Carentan

Carentan-les-Marais (French pronunciation: [kaʁɑ̃tɑ̃ le maʁɛ]) is a commune in the department of Manche, northwestern 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. The 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division, ordered to reinforce Carentan, was delayed by transport shortages and attacks by Allied aircraft. The attacking 101st 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 101st 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 101st Airborne on 13 June. Initially successful, its attack was thrown back by Combat Command A (CCA) of the U.S. 2nd Armored Division.

Gare de Carentan is a railway station serving the town Carentan, Manche department, Normandy, northwestern France. It is situated on the Mantes-la-Jolie–Cherbourg railway.

The canton of Carentan-les-Marais (before March 2020: canton of Carentan) is an administrative division of the Manche department. Its borders were modified at the French canton reorganisation which came into effect in March 2015. Its seat is in Carentan-les-Marais.

Saint-Hilaire-Petitville (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃.t‿ilɛʁ pətivil]) is a former commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France with a population of 1,375. On 1 January 2019, it was merged into the commune Carentan-les-Marais.

Saint-Côme-du-Mont (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ kom dy mɔ̃]) is a former commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Carentan-les-Marais.

Angoville-au-Plain (French pronunciation: [ɑ̃ɡɔvil o plɛ̃]) is a former commune in the Manche department in the Normandy region in northwestern France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Carentan-les-Marais. It was one of the least populated communes in Manche. It is home to a church that was used by 2 US Army Medics as an aide station during the Battle of Normandy in World War II. Robert Wright and Ken Moore of the 101st Airborne treated a mix of 80 injured American and German wounded soldiers and a child. Blood stains are still visible on the pews. Two stained glass windows commemorate the 101st Airborne Division, the first one is dedicated to the two medics of the 2nd Battalion of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (101st Airborne Division). The second one honoured the American parachutists.

Saint-Georges-de-Bohon (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ ʒɔʁʒ də bɔɔ̃]) is a former commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Terre-et-Marais.

Méautis (French pronunciation: [meoti(s)]) is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in northwestern France.

The Battle of Graignes was part of the American airborne landings in Normandy during the early stages of Operation Overlord in World War II, fought between June 10–12, 1944 in Graignes, France. During the engagement, American paratroopers of the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division held the town for two days against the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen. This action delayed the 17th SS Panzergrenadier's counterattack on Carentan, which was repulsed at the Battle of Bloody Gulch on June 13. After retaking Graignes, the German troops massacred 44 civilians and a number of prisoners of war taken in the capture of an American aid station, and set fire to the town.

Graignes (French pronunciation: [ɡʁɛɲ]) is a former commune in the Manche département of the Basse-Normandie region of Northern France. On 28 February 2007, it was merged with the commune of Le Mesnil-Angot to form Graignes-Mesnil-Angot.