Normandy 1944

The TV series 'Band of Brothers' covers the action in Carentan during Part 3 of the series, here follows a less hollywood account of the actions on D-Day and the following 7 days to capture Carentan.

"D-Day"

During the evening of 5th June 1944, Major von der Heydte had planned to travel to Rennes and attend the planned war games. He travelled to St.Lo to accompany General Marcks to Brittany but was informed on his arrival that they would not be leaving until early the next morning.

VDH returned to his regiment HQ at Periers late on 5th June. Regiment picked up an unusual amount of radio traffic from the channel, his drivers from the Alsace region began to desert their posts, there were many reports of sabotage in the area.

The Regiment with its subordinated unit, 8./Artillery Regiment 191 (91.LL.Div) were providing a security line in the south of the Cotentin Peninsula, south west of Carentan; St.Jores - Lithaire - Lessay - Perriers - St.Georges de Bohon, in an area 20km wide and 15km in depth.

In the very early hours of June 6th, parts of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment of the US 101st Airborne Division, jumped into this area, hailing the beginning of the invasion. The most north easterly of these airbone invaders, assigned the area between St.Come du Mont - Baupte - Carentan were immediately attacked and at least one Company were brought into Carentan as prisoners. Von der Heydte travelled to Carentan to interrogate the men of this airborne vanguard himself.

At 3am on 6th June 1944, 91 LL.Div received a Fallschirm Alarm from FLUKO Caen (Flugwachkommando - Aviation Report Centre), but it was too late, the Fallschirmjäger of the 6th Rgt were already in action.

500 US Paratroops had dropped in the area of III./FJR6, south west of Carentan. Many of these men were in scattered groups, unable to make it to their grouping areas. The firefights between airborne troops raged on all night. Another 100-150 US Paratroops had landed in the area held by the 1st Battalion, eastwards of St.Jores.

Meanwhile, the 6th Regiment command post was shifted to St.Come du Mont protected by a combat team from the 1st Battalion. The rest of the battalion was late in re-inforcing the combat team due to harrasing fire by allied aircraft at daybreak. This force backed up a battalion from Gren.Rgt.1058 who were already in the town.

After finalising battle plans, Von der Heydte crossed the Carentan causeway at around midday on June 6th heading to the new command post at St.Come du Mont. The surrounding area had been secured, although US Paratroops were already dug in less than a Km to the east at La Barquette but unable to get close to the causeway or its bridges due to strong defensive fire from German positions on the road and St.Come du Mont.

The orders had been given out to the battalions of Regiment.6

1st Battalion - To advance in the direction Ste.Marie du Mont-La Madaleine to relieve the pressure on strongpoint W5 (Resistance Nest.5, the hub of bunker defences at Utah Beach).
2nd Battalion - Advance in the direction of Turqueville, where 795th Georgian Battalion were located.
3rd Battalion - Remain behind to provide flank security.

As the 1st & 2nd Battalions moved on to their objectives, elements of the 3rd Battalion were still involved in mopping up operations against isolated groups of US Paratroops, south west of Carentan. Elements of the 3rd Battalion remained behind in Carentan, including the heavy company. The church tower was used as an artillery observation post and became a key position in the fighting that would happen further north.

Other US airborne forces in the south of the peninsula were being attacked from the north by Gren.Rgt 1058 & Sturm Battalion Messerschmidt. Gren.Rgt.1057 attacked from the west against airborne landings on the Merderet River further north.

The attack by 1st & 2nd Battalions went well at first. The 1st Battalion managed to reach to reach the outskirts of Ste.Marie du Mont, only 6km from W5, but found that it was in the hands of 101st Airborne Division, soon to be backed up by elements of the 4th Infantry Division who had landed at Utah Beach earlier that morning. A battalion from AR.191 had held the town before it was taken, they had withdrawn to positions further west. The 1st Battalion dug in amongst the fields and hedgerows outside of the town.

The second Battalion received strong fire into its left flank from St.Mere Eglise, where 507th PIR were holed up and constantly being strengthened. Major Rolf Mager was unaware that the Flak unit defending the town had abandoned their positions to the Americans. The Battalion swivelled, not toward the east but westward to outflank the town. Still the Battalion recieved strong flanking fire, they returned fire but their own ammunition was beggining to reach low levels. They were forced to withdrawal back south toward St.Come du Mont in the morning of June 7th, without having reached the Osttruppen further to the north east.

The 1st Battalion had managed to hold their positions around St.Come du Mont, but they were under increasing pressure from US forces heading inland from Utah beach and constantly strengthened airborne forces operating all over the base of the Peninsula. During the evening of June 6th approximately 150 US Gliders landed north east of Carentan in the rear of 1st Battalion. Later that night their positions between St.Marie du Mont and Vierville were shelled by Naval Artillery. In the early hours of June 7th, more US Paratroops landed in the area around Angoville and at around 7am another 150 American gliders landed in an area between Angoville-St.Marie du Mont-Hiesville. 1st Battalion was slowly being surrounded and escape routes were slowly being shut off.

Von der Heydte was unaware that the allies had landed on the beaches east of his HQ until he witnessed the armada at sea from the church tower in St.Come du Mont. As he lay witness tho this spectacle 11km to the east, the town was straddled with large calibre Naval artillery shells, which shook the church and surrounding houses. The Americans knew the value of a church tower to Artillery observers, men who could rain death upon advancing troops.

Infantry, artillery and Tanks were all heading inland to relieve the airborne forces who were holding on to their early morning objectives. Four of these objectives at the base of the Cotentin was the securing of the western ends of Exit 1 & 2 from Utah beach, the bridges over the Douve river just north of Carentan, the bridges over the Carentan Canal at Le Moulins and the lock gates at La Barquette. The lock gates at La Barquette had been easily secured by men of the 501st PIR early on D-Day. American advances on the causeway and bridges were beaten back by dug in positions on the causeway and in Pont du Douve backed by artillery fire from St.Come du Mont.

In the early hours of June 7th, the first American tanks to be seen by the 1st Battalion, appeared on the approaches to St.Marie du Mont. The 1st Battalion were not equipped for a long battle against armour, they had already expended large amounts of ammo during probing attacks into Ste.Marie du Mont. There were limited supplies of the Panzerfaust and Panzerschreck. There were also other pressing matters for the 1st Battalion to take care of. They were ordered by radio to dispatch a force to counterattack 2 bridges over the Carentan Canal south west of Ste.Marie du Mont. These bridges had been taken on D-Day and the americans were going to use them to bypass Carentan and link up with forces in the Omaha Bridgehead.

The 1st Battalion sent its last radio message back to Rgt HQ late in the morning on June 7th, "5 enemy tanks destroyed, battalion now surrounded ". Hauptmann Priekschat now decided it was time to withdrawal, ammo was low and casualties were high. The order went out and the remnants of the 1st Battalion from St.Marie du Mont to Vierville began their fighting withdrawal to the south west, only to find that US tanks had already entered Vierville and were slowly pushing west.

Meanwhile in St.Come du Mont, Von der Heydte ordered a reconnaisance unit from the 2nd Battalion to try and break through to its beleaguered sister Battalion. They encountered enemy tanks in the area between Basse Addevile-Tamerville-Les Droueries but managed to destroy 2 of them in close combat. One Kompanie from the 3rd Battalion was also sent east from St.Come du Mont, between Belle Eneau-Tamerville. At around 10am on June 7th, they were engaged in bitter fighting with enemy troops. At 2200 on 7th June, another element of the 3rd Battalion came into contact with enemy tanks south of Angoville au Plain and managed to destroy 2 with a Panzerschreck. After fierce fighting in the hamlet of Beaumont, just east of the N13/D913 road junction, German forces withdrew west to take up position in the fields and hedgerows south of St.Come du Mont at dead mans corner. The war was slowly being brought to Von der Heydte's front doorstep.

In the afternoon of June 7th, US Paratroops backed up by Grant medium tanks, approached the road junction on a probing attack into St.Come du Mont. The lead tank was brewed up by an AT round. Fierce fire erupted from the hedgerows and from positions in Pont du Douve further south. The american advance stalled and they withdrew back toward Beaumont to regroup.

At around 3am on June 8th, more US Paratroops were dropped east of Angoville. St.Come du Mont now came under renewed artillerie attacks from land and sea. A second attack on the N13 road junction began in the morning of June 8th and US Paratroops were this time successful in capturing dead mans corner.

Von der Heydte could see that he was slowly losing his grip on St.Come du Mont, the Americans were only a few hundred meters to the south and it would not be long before they advanced in to the town. He decided it was time to withdrawal with what forces he had left. Many of his men evaded to the south west, through the hamlet of La Croix and to the only other causeway into Carentan, the railway line embankment. Small rearguards were left behind to disable or destroy the vehicles and heavy equipment that could not be brought back to Carentan and also to cover the withdraw from high ground near the town. One by one, the remnants of the 2nd & 3rd Battalions, Gren.Rgt.1058 and AR.191 were withdrawn from the line to make their way south across the German held N13 or along the rail track to Carentan.

The withdrawal into the south of the peninsula took most of the day as men struggled to reach the northern and eastern outskirts of Carentan.

The 300 or so men, all that was left of the first Battalion was still making a fighting withdrawal to the southwest on the morning of June 8th. They encountered enemy fire through the fields and villages but still they marched on, attempting to reach the safety of Carentan. Desparate rearguard action at Vierville, Angoville, Bse.Addeville & Beaumont allowed many of the survivors to get in sight of their objective. However, they were to be stopped in their tracks near the lock gates at La Barquette.

Paratroops of the 101st Airborne Division had taken this objective and were covering the approaches with mortars and heavy machine guns. The battle weary Fallschirmjäger came under a hail of fire in the flooded fields north east of the lock.

They took heavy casualties and thinking the lock was held by a large enemy force, Hauptmann Priekschat surrendered what was left of the 1st Battalion. After the surrender, the prisoners were marched under guard to the nearby Peneme farm, where they came under fire from their own guns located in Carentan causing even more casualties to an already exhausted Battalion.

Only 25 men under the command of Leutnant Stenzel (3./FJR.6) managed to reach Carentan and inform the regimental commander of what had happened to the 1st Battalion.

"Battle of Carentan"

When American commanders noticed the withdraw of German troops from St.Come du Mont, an attack on the town was ordered. As they approached the slope north into the town they came under fire from high ground west of the town, occupied by a rearguard of Fallschirmjäger. This height was soon cleared of resistance and as US Paratroops entered the outskirts of the town they witnessed the exodus of enemy troops as they headed westwards to the relative safety of the railway causeway. An attack on German positions at Pont du Douve was then ordered. Once these had been cleared the way to Carentan was open. Retreating Fallschirmjäger had bolstered the defences along the causeway and at Pont du Douve, which drove the American forces back toward St.Come du Mont and artillery fire from the heavy company in Carentan forced the americans to take shelter. As the US Paratroops withdrew northward they were attacked by reaguard Fallschirmjäger units heading south from the fields and hedgerows either side of N13 to join their comrades on the causeway.

The rest of the 6th Regiment now formed a latch plate astride the main road into Carentan, effectively blocking the two US bridgeheads at Utah & Omaha. However, VDH was unaware that the attack on the bridges over the Carentan Canal had been unsuccessful and that US forces were pouring into the countryside north of Carentan.

Von der Heydte now set up his Regimental HQ at Ingouf Farm between the town and the marshland, with a front line covering the approaches from Pont du Douve. MG & mortar positions were set up in the famryard and nearby orchards. Small islands of dry land protruding from the flood waters housed MG's and snipers. Artillery, mortar and MG positions were set up on a hill southwest of Carentan and ranged in to the causeway and St.Come du Mont.

Carentan now became the most hotly contested areas on the invasion front.

On June 9th, German regulars along with many Fallschirmjäger abandoned positions in Pont du Douve. They had done well to hold the American advance for so long but under heavy pressure from strong probing assaults they were forced to move south. After destroying their heavy weapons they used explosives to destroy the most northerly of the 4 bridges over the Douve. They then headed south to join the new front line. It was now a waiting game to see when the Americans would try and take the Carentan causeway.

In an old wine cellar on the outskirts of Carentan was the Regimental dressing station. It was here that the Regimental Doctor, Dr.Roos and the Battalion doctors of the 2nd & 3rd Battalions operated around the clock. Along with two captured American doctors they treated more than 1000 wounded American, German, Georgian soldiers and French civilians in a 24 hour period.

The regiment held its new front line without artillery, tank or Luftwaffe support. Ammunition became scare, in particular Mortar and machine-gun ammo. Artillery ammo was plentiful but they had no guns.

The thinly spread Fallschirmjäger defended their positions north of Carentan with what ammo they had left. Mines were hastily placed to try and slow the probing attacks by American forces who were poised to breakthrough to Carentan, their next objective.

In early hours of June 10th, US Paratroops reconnoitered the flooded marshland either side of the causeway to find weaknesses in the German defences. Many casualties were caused by MG and sniper fire from the islolated groups in the marshland, from Ingouf Farm and from Fallschirmjäger dug into the southern end of the causeway.

In the morning of June 10th, Ingouf farm and its surrounding buildings were subjected to a massive artillery barrage. This appeared to VDH to be the prelude for an assault but nothing happened. Only an American offer of surrender was forthcoming to which he replied "what would you do in my place".

A supply column from 84 Korps brought in French mortar ammo late on June 10th, but it was the wrong calibre. During the night of June 10th/11th, JU52's dropped Mortar and MPi ammunition. Even re-supply could not stop the inevitable.

In the morning of June 11th, US Paratroops who had successfully traversed the causeway under the cover of darkness waited for the order to attack FJR6 positions. After a massive artillery barrage, the men of 101st Division charge the positions around Ingouf Farm. The former HQ of FJR6 was soon in the hands of US 101st and after an unsuccessful counterattack, VDH withdrew his men to the south west. Other elements of FJR6 attacked from the north of Carentan but were also beaten back. The americans now set up an east-west defensive and by midday US troops had reached the outskirts of Carentan and had settled in the houses, gardens and hedges in front of the town.

Just as the Americans were entering Carentan, Von der Heydte ordered the 795 Georgian Battalion to move to the south west of Carentan after being informed of american forces attempting to surround the town from the north. After co-ordinating one of the mornings unsuccessful counterattacks he was unexpectedly called upon by Brigadeführer Ostendorff and his Ia Obersturmbannführer Konrad. Ostendorff was the commander of 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division "Götz von Berlichingen". During this meeting Von der Heydte was informed that his Regiment was now subordinated to the SS Division and that the combined forces will counter attack the American foothold on the outskirts of Carentan.

The situation was growing desparate for Von der Heydte, his regiment was understrength, the 17th SS Division was not yet ready to counterattack and the Americans were poised to encircle and capture Carentan. Von der Heydte decided to withdrawal his beaten Regiment from the town and at 1700 on June 11th, the men were ordered to vacate Carentan and withdrawal to prepared positions further to the south west, even abandoning the nearby height.

By dusk the regiment had withdrawn from the ruined town. The 6th Regiment now set up a new defensive line: St Georges du Behon-Saintenny-La Moisentrie-Blehou. The battle for Carentan had come to an end. As American forces entered the town Brigadeführer Ostendorff was informed of the Regiments withdraw from the town. He was enraged and wanted Von der Heydte arrested and charged for defeatism. Only signals and telephone calls from Von der Heydte's high ranking brethren managed to cool the situation.

A counterattack was now planned for June 12th that would include the 6th Rgt and the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division. The town would be taken back at any cost. The orders stated the attack will take place in the direction of the Periers-Carentan road. If good progress is made then a bridgehead is to created at St.Come du Mont. This order was outrageous. St.Come du Mont had fallen and it would never be taken back.

The combined German assault tried in vain to re-enter the town on June 12th. Only the 2nd Battalion managed to get into the town, taking up positions near the train station. However, these positions had to be given up since they could not get reinforcment due to heavy artillery and mortar fire and the appearance of American tanks.

The route between the two beachheads at Utah & Omaha was now open. The 6th regiment could only withdrawal to the south west and help defend a new front line along with the remnants of 7th Army units who had managed to escape from the Cotentin Peninsula.

The next few days went by without many incidents. American forces concentrated on consolidating their gains around Carentan and bringing in re-inforcements. The 6th Regiment carried out many probing attacks and recon missions to bring in prisoners. Pioneers mined roads and fields, earthworks and bunkers were prepared and barbed wire defences were constructed, all the time coming under sporadic artillery and mortar fire.

In mid July the Regiment was mentioned in a Wehrmacht Communique when the Radfahrkompanie along with a PanzerIV from the 2nd SS Panzer Division broke through a US Infantry Battalion and took 13 officers and 600 men prisoner. This was to be the last battlefield success for the men of the 6th Regiment in Normandy. Subsequently the Regiment was caught in the vortex of the US breakthrough on St.Lo. By now only a few hundred men remained. Nearly all were ill or wounded. Many had to be left in the military hospital at Alencon.

"Withdrawal"

On August 6th 1944, the Regiment along with 17th SS.Pz.Gren Div, participated in the counterattack toward Avraches. This breakthrough to the west coast did not succeed. Now only around 60 men remained unwounded and the regiment had to be pulled out of the line. They were re-united with their wounded at Lisieux. Approximately 3000 men had been killed and wounded during the campaign in Normandy. On August 16th 1944, the remnants of Regiment.6, around 400 in total, were collected from Nancy and transferred to Güstrow for rebuilding. A newly built 6th Regiment would again see action in September 1944, but for many of those who survived the fighting in Normandy, Holland would be their final battle.