paratrooper-museum.org/en/airborne-wall.html Centre Historique des Parachutistes du Jour-J de Saint-Come-du-Mont, France. Normandy, France, June 6, 1944. It is only 0:15 when American paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division of General Maxwell D. Taylor jumped into Normandy and become the first Allied soldiers to reach French soil; their main mission, capturing the town of Carentan. It was defended by elite German paratroopers commanded by German Major von der Heydte. The Germans dug in at Saint Côme du Mont, the last bastion before the gates of Carentan, and were ordered to defend the city to the last man. Americans expected armor support of the 70th Armored Battalion which landed at Utah Beach with light tanks. On June 8th, American troops began a costly advance through hedge rolls and fields. The advance led them to the vicinity of Saint Côme du Mont. The first American light tanks arrived at the intersection of two roads and tried to advance to Carentan. There advance was halted by a direct hit of a tank which killed Lieutenant Walter T. Anderson of Minnesota. The wreckage of the tank remained where it was hit there for several days. The body of Lieutenant Anderson hanged outside the turret. For Americans, this place will forever be known to them as the CROSSROADS OF DEAD MAN. At the crossroads is a house that served as a HQ and aid station for German paratroopers. This museum is located in the house and includes an impressive collection of authentic materials used by U.S. and German troops during the Second World War.
Posted on: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 15:02:24 +0000
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