draw what much affects you, an artefact you especially … · why did the allies need to achieve...
TRANSCRIPT
14, rue Eisenhower - 50480 Sainte-Mère-EgliseTél. 02 33 41 41 35
[email protected] - www.airborne-museum.org
See you soon at the Airborne Museum !
Visite
guide
12-15 y
ears o
ld
Draw what much affects you, an artefact you especially like :
You are about to visit the Airborne Museum. This museum opened in 1964, in the heart of the village of Sainte-Mère-Eglise. Here, in June 1944, the very first combats between the Allies and the Germans took place in the campaign to liberate France from German occupation.
The museum traces the story of the paratroopers of the American 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions who parachuted into Sainte-Mère-Eglise and the surrounding countryside during the night of June 5th/6th 1944.
Enjoy your visit !
1940
19411942
1943
1944
1945
May 10th: Nazi-Germany invades France via Belgium and Luxembourg.France is overcome by the «Blitzkrieg».
June 22nd: France is defeated, Marechal Petain signs the armistice with Nazi-Germany.
June 18th: From London, England, General De Gaulle appeals to the French people to join the resistance.
October 24th: The French Vichy regime adopts a policy of collaboration with Germany. The rest of France is subjected to German occupation.
December 1941: The U.S. declares war on Japan. The war becomes total and global.1941-1942: Battle in the deserts of North Africa.
The Allied invasion of North Africa (Operation Torch).May: Arrival of the paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne in Morocco.July: Paratroops jump into Sicily (Operation Husky).September: Assault jump spearheads the allied invasion of Italy (Operation Avalanche)
August 15th: Amphibious landing on France’s south coast, opening of a second front (Operation Dragoon).August 25th: Paris is liberated.September: Operation Market Garden in Holland.Décembre : Battle of the Bulge in Belgium.
May 8th: Armistice - The end of the war in Europe.
FOcus on June 6th to August 21st: D.Day landings and the Battle of Normandy.
map of the museum
history check...
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iAn airborne division is a group
of soldiers which is transported
to the battle zone by aircraft
and parachuted, or by glider.
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Before starting your visit...
On the map of Normandy below, draw a circle around the red dot at the location of Sainte-Mère-Eglise. (If you don’t know, there are maps in the museum to help you). You need to know that American soldiers who fought at Sainte-Mère-Eglise landed by parachute and glider.
Airborne operations secured the eastern and western sides of the invasion zone. During your visit, you will be able to fill in the names of the landing beaches on your map. Keep your eyes open!
The mission of the airborne divisions* was to gain control of the road and bridges in the area in order to prevent German reinforcements from getting to the beaches.
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waco building
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THE WACO GLIDER
The paratroops were the first to set foot on Normandy soil in the night of June 5th/6th. They were followed a few hours later by gliders towed by airplanes. What was the function of the gliders?
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When you look at the panels near the glider, what can you say about the landing of gliders?Why did this happen?
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Supplies, medical equipment etc. also arrived by glider.
Look at the display cases and find a drink that the American soldiers brought with them to France in 1944, French people still drink it today. What is it ? ..........................................
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Mer de la Manche
UTAH BEACH
OMAHA BEACH
GOLD BEACH
JUNO BEACH
SWORD BEACH
CAEN
BAYEUX
Avancée des troupes au soir du 6 juin
Zones de débarquement maritime Zones de parachutage
Avions C-47 larguant les parachutistes
English Channel
Amphibious landing zone
Advances of the allied troops by the end of June 6th
Parachute drop zones
C-47 aircraft transporting the paratroops
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THE ALLIES GO TO WAR TO LIBERATE FRANCE
Go at the display cases containing first aid equipment.In your opinion was this used for: Minor domestic accidents Treatment of wounds as quickly as possible, directly on the spot
Every soldier in combat wears a «dog tag». These metal plates give indications about the identity of the wearer. Try to find one. Why are there two tags?
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Which airborne divisions came to Sainte-Mère-Eglise zone? Find the display with these two badges for the answer.
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TRAINING IN ENGLAND AND DEPARTURE
C-47 building
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Find the display based on this photograph.General Eisenhower is talking with a group of soldiers. One of his missions was to organize and command the Normandy Invasion. (Code named: Operation Overlord). Look at the display and the photograph, which elements show that they are about to go in combat?
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iThis scene is in England
on June 5th 1944 just
a few hours before the
Allied troops (including
paratroopers) set off for
Normandy.
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General Dwight D. Eisenhower had a very close relationship with his men. Do you know why he came to meet them just before their departure?
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Look at the paratroopers’ badges, can you tell which division they are part of? .......................................
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Use your knowledges to connect the names England, Normandy and Calais to their right location on the map.
England
Normandy
Calais
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With the help of the map you completed, use these words in your answers to the following questions (beaches, supplies, distance, soldiers, England, the Atlantic Wall*).
- Germans believed that the invasion would have take place at Calais...Why?
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- Why did the Allies finally choose Normandy for the landings?
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iThe coastal fortifications built by Germans from Norway to Holland in order to repel any Allied invasion were collectively called «The Atlantic Wall»
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OPERATION TITANIC
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Find the Operation Titanic display.What were the objectives of this action?
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iIn 1943 and early 1944, after
long trainings in the United-
States, the Airborne divisions
meet up in England in order to
be closer to Normandy for the
very soon landing. The training
is continuing overthere.
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14The American paratroopers had specific missions.Why was it important to take control of the town of Sainte-Mère-Eglise?(Tick the boxes with the right answers)
To deny the Germans access to the coast (landing zone). There were many German generals in Sainte-Mère-Eglise.
Large fields near the town of Sainte-Mère-Eglise were suitable for landing gliders.
To take control of the main roads and bridges over the rivers in the area.
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When you see the signs with John the radio operator, you can get more information.
"opÉration neptune" building
The date of June 6th was chosen
for its favorable moonlight and
tides, ideal conditions for both were
forecast for the 5th, 6th and 7th. The
original plan was to go on 5th but
D-Day was delayed by 24 hours due
to a storm in the channel!
« Operation Neptune » was the codename for the assault phase of the Normandy landing.
Answer this question before going into the aeroplane.
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SAINTE-MÈRE-ÉGLISE15
Look at the maps showing the real and planned drop zones of the airborne troops. What can you say about them?
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How does the battle seem to start for the paratroopers and why?
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Answer the next questions in the two rooms after the aeroplane
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Why were flooded marshlands a problem for the paratroopers?
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Bearing in mind the answers to the previous questions and your experience in the plane, how do you imagine the soldiers must have felt on D-Day?
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John le radio
THE BATTLE OF THE HEDGEROWS
19The battle of the hedgerows leads all the way to Cherbourg in the North of the peninsula. Why did the Allies need to achieve this objective as soon as possible?
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While waiting for the port of Cherbourg to be liberated, artificial harbors were constructed on the landing beaches, can you name one of them?
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Now go through the Battle of the Hedgerows section.
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Take a look at this photograph; from what you have experienced and learnt going through the Battle of the Hedgerows section, can you say why this battle was so long and difficult to win?.........................................................
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Many of the paratroopers who landed in the town square at Sainte-Mère-Eglise were killed by Germans. What was the name of the soldier who was caught up on the church tower?
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CIVILIANS
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In what ways can we say that war was «Total» for French people?......................................................
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In your opinion, why is it important to remember what happened in 1944?
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ESPACE MÉMOIRE
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Go and take a look at this wedding dress. What material do you think it is made of?What can we deduce from this about the civilians living conditions at the time?
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iTotal war is when civilians are
involved as much as the military.
For example, in the United States,
civilians contributed to the war
effort by paying higher taxes to
help with the financial cost and
by working much more in the
weapons manufacturing industry.
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Many soldiers sacrificed their life to win back our ....................... . Using the clues, fill in the boxes and find the missing words.
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1 : This is the country from where the Allies departed for the D-Day invasion.2 : Some of the airborne troops arrived by parachute, others landed by?3 : The name of the museum you are visiting today.4 : The long hard battle in the fields and lanes was called the battle of the ?5 : The name of the American general in command of Operation Overlord.6 : A war which involves both civilians and the military.7 : The region of France where the D-Day landings took place.
The hidden word is what allies won back for French people in 1944 and what we must preserve forever.
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25Write a letter that an American soldier could have written to his mother, brother or friend (explain what you have done, what you feel, etc.)
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© Airborne Museum / Toute reproduction partielle est strictement interdite.Crédits photographiques et sources iconographiques : © Musée Airborne, Archives départementales, NARA.
Typographies : «Verdana» et «Multilingual Hand».
Go to the last building to watch the film !