:
273:
272:
269:
267: 150 men
248:
247:
243:
242:
241:
240:
239:
238:
218:
211:(6 June 1944)
204:
203:
202:Units involved
199:
198:
186:
156:
155:
151:
150:
135:
133:United Kingdom
121:
120:
116:
115:
112:
111:
106:
102:
101:
65:
63:
59:
58:
55:
47:
46:
36:
35:
28:
27:
21:
20:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
2903:
2902:
2891:
2888:
2886:
2883:
2881:
2878:
2876:
2873:
2871:
2868:
2866:
2863:
2861:
2858:
2856:
2853:
2851:
2848:
2846:
2843:
2841:
2838:
2836:
2833:
2831:
2828:
2826:
2823:
2821:
2818:
2817:
2815:
2800:
2797:
2795:
2792:
2790:
2787:
2785:
2782:
2779:
2776:
2773:
2770:
2768:
2765:
2762:
2759:
2757:
2754:
2752:
2749:
2747:
2744:
2742:
2739:
2737:
2734:
2732:
2729:
2727:
2726:Atlantic Wall
2724:
2723:
2721:
2717:
2711:
2708:
2706:
2703:
2701:
2698:
2696:
2693:
2691:
2688:
2687:
2685:
2681:
2675:
2672:
2670:
2667:
2665:
2662:
2660:
2657:
2655:
2652:
2650:
2647:
2645:
2642:
2640:
2637:
2636:
2634:
2632:Gun batteries
2630:
2624:
2621:
2618:
2615:
2613:
2610:
2608:
2605:
2603:
2600:
2599:
2597:
2593:
2586:
2583:
2580:
2577:
2574:
2571:
2566:
2565:Pointe du Hoc
2563:
2562:
2560:
2557:
2554:
2551:
2550:
2548:
2536:
2529:
2526:
2523:
2520:
2517:
2514:
2511:
2508:
2505:
2502:
2499:
2496:
2493:
2490:
2487:
2484:
2481:
2478:
2477:
2475:
2471:
2464:
2461:
2458:
2455:
2452:
2449:
2446:
2443:
2440:
2437:
2434:
2431:
2428:
2425:
2422:
2419:
2416:
2413:
2410:
2409:
2405:
2402:
2399:
2396:
2393:
2390:
2387:
2384:
2381:
2378:
2375:
2372:
2369:
2366:
2363:
2360:
2357:
2354:
2351:
2348:
2345:
2343:
2340:
2337:
2334:
2331:
2328:
2327:
2325:
2321:
2317:
2313:
2312:Western Front
2305:
2300:
2298:
2293:
2291:
2286:
2285:
2282:
2276:
2273:
2271:
2267:
2264:
2261:
2259:
2256:
2255:
2251:
2244:
2242:1-85367-479-6
2238:
2234:
2229:
2225:
2221:
2217:
2212:
2208:
2202:
2198:
2193:
2189:
2183:
2179:
2174:
2170:
2164:
2160:
2155:
2151:
2145:
2141:
2136:
2132:
2130:0-304-36730-3
2126:
2122:
2117:
2113:
2107:
2103:
2098:
2094:
2088:
2084:
2079:
2075:
2069:
2065:
2060:
2056:
2054:0-85045-573-1
2050:
2046:
2041:
2037:
2033:
2029:
2024:
2020:
2018:0-7524-2842-X
2014:
2010:
2005:
2004:
1999:
1990:
1987:
1981:
1978:
1972:
1969:
1963:
1960:
1954:
1952:
1948:
1942:
1939:
1933:
1930:
1924:
1921:
1915:
1912:
1906:
1903:
1897:
1894:
1888:
1885:
1879:
1877:
1875:
1873:
1869:
1863:
1860:
1854:
1852:
1850:
1846:
1840:
1837:
1831:
1829:
1825:
1819:
1816:
1810:
1807:
1801:
1798:
1792:
1789:
1783:
1780:
1774:
1771:
1765:
1762:
1756:
1754:
1750:
1744:
1742:
1740:
1736:
1730:
1727:
1721:
1718:
1712:
1711:
1701:
1698:
1694:
1688:
1685:
1678:
1677:
1673:
1671:
1668:
1666:
1660:
1658:
1654:
1650:
1643:later in June
1642:
1638:
1634:
1629:
1622:
1620:
1616:
1614:
1610:
1605:
1603:
1596:
1594:
1592:
1588:
1583:
1581:
1577:
1573:
1568:
1566:
1560:
1557:
1552:
1550:
1546:
1537:
1533:
1531:
1527:
1523:
1519:
1515:
1510:
1505:
1501:
1497:
1494:
1490:
1486:
1482:
1474:
1472:
1470:
1466:
1462:
1458:
1454:
1450:
1446:
1442:
1439:and multiple
1438:
1433:
1431:
1428:
1427:Field Marshal
1424:
1421:
1417:
1413:
1406:
1401:
1394:
1392:
1390:
1389:naval gunfire
1386:
1385:
1380:
1377:
1372:
1370:
1366:
1362:
1358:
1354:
1350:
1349:flamethrowers
1346:
1345:anti-tank gun
1342:
1338:
1334:
1330:
1326:
1322:
1321:Terence Otway
1319:
1315:
1311:
1303:
1301:
1299:
1295:
1291:
1287:
1283:
1279:
1275:
1267:
1265:
1263:
1259:
1255:
1250:
1248:
1245:
1241:
1237:
1233:
1228:
1226:
1222:
1218:
1214:
1210:
1207:, during the
1206:
1202:
1198:
1183:
1182:
1178:
1176:
1175:
1171:
1169:
1168:
1164:
1163:
1160:
1159:
1155:
1154:
1151:
1150:
1146:
1144:
1141:
1139:
1136:
1134:
1133:
1129:
1125:
1122:
1120:
1117:
1116:
1115:
1114:
1110:
1109:
1106:
1105:
1101:
1100:
1097:
1096:
1092:
1090:
1087:
1085:
1084:
1080:
1078:
1077:
1073:
1071:
1070:
1066:
1064:
1063:
1059:
1057:
1054:
1052:
1051:
1047:
1045:
1044:
1040:
1039:
1036:
1035:
1031:
1030:
1027:
1022:
1011:
1006:
1004:
999:
997:
992:
991:
988:
976:
973:
972:
971:
970:
963:
962:
958:
954:
952:
951:
947:
945:
944:
940:
938:
937:
933:
931:
930:
926:
924:
923:
919:
917:
916:
912:
910:
909:
905:
903:
902:
898:
896:
895:
891:
890:
889:
888:
882:
879:
877:
874:
872:
869:
867:
864:
862:
859:
858:
857:
856:
850:
847:
845:
842:
840:
837:
835:
832:
830:
827:
825:
822:
820:
817:
815:
812:
810:
809:
805:
803:
802:
798:
794:
791:
790:
789:
788:
784:
782:
781:
777:
775:
774:
770:
768:
767:
763:
762:
761:
760:
754:
751:
749:
748:
744:
742:
741:
737:
735:
732:
730:
729:
725:
723:
722:
718:
716:
715:
711:
709:
708:
704:
702:
701:
697:
695:
692:
688:
687:Ardenne Abbey
685:
684:
683:
680:
676:
673:
671:
668:
667:
666:
665:
661:
659:
656:
654:
651:
650:
649:
642:
639:
638:
637:
634:
630:
627:
626:
625:
622:
620:
617:
615:
612:
610:
607:
605:
602:
601:
600:
597:
589:
586:
584:
581:
580:
579:
576:
572:
569:
568:
567:
564:
563:
562:
561:
555:
552:
550:
547:
545:
542:
540:
537:
535:
534:
530:
529:
528:
523:
522:Pointe du Hoc
520:
518:
515:
513:
510:
509:
508:
505:
504:
497:
494:
492:
489:
487:
484:
482:
479:
477:
474:
473:
472:
471:
470:
463:
462:
458:
454:
451:
449:
446:
445:
444:
443:
439:
438:
437:
434:
428:
425:
423:
420:
418:
417:
413:
411:
410:
406:
404:
401:
399:
396:
394:
391:
387:
384:
382:
381:
377:
375:
374:
370:
368:
367:
363:
362:
361:
360:
356:
354:
353:Atlantic Wall
351:
350:
349:
344:
337:
327:
322:
320:
315:
313:
308:
307:
304:
294:
288:
280:
279:
274:
270:
262:7 June 1944:
261:
250:
249:
244:
236:
235:
233:
232:
231:
230:
225:
219:
217:(7 June 1944)
216:
213:
210:
206:
205:
200:
197:
192:
187:
185:(7 June 1944)
184:
182:
174:
168:
167:Terence Otway
163:
158:
157:
152:
148:
136:
134:
123:
122:
117:
107:
104:
103:
98:
68:
64:
61:
60:
57:6–7 June 1944
56:
53:
52:
48:
42:
37:
34:
29:
24:
19:
2683:Other places
2515:
2494:(UK, Canada)
2407:
2316:World War II
2232:
2215:
2196:
2177:
2158:
2139:
2120:
2101:
2082:
2063:
2044:
2027:
2008:
1989:
1980:
1971:
1962:
1941:
1932:
1923:
1914:
1905:
1896:
1887:
1862:
1839:
1818:
1809:
1800:
1791:
1782:
1773:
1764:
1729:
1720:
1700:
1687:
1669:
1661:
1646:
1617:
1606:
1600:
1591:Gammon bombs
1584:
1578:unit with a
1569:
1561:
1553:
1542:
1502:found their
1478:
1465:Oberleutnant
1441:machine guns
1434:
1430:Erwin Rommel
1409:
1383:
1373:
1357:Walbury Hill
1353:coup de main
1307:
1271:
1251:
1238:attached to
1229:
1196:
1194:
1180:
1173:
1166:
1156:
1148:
1131:
1123:
1112:
1102:
1094:
1082:
1075:
1068:
1061:
1056:North Africa
1049:
1042:
1032:
968:
967:
960:
956:
949:
942:
935:
928:
921:
914:
907:
900:
893:
886:
885:
881:Audierne Bay
854:
853:
807:
800:
786:
779:
772:
765:
758:
757:
746:
739:
727:
720:
713:
706:
699:
663:
647:
595:
594:
559:
558:
532:
526:
501:
500:
467:
466:
460:
452:
441:
432:
431:
415:
409:Postage Able
408:
379:
372:
365:
358:
347:
251:
220:
207:
180:
119:Belligerents
18:
2741:Dieppe Raid
2674:Mont Canisy
1631:Men of the
1518:machine gun
1481:pathfinders
1445:barbed wire
1262:German Army
1225:Sword Beach
929:Houndsworth
849:La Rochelle
291:22 captured
237:1st Battery
92: /
2814:Categories
2751:Rhino tank
2639:Amfreville
2323:Operations
2000:References
1966:Cole, p.83
1891:Nigl, p.71
1804:Horn, p.41
1795:Cole, p.88
1777:Cole, p.81
1768:Nigl, p.72
1759:Ford, p.41
1724:Horn, p.44
1637:Amfreville
1602:3 Commando
1580:half-track
1556:RAF Odiham
1376:Royal Navy
1294:Ouistreham
1268:Background
975:Cemeteries
829:Saint-Malo
398:Pointblank
259:(in total)
215:3 Commando
77:49°16′12″N
2595:Logistics
2510:Cherbourg
2457:Tractable
2383:Fortitude
2359:Charnwood
1713:Citations
1679:Footnotes
1665:La Brèche
1623:Aftermath
1509:Varaville
1500:drop zone
1457:Hauptmann
1449:minefield
1423:howitzers
1412:casemates
1405:casemates
1382:HMS
1361:Berkshire
1252:When the
1083:Slapstick
969:Aftermath
922:Bulbasket
871:Cherbourg
808:Tractable
721:Charnwood
636:Cherbourg
560:Logistics
366:Fortitude
359:Bodyguard
289:22 killed
80:0°11′47″W
2763:(France)
2719:See also
2695:Hill 262
2669:Merville
2654:Houlgate
2649:Crisbecq
2644:Azeville
2581:(Canada)
2524:(Canada)
2504:Chambois
2498:Carentan
2486:Bréville
2465:(Canada)
2451:Totalize
2435:(Canada)
2411:(German)
2389:Goodwood
2353:Bluecoat
2349:(Canada)
2347:Atlantic
2330:Overlord
2266:Archived
2036:29847628
1653:La Plein
1641:Calvados
1384:Arethusa
1335:, eight
1296:, where
1138:Bréville
1095:Doomsday
1069:Ladbroke
1050:Freshman
943:Jedburgh
866:La Caine
819:Chambois
814:Hill 262
793:Hill 140
787:Totalize
780:Bluecoat
759:Breakout
747:Goodwood
740:Atlantic
734:2nd Odon
658:Bréville
624:Carentan
619:Saint-LĂ´
609:Graignes
583:Mulberry
566:American
416:Tarbrush
373:Zeppelin
246:Strength
69:, France
67:Merville
62:Location
31:Part of
2473:Battles
2463:Windsor
2439:Titanic
2421:Martlet
2415:Mallard
2408:LĂĽttich
2401:Jupiter
2336:Neptune
2224:1260659
1705:battle.
1693:sappers
1522:mortars
1395:Battery
1379:cruiser
1329:sappers
1282:calibre
1221:calibre
1149:Varsity
1132:Mallard
1076:Fustian
957:Wallace
950:Dragoon
908:Titanic
901:Samwest
894:Dingson
824:Falaise
801:LĂĽttich
728:Jupiter
714:Windsor
700:Martlet
694:Douvres
629:Hill 30
578:British
491:Detroit
486:Chicago
461:Mallard
380:Titanic
348:Prelude
181:†
147:Germany
2433:Spring
2239:
2222:
2203:
2184:
2165:
2146:
2127:
2108:
2089:
2070:
2051:
2034:
2015:
1520:. The
1516:and a
1213:Allied
1089:Arnhem
1043:Biting
959:&
936:Loyton
915:Cooney
861:Ushant
773:Spring
533:Gambit
496:Elmira
481:Boston
476:Albany
427:Fabius
144:
130:
105:Result
2731:D-Day
2664:Maisy
2617:Pluto
2585:Sword
2561:(US)
2559:Omaha
2480:Brest
2445:Tonga
2427:Perch
2377:Epsom
2365:Cobra
1674:Notes
1545:Major
1489:Major
1341:Jeeps
1331:from
1325:troop
1298:D-day
1290:Sword
1181:Manna
1174:Rugby
1167:Hasty
1113:Tonga
961:Hardy
844:Paris
834:Brest
766:Cobra
707:Epsom
664:Perch
641:Naval
588:Pluto
539:Sword
512:Omaha
442:Tonga
422:Tiger
2587:(UK)
2579:Juno
2575:(UK)
2573:Gold
2567:(US)
2555:(US)
2553:Utah
2530:(UK)
2518:(UK)
2512:(US)
2500:(US)
2492:Caen
2488:(UK)
2482:(US)
2441:(UK)
2429:(UK)
2423:(UK)
2417:(UK)
2403:(UK)
2397:(UK)
2391:(UK)
2379:(UK)
2373:(UK)
2367:(US)
2355:(UK)
2237:ISBN
2220:OCLC
2201:ISBN
2182:ISBN
2163:ISBN
2144:ISBN
2125:ISBN
2106:ISBN
2087:ISBN
2068:ISBN
2049:ISBN
2032:OCLC
2013:ISBN
1576:Flak
1347:and
1230:The
1195:The
1143:Bure
653:Caen
549:Gold
544:Juno
517:Utah
257:600
54:Date
1639:in
1359:in
1327:of
271:130
2816::
2314:,
1950:^
1871:^
1848:^
1827:^
1752:^
1738:^
1609:MC
1487:,
1471:.
1391:.
1211:.
264:c.
2546:)
2544:E
2542:→
2540:W
2303:e
2296:t
2289:v
2245:.
2226:.
2209:.
2190:.
2171:.
2152:.
2133:.
2114:.
2095:.
2076:.
2057:.
2038:.
2021:.
1695:.
1009:e
1002:t
995:v
325:e
318:t
311:v
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