Easy Peasy

Airborne forces were theorized to be elite, shock forces that would be used for just a few days and then withdrawn for refit and preparation for the next operation. Before D-Day they were told they needed to give 3 days …

1944-06-12

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Airborne forces were theorized to be elite, shock forces that would be used for just a few days and then withdrawn for refit and preparation for the next operation. Before D-Day they were told they needed to give 3 days of hard fighting. The reality on the ground would dictate otherwise. With most of the troops coming in to Utah beach heading north to capture the port of Cherbourg, the task of capturing Carentan fell to the 101st. Taking this town was necessary to link the Utah and Omaha beaches. Elements of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 506th PIR would attack, including “Easy” company. Through a night march, 2nd Battalion had been positioned to attack Carentan from the Southwest, thereby cutting off the main retreat route of any defenders in Carentan.

Carentan, France

The Battle of Carentan was an engagement in World War II between airborne forces of the United States Army and the German Wehrmacht during the Battle of Normandy. The battle took place between 6 and 13 June 1944, on the approaches to and within the town of Carentan, France. The objective of the attacking American forces was consolidation of the U.S. beachheads (Utah Beach and Omaha Beach) and establishment of a continuous defensive line against expected German counterattacks. The defending German force attempted to hold the town long enough to allow reinforcements en route from the south to arrive, prevent or delay the merging of the lodgments, and keep the U.S. First Army from launching an attack towards Lessay-Périers that would cut off the Cotentin Peninsula. Carentan was defended by two battalions of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 6 (6th Parachute Regiment) of the 2nd Fallschirmjäger-Division and two Ost battalions. The 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division, ordered to reinforce Carentan, was delayed by transport shortages and attacks by Allied aircraft. The attacking 10ist Airborne Division, landed by parachute on 6 June as part of the American airborne landings in Normandy, was ordered to seize Carentan. In the ensuing battle, the 10ist forced passage across the causeway into Carentan on 10 and 11 June. A lack of ammunition forced the German forces to withdraw on 12 June. The 17th SS PzG Division counter-attacked the 10ist Airborne on 13 June. Initially successful, its attack was thrown back by Combat Command A (CCA) of the U.S. 2nd Armored Division.

Wikipedia: Battle of Carentan

German

American