Figure 1.--The quiet French town of Carentan became the focal point of the Battle for Normandy. It stratehic location mean that it was vital if the Americans were to join the widely separated Utah and Omaha beachheads. The lightly armed 101st Airborn was given the job of seizing and holding Carentan. Here American GIs after link-up with the paratroopers relax in the Carentan town center with some young French friends. The lightly armed 101st Division paratroopers held off the heavily armed Germans until heavy forces from the Utah beachead arrived.

The 101st ordered to take Carentan forced a passage across the causeway into Carentan (June 10-11). The Division was lightly armed and after 4 days of fighting running low on amunition. Fortunately, a shortage of ammunition forced the German forces in the town to withdraw (June 12). American air power was attacking German efforts to resupply and reinforce their forces in Normandy, includung Carentan. This gave the lightly armed paratroopers a fighting chance. The 101st held on to Carentan despite constant German pressure. The most serious German attack included an armor reinforced counterattack to the south-west of town (June 13). It was known as the Battle of Bloody Gulch. It came at a time before link up and the 101st still had no heavy weapons. This was the last conceted German effort to retake Carentan. As the bttle played out, the 17th SS PzG Division counter-attacked the 101st Airborne (June 13). The Germans entered Carentan because the American partroopers did not have the heavy weapons to stop the German armor. The attack was, however, stopped and thrown back by the timely arrival of Combat Command A (CCA) of the U.S. 2nd Armored Division. The American 29th Infantry Division was at the same time attacking westward over the Vire River from the Omaha Bridgehead. They also had had the heavy weapons needed to beat back the German armor. Possession if Carentan was vital to the sucess of the Normandy landings. It allowed VII and V corps soldiers to link up, joining the Omhaand Utah bridgeheds. This mean that the Germans could no longer attack isolated bridgeheads in detail. Possession of Carebtan Carentan ptovided a base for a concerted push for Cherbourg and eventually St-Lô. Once St.-Lô was in American hands, the Cotentin Peninsula could would be secured and the breakout into the interior of France could begin.

Created: 9:45 PM 2/24/2016
Last updated: 9:45 PM 2/24/2016