Heroes of Carentan

The liberation of Carentan is not widely known but it is not a simple footnote of the Battle of Normandy. It was the stage for fighting of an uncommon ferocity from 9 to 13 June, 1944, between two elite formations : the American paratroopers of the 101st Airborne and the Fallschirmjäger of FJR.6.

General Maxwell Taylor, commanding the 101st Airborne, would use his entire division with its four airborne regiments, but also all of the support units, the four airborne artillery batteries, medical and supply units... in order to surround the town and push out the German parachutists led by Major Fhr. Von der Heydte, who withdrew following furious fighting throughout the night of 11 to 12 June, only to return the following day with the 17. SS-Pz-Gren-Div « Götz von Berlichingen »... Military losses, both German and American, were considerable, as were those of civilians (the town center still bears the traces).

This book takes a detailed look at this battle of Carentan. It is not only chronological, and the accounts of those that were there in the battle allow the reader to place the numerous feats of arms that are constantly poignant and even moving. Each personal story is its own adventure. This book modestly gathers together some of these individual adventures, casting a deeply human light on what was the complexity and violence of the fighting for the liberation of this area of the Cotentin. One such example is that of Edward David Shames, one of the last remaining « heroes of Carentan » still alive today. Born on a 13 June, he thought his last moments had come on... a certain 13 June, 1944. It is for all these reasons that Carentan holds a special place in his memory. It was also the place where he landed at around 01:40 on D-Day. There is also Don Rich who would be wounded in the legs by MG fire during G Company's charge during the attack on the town. We can also mention California-born Staff Sergeant Thomas M. Rice (C/501st), who went through hell in the La Barquette locks sector, his battalion's objective...

This book is a must for those with an interest in the Battle of Normandy, or for any reader sensitive to the human aspects of war.