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Not long after D-Day,
the farmhouse headquarters of an
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American Airborne battalion
comes under heavy counterattack
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from German
Fallschirmj�ger units.
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00:00:12,804 --> 00:00:17,017
When the Artillery Liaison Officer
tries to summon the U.S. guns
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he needs to
drive back them back,
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he discovers the
Germans have jammed his radio.
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On June 6th, 1944.
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Allied forces finally
land troops in Normandy
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to open the western front.
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00:00:35,744 --> 00:00:38,413
But Nazi
fanatics and diehards
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continue to fight
ferociously for survival.
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D-Day was a battle.
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They still need to win the war.
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June 7th, 1944.
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Normandy, France.
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Gunfire punctuates the
streets of Vierville-Sur-Mer,
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a small town, on the
bluff above Omaha Beach.
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As American and German soldiers
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fight for control.
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Not only of the shore,
but for access to a highway
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that leads all the way to Paris.
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The Germans must
contain the American troops to
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their small foothold
after the D-Day landings,
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the day before.
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In the house-to-house fighting,
a patrol of combat engineers
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finds a dead American officer with a
briefcase chained to his wrist.
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It contains documents.
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When the German officer reviews
the content of the briefcase,
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{\an8}he quickly understands this is
something extremely important.
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It shows parts of
the Allied plans,
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and he knows this is
part of a bigger invasion.
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He holds the
operational plans for all of
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the American five corps.
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24 hours earlier, the allies
stormed the beaches of Normandy.
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They fight desperately to secure their
beachheads and move inland.
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The Germans on the coast see the
massive scale of the landings,
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but Hitler is
not fully convinced.
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There is concern in the F�hrer HQ
that the Normandy landings
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are not the large invasion,
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that there might be another
invasion coming in the area of
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Calais further up in the north.
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But the contents of
the briefcase are undeniable,
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this is the main attack.
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The German intelligence officers
quickly understand that this
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is a Godsent present.
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They have got now the
allied plans for D-Day plus 17.
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So, this would allow
them to shift their plans,
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in order to
hinder an U.S. advance.
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Their advance
relies on consolidating
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the Utah and Omaha beachheads.
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To achieve this, the
Americans must seize Carentan.
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Located inland
from the landings,
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Carentan has
the bridges, highways,
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and railroads to
facilitate the push of tanks
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and men further into France.
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Because of its obvious strategic value,
well before the landings,
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the Germans flooded an area to the
northwest to protect the town.
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Based on the captured documents,
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German command sends the elite
sixth Fallschirmj�ger Regiment
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to the defense of Carentan.
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Sixth Fallschirmj�ger Regiment
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is the only regiment of the
division that is combat ready.
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It is well trained, well led.
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Has got many
veterans in its ranks,
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and is considered a
very reliable force.
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A key strength
comes from the top leadership.
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Friedrich Von der Heydte
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is a, an officer with a
distinguished military career.
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Initially, he
was quite Pro-Nazi,
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but became much more skeptical in the
years before the Normandy battle.
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But still, he is a officer
who has got an honor and
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he's also ordered to hold
Carentan to the last man.
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In preparation
for the American attack,
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he quickly entrenches his
paratroopers in a defensive line
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on the outskirts, to target
the likely avenues of approach.
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Von der Heydte is assisted by the
flooded fields to the northwest,
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which force attackers
to a long causeway linked by
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a series of four bridges.
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Advancing from that direction,
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cole,
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Commander Third Battalion,
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American 502nd
Parachute Infantry Regiment
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comes under
immediate attack as he leads
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his airborne troops
toward Carentan on June 10th.
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Robert Cole came from Texas.
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He was a, um, graduate of the
United States
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Military Academy at
West Point class of 1939.
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{\an8}He's a pretty young man in 1944.
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{\an8}He's in his late 20�s, and
he's in command of a battalion.
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And so, it's an incredible amount of
responsibility on a young guy.
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Cole discovers
that retreating Germans
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destroyed the second bridge.
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And the American combat engineers
assigned to replace it,
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were driven off by
German artillery before
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they could begin construction.
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Angered by the delay, Cole
grabs a few men and supplies,
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and begins work on a
make-shift foot bridge himself.
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He spends the better part of
two to three hours doing that
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more or less himself
with this small group.
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And so, you, you kind of
see this kind of can-do,
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hands-on leadership
element to, to Cole as well.
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But I also think that that comes from
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being a kind of a young
battalion commander,
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the kind of
dynamism of youth that,
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that Cole has.
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One at time! Come down!
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Go! Go!
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The paratroopers
begin to cross one by one,
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targeted by
German guns in the distance.
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Including an
�88 firing down the road.
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00:08:02,398 --> 00:08:04,775
The flooded fields
on both sides mean
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the airborne troops
must stay on the road.
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{\an8}They continue their advance,
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{\an8}and past bridge three.
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{\an8}Across the Madeleine River,
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{\an8}Cole�s men come under fire
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from the opposite bank.
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Unable to pass
through a Belgian Gate.
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{\an8}The Belgian Gate was a type
of defensive obstacle that
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00:08:30,510 --> 00:08:33,971
{\an8}was built in the 1930�s to
defend the Belgian Frontier,
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00:08:34,347 --> 00:08:36,516
{\an8}and it's a large metal structure
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00:08:36,516 --> 00:08:38,684
{\an8}about the size
of a big barn door.
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They would have all
been linked together
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{\an8}to form a gigantic wall.
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{\an8}They were captured
by the Germans in 1940,
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00:08:45,650 --> 00:08:48,861
{\an8}and then they were used in the
defense of the Normandy coast.
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{\an8}They were oftentimes broken up
into single obstacles and used
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00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:55,701
{\an8}to block road networks or walls
or other type of obstructions.
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00:08:58,579 --> 00:09:03,042
The Belgian Gate causes Cole�s
paratroopers to bunch up,
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and makes them vulnerable
to well sighted artillery.
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00:09:18,599 --> 00:09:22,019
As they pry the metal apart,
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00:09:22,019 --> 00:09:24,939
bullets ricochet
in all directions.
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Eventually they create a gap.
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If you can imagine, a, a
battalion of 700-some odd guys
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working their way
through this Belgian Gate,
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one by one, man by man,
individual by individual,
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doing this.
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00:09:48,588 --> 00:09:51,799
It will take
hours for them to cross over.
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With a damaged
bridge behind them,
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Cole must keep his
men moving forward.
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00:10:00,308 --> 00:10:02,560
Retreat is not an option.
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00:10:08,482 --> 00:10:09,942
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cole,
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moves from soldier
to soldier to prompt
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the Third Battalion of the 502nd
Parachute Infantry Regiment to
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provide covering fire for
their advancing comrades.
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{\an8}They have gotten
themselves into what a
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{\an8}later generation
will call a fatal funnel,
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along that causeway,
through the Belgian Gates,
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where you tend to have clumps
of people trying to negotiate
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their way through.
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00:10:37,637 --> 00:10:40,681
Under his direction,
the American paratroopers target
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00:10:40,681 --> 00:10:45,186
the hedgerows on the far bank with
small arms and bazooka fire.
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00:10:50,650 --> 00:10:52,860
But it is not enough.
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The artillery liaison officer,
Captain Saint Julien Rosemond,
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calls in artillery from the
rear to provide additional cover
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to the men of the battalion.
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Move! Move!
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As darkness falls,
paratroopers continue to file
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one-at-a-time through
the gap at the Belgian Gate.
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00:11:38,072 --> 00:11:40,950
Suddenly, another
German machine gun opens up,
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from the swamp
beside the causeway.
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The crossfire
poses a lethal threat.
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Private Hans Brandt wades
into the water to take out
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the machine gun with a grenade.
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Another paratrooper
follows close on his heels.
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00:12:00,094 --> 00:12:02,763
But as Brandt
steps into the marsh,
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a German dive bomber
skims above the causeway.
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One of the bombs dropped
by the German aircraft knocks
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00:12:23,659 --> 00:12:26,203
the U.S. Private unconscious.
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00:12:27,204 --> 00:12:30,499
{\an8}The Luftwaffe tried to attack
allied forces on the Normandy beaches,
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{\an8}but they were usually
fought off by allied fighters,
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{\an8}so it was very unusual
for American soldiers to be
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strafed by
Luftwaffe fighters during
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00:12:38,382 --> 00:12:41,093
the first few days of
the Normandy campaign.
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00:12:43,345 --> 00:12:46,891
As Brandt comes to,
a second German plane continues
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the attack along the causeway.
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He discovers that his
partner who remains unconscious,
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has slipped into the water.
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Brandt picks him up and carries
him back for medical care.
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The aftermath, leaves the dead and injured
strewn across the causeway.
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The short attack kills or
injures 30 paratroopers from,
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I company.
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To me, the,
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the only miracle is that
it really wasn't even worse.
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Uh, and I think the
reason it wasn't is that
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the Germans
didn't have more planes.
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The walking wounded
become stretcher bearers.
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The real
fighting hasn't even begun yet,
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and yet he's
diminished 20 to 25%.
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So, that is definitely not
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00:13:47,993 --> 00:13:50,830
an auspicious way
to go into battle.
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00:13:57,503 --> 00:14:02,174
Cole decides they must press on
with the three remaining companies.
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00:14:04,343 --> 00:14:06,178
{\an8}Cole�s third battalion
has been tasked with
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00:14:06,178 --> 00:14:08,764
{\an8}attacking the
French town of Carentan
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00:14:08,764 --> 00:14:12,226
{\an8}with the goal of connecting the
beachheads at Utah and Omaha.
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00:14:13,102 --> 00:14:15,896
{\an8}The battalion advances
along a narrow causeway,
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00:14:15,896 --> 00:14:18,774
{\an8}passing one by one
through a Belgian Gate
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00:14:18,774 --> 00:14:20,943
{\an8}which blocks bridge four.
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00:14:20,943 --> 00:14:23,195
{\an8}Cole and some others investigate
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00:14:23,195 --> 00:14:25,489
{\an8}the far side of
the Madeleine River.
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00:14:36,417 --> 00:14:37,835
In the early morning light,
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00:14:37,835 --> 00:14:40,921
Private Albert Dieter
closes in on a hedgerow
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00:14:40,921 --> 00:14:42,882
that borders a farm.
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00:14:53,017 --> 00:14:56,645
Without warning, German rifle,
machine gun and mortar fire land
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00:14:56,645 --> 00:15:00,190
around Dieter and the
paratroopers who follow him.
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00:15:10,534 --> 00:15:13,829
Dieter�s left arm is
shredded by the salvo.
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00:15:14,622 --> 00:15:17,166
Others behind him,
are also struck.
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00:15:23,464 --> 00:15:26,425
Cole calls for his
artillery liaison officer,
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00:15:26,425 --> 00:15:29,762
Captain Saint Julien Rosemond,
to bring down artillery.
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00:15:39,063 --> 00:15:41,106
Eventually American artillery
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00:15:41,106 --> 00:15:44,109
hammers the
suspected German positions.
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00:15:49,823 --> 00:15:54,161
But enemy fire
remains fierce, if not heavier.
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00:15:54,995 --> 00:15:56,121
The Germans quickly understand that
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00:15:56,121 --> 00:15:59,124
there's overwhelming
allied firepower.
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00:15:59,124 --> 00:16:01,001
What is their reaction to that?
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00:16:01,001 --> 00:16:04,755
{\an8}They just man the
first frontline very thinly,
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00:16:04,755 --> 00:16:08,592
{\an8}so if the allies
bombard the German lines,
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00:16:08,592 --> 00:16:10,970
casualties will
be relatively low.
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00:16:11,845 --> 00:16:14,306
This could mean,
the American artillery is
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00:16:14,306 --> 00:16:16,225
hitting the wrong targets.
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00:16:16,850 --> 00:16:20,604
The enemy fire is
coming from further back.
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00:16:20,604 --> 00:16:23,524
With his men pinned,
Cole must decide.
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00:16:23,524 --> 00:16:28,070
To continue to press forward,
or to retreat and regroup.
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00:16:33,826 --> 00:16:35,494
Third battalion commander,
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00:16:35,494 --> 00:16:38,747
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cole
knows they would only create
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00:16:38,747 --> 00:16:43,377
another bottleneck at the Belgian Gate if
he decides to retreat.
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00:16:43,377 --> 00:16:45,212
{\an8}It's a clich�,
but he literally is between
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00:16:45,212 --> 00:16:46,714
{\an8}a rock and a hard place.
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00:16:46,714 --> 00:16:48,674
{\an8}Because if they
stay where they are,
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00:16:48,674 --> 00:16:50,676
{\an8}they're of course vulnerable
along the, the causeway.
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00:16:50,676 --> 00:16:53,679
And you've got significant opposition
ahead of you, but, uh,
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00:16:53,679 --> 00:16:54,847
from Cole�s standpoint,
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00:16:54,847 --> 00:16:57,099
there's no point to
just staying there.
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00:16:57,099 --> 00:17:00,686
He's moved his battalion ahead
for this particular mission,
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00:17:00,686 --> 00:17:03,480
so he feels there's
really none other option but
235
00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:04,648
to go ahead and attack.
236
00:17:06,775 --> 00:17:09,319
Cole decides to
capture a farmhouse that has
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00:17:09,319 --> 00:17:12,448
been the source of
heavy German fire.
238
00:17:12,448 --> 00:17:14,867
With his men
stretched out along the road,
239
00:17:14,867 --> 00:17:18,537
they will cross the
700-foot-long field under smoke.
240
00:17:20,789 --> 00:17:22,583
- Fix bayonets!
- Fix bayonets!
241
00:17:22,958 --> 00:17:25,169
He tells his
executive officer to prepare
242
00:17:25,169 --> 00:17:27,546
the men for a bayonet charge.
243
00:17:39,725 --> 00:17:43,145
The bayonet charge is
a classic combat tactic.
244
00:17:43,145 --> 00:17:45,147
Bayonet is a military knife,
245
00:17:45,147 --> 00:17:47,524
{\an8}and typically, if
it's used in combat,
246
00:17:47,524 --> 00:17:49,193
{\an8}the bayonet would be
attached to the front end
247
00:17:49,193 --> 00:17:51,236
{\an8}of the soldier's rifle.
248
00:17:52,196 --> 00:17:56,325
The goal is to plunge into
tissue to damage internal organs.
249
00:17:56,325 --> 00:17:59,453
But such brutality is
difficult for most people.
250
00:17:59,453 --> 00:18:02,247
Bayonet training is a
way of hardening civilians
251
00:18:02,247 --> 00:18:05,250
to get used to the idea
of killing enemy soldiers.
252
00:18:05,250 --> 00:18:08,587
It's one thing to shoot at
an enemy soldier with a rifle.
253
00:18:08,587 --> 00:18:11,882
It's another thing to attack
'em face to face with a knife.
254
00:18:12,716 --> 00:18:15,177
In battle, the
order to fix bayonets almost
255
00:18:15,177 --> 00:18:17,846
always suggests desperation.
256
00:18:18,222 --> 00:18:20,265
It wasn't very
common for the U.S. Infantry
257
00:18:20,265 --> 00:18:23,477
to use the bayonet in
Normandy during World War II,
258
00:18:23,477 --> 00:18:26,271
but it was amongst elite units.
259
00:18:26,271 --> 00:18:29,983
Paratrooper units and Ranger units would
sometimes fix bayonets
260
00:18:29,983 --> 00:18:33,403
for an attack in order
to intimidate the enemy forces.
261
00:18:34,696 --> 00:18:38,492
Cole also has his
artillery liaison call for smoke
262
00:18:38,492 --> 00:18:41,411
to be dropped to
conceal their advance.
263
00:18:44,665 --> 00:18:46,917
Now, it's time for the
adrenaline to kick in of what
264
00:18:46,917 --> 00:18:49,670
the soldiers perceive
as the main attack.
265
00:18:49,670 --> 00:18:51,463
You're waiting to, to jump off,
266
00:18:51,463 --> 00:18:54,383
probably with that kind of
tinged mixture of excitement,
267
00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:57,553
and trepidation, and dread.
268
00:19:03,392 --> 00:19:05,686
Satisfied with the smoke screen,
269
00:19:05,686 --> 00:19:10,858
he instructs Rosemond to redirect
artillery fire past the farmhouse.
270
00:19:16,488 --> 00:19:20,200
Cole initiates the
bayonet charge with his whistle
271
00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:21,952
and wields his colt .45.
272
00:19:21,952 --> 00:19:22,995
Charge!
273
00:19:26,582 --> 00:19:29,626
Halfway across,
he glances back.
274
00:19:29,626 --> 00:19:31,587
His heart sinks at what he sees.
275
00:19:32,963 --> 00:19:34,006
From Cole�s point of view, now,
276
00:19:34,006 --> 00:19:36,466
this is the moment to attack,
and he's got his pistol ready,
277
00:19:36,466 --> 00:19:37,759
and his bravado ready.
278
00:19:37,759 --> 00:19:39,636
And he figures the whole
battalion is going to be out
279
00:19:39,636 --> 00:19:42,806
there with him, and
it's only a few guys.
280
00:19:42,806 --> 00:19:46,560
Most had not
heard the order to charge.
281
00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:49,062
And it was like, "Did
they just go forward?
282
00:19:49,062 --> 00:19:51,648
Did they, what happened here?
Are we charging or are we not?
283
00:19:51,648 --> 00:19:52,566
What's happening?"
284
00:19:52,733 --> 00:19:54,860
And it all looked
kind of pathetic to them.
285
00:19:54,860 --> 00:19:58,238
As German bullets
clip the grass around Cole,
286
00:19:58,238 --> 00:19:59,990
the message sinks in.
287
00:19:59,990 --> 00:20:01,783
"Oh, I guess
we're supposed to follow him."
288
00:20:01,783 --> 00:20:04,578
And it's like, "All right, I guess he
must know what he's doing."
289
00:20:06,121 --> 00:20:09,291
And so, in this
kind of misbegotten way, uh,
290
00:20:09,291 --> 00:20:11,460
arguably one of the
most legendary moments
291
00:20:11,460 --> 00:20:14,880
in the entire history of the
U.S. Airborne begins right then.
292
00:20:15,964 --> 00:20:17,716
Even as
the charge picks up,
293
00:20:17,716 --> 00:20:20,385
his men follow
one another in a line.
294
00:20:20,385 --> 00:20:21,553
Here they've come down the causeway.
295
00:20:21,553 --> 00:20:23,639
That's been your
single file advance.
296
00:20:23,639 --> 00:20:26,099
Now, you're going to have to
spread out more horizontally in
297
00:20:26,099 --> 00:20:27,726
order to attack this objective,
298
00:20:27,726 --> 00:20:29,519
and that's a lot
easier said than done.
299
00:20:29,519 --> 00:20:31,021
So, they're
transitioning to that,
300
00:20:31,021 --> 00:20:33,774
and they're tending to just
follow the guy in front of them.
301
00:20:33,774 --> 00:20:35,734
Cole waves his arms,
302
00:20:35,734 --> 00:20:38,070
motioning for
them to spread out.
303
00:20:38,070 --> 00:20:40,697
They misinterpret the
signal and hit the dirt.
304
00:20:42,699 --> 00:20:44,826
Cole must get them moving.
305
00:20:44,826 --> 00:20:46,745
He circles back.
306
00:20:46,745 --> 00:20:49,539
So, he's firing his pistol at
the Germans and he's like,
307
00:20:49,539 --> 00:20:51,291
"I don't even know
what I�m shooting at,
308
00:20:51,291 --> 00:20:53,252
but I just know I�m
supposed to go here."
309
00:20:53,252 --> 00:20:56,255
He just looks like this sort
of crazy man out there in the,
310
00:20:56,255 --> 00:20:59,758
in the, in the open,
firing at the enemy,
311
00:20:59,758 --> 00:21:01,051
trying to inspire.
312
00:21:01,051 --> 00:21:02,761
And I, I think
all that adds up to,
313
00:21:02,761 --> 00:21:04,388
to creating a
little bit more action to,
314
00:21:04,388 --> 00:21:06,348
to get out there
and support Cole,
315
00:21:06,348 --> 00:21:09,810
and make sure that this crazy
battalion commander doesn't get
316
00:21:09,810 --> 00:21:12,062
killed right out
there on his own.
317
00:21:14,856 --> 00:21:17,234
The momentum finally builds.
318
00:21:18,235 --> 00:21:20,320
Go!
319
00:21:22,906 --> 00:21:25,617
Even as paratroopers
around him are struck,
320
00:21:25,617 --> 00:21:28,370
Cole nears the farmhouse
that is their objective.
321
00:21:29,913 --> 00:21:32,958
At a full run, he hurtles
into a water-filled ditch.
322
00:21:38,088 --> 00:21:41,300
As the charge continues,
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cole
323
00:21:41,675 --> 00:21:44,886
is uninjured from
his dip in the ditch.
324
00:21:44,886 --> 00:21:48,348
But the Artillery Liaison�s
Radio Operator also
325
00:21:48,348 --> 00:21:51,518
lands in the water.
326
00:21:51,518 --> 00:21:55,564
Other paratroopers push past
them towards the farmhouse.
327
00:21:56,023 --> 00:21:58,900
Some divert to
clear the structure.
328
00:21:59,443 --> 00:22:01,236
Second Lieutenant Edward Provost
329
00:22:01,236 --> 00:22:04,239
leads another group along
the edge of the property.
330
00:22:09,494 --> 00:22:14,249
Only to come under heavy fire from
a concealed machine gun nest.
331
00:22:23,216 --> 00:22:25,844
Several of his men are shot.
332
00:22:25,844 --> 00:22:30,557
But Provost and four others
close in on the machine gun nest
333
00:22:30,557 --> 00:22:33,435
with firing lines
toward the farmhouse.
334
00:22:47,908 --> 00:22:50,577
American Technician
Fifth Grade James Brune pulls
335
00:22:50,994 --> 00:22:54,456
the pin on a grenade and
tosses it over the hedge.
336
00:22:56,166 --> 00:22:59,211
Hedgerows are a natural
defensive structure.
337
00:22:59,211 --> 00:23:02,005
Usually, they edge
all four sides of a field
338
00:23:02,005 --> 00:23:06,051
designed to protect farm fields
against the harsh coastal winds.
339
00:23:06,051 --> 00:23:09,554
{\an8}And so, these hedgerows were
built up over the centuries.
340
00:23:09,554 --> 00:23:11,139
{\an8}And they're very,
very substantial.
341
00:23:11,139 --> 00:23:13,809
They could
be six, ten feet high.
342
00:23:13,809 --> 00:23:16,728
Combinations of rock and soil.
343
00:23:17,145 --> 00:23:20,565
The hedgerows can
be so thick they prove immune
344
00:23:20,565 --> 00:23:23,568
to many weapons,
including tanks.
345
00:23:23,568 --> 00:23:26,780
They create countless
small battlefields which negate
346
00:23:26,780 --> 00:23:28,824
large coordinated attacks.
347
00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:33,453
And the Germans have had
a lot of time to prepare.
348
00:23:35,247 --> 00:23:38,625
They have trained there for month
in these hedgerows, the bocage.
349
00:23:39,084 --> 00:23:41,336
In every corner
of this hedgerows,
350
00:23:41,336 --> 00:23:44,631
there could be a
German machine gun,
351
00:23:44,631 --> 00:23:48,218
{\an8}and they can also move
their troops in concealment,
352
00:23:48,218 --> 00:23:51,054
{\an8}and it makes it very difficult
for the Americans to advance.
353
00:23:52,264 --> 00:23:54,599
Often, the
enemy presence is detected
354
00:23:54,599 --> 00:23:56,643
only when it is too late.
355
00:24:01,773 --> 00:24:06,611
Fortunately, the grenade thrown
over the hedge by James Brune
356
00:24:06,611 --> 00:24:09,614
stuns the German soldiers
occupying the position.
357
00:24:19,332 --> 00:24:22,669
Provost is of the mindset that
he has to preserve bullets.
358
00:24:25,589 --> 00:24:27,090
That's what he's
telling his people
359
00:24:27,090 --> 00:24:29,676
{\an8}to stick them with bayonets rather than
shoot bullets in 'em.
360
00:24:29,676 --> 00:24:32,721
{\an8}And that's a rather extraordinary
order in modern combat.
361
00:24:36,558 --> 00:24:37,767
With the bayonet charge,
362
00:24:37,767 --> 00:24:41,313
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cole
captures the objective.
363
00:24:41,313 --> 00:24:43,398
The farmhouse is secure.
364
00:24:46,067 --> 00:24:48,695
The battalion quickly sets
up their command post there.
365
00:24:48,695 --> 00:24:51,823
With a foothold on the south
side of the Madeleine River,
366
00:24:51,823 --> 00:24:55,577
{\an8}Cole�s men hope to continue
their attack towards Carentan.
367
00:24:56,578 --> 00:25:00,874
As early as June 7th, Eisenhower
himself ordered the drive to
368
00:25:00,874 --> 00:25:04,461
close the gap between
Omaha and Utah beaches.
369
00:25:04,461 --> 00:25:06,463
And Carentan is the key.
370
00:25:09,049 --> 00:25:11,676
From the town,
Major Friedrich Von der Heydte
371
00:25:11,676 --> 00:25:14,387
positions his crack
Fallschirmj�ger troops
372
00:25:14,387 --> 00:25:17,140
against the
coming American attack.
373
00:25:17,140 --> 00:25:20,393
He has been ordered
to hold to the last man.
374
00:25:20,393 --> 00:25:26,191
Meanwhile the 17th SS Panzer Division
rumbles slowly toward Carentan.
375
00:25:26,191 --> 00:25:29,736
The tank reinforcement
at Carentan is delayed because
376
00:25:29,736 --> 00:25:33,073
the Germans can move their
troops only during nighttime.
377
00:25:33,073 --> 00:25:37,827
During daytime, the skies
are full of allied airplanes.
378
00:25:38,495 --> 00:25:42,332
Throughout June 10th,
re-supply also remains hampered.
379
00:25:42,332 --> 00:25:45,710
There's still a lot of
chaos in the German response.
380
00:25:46,711 --> 00:25:48,964
It is difficult to
bring in reinforcements and
381
00:25:48,964 --> 00:25:51,007
also to supply their troops,
382
00:25:51,007 --> 00:25:54,094
so the Germans are
running out of ammunition.
383
00:25:55,011 --> 00:25:57,305
Nevertheless Von der Heydte
384
00:25:57,305 --> 00:25:59,683
follows standard German
military doctrine and
385
00:25:59,683 --> 00:26:01,351
orders a counterattack before
386
00:26:01,810 --> 00:26:05,105
the Americans can
consolidate their position.
387
00:26:05,105 --> 00:26:06,731
Cover that hedge over here.
388
00:26:06,731 --> 00:26:09,401
As they secure the
area around the farmhouse...
389
00:26:09,401 --> 00:26:10,402
Could be more of them!
390
00:26:10,402 --> 00:26:13,613
Second Lieutenant Edward Provost
encounters more Germans.
391
00:26:20,996 --> 00:26:24,374
During the fight, he tries
to pull the pin from a grenade,
392
00:26:24,374 --> 00:26:26,918
and he is struck
by a German bullet.
393
00:26:28,587 --> 00:26:31,298
Bleeding, the Lieutenant
retreats to the command post
394
00:26:31,298 --> 00:26:32,799
at the farmhouse.
395
00:26:37,470 --> 00:26:40,765
In the yard, Cole
moves between soldiers.
396
00:26:42,475 --> 00:26:45,312
He has established a makeshift
aid station where he treats
397
00:26:45,729 --> 00:26:49,649
the wounded Americans who pour into
the courtyard from the battle.
398
00:26:50,191 --> 00:26:51,318
In normal combat,
399
00:26:51,318 --> 00:26:54,988
Cole would have a battalion
command post behind the lines.
400
00:26:54,988 --> 00:26:57,907
He would have his medical
people there doing their thing.
401
00:26:57,907 --> 00:27:00,452
But in this instance,
he's at this spear point with
402
00:27:00,452 --> 00:27:02,454
whomever happens
to be there with him.
403
00:27:02,454 --> 00:27:05,540
And there's not many medics,
but there are wounded.
404
00:27:05,540 --> 00:27:09,169
Without proper supplies,
Cole improvises.
405
00:27:09,169 --> 00:27:13,131
He finds a pickax handle
to stabilize a broken leg.
406
00:27:19,512 --> 00:27:23,058
Cole looks up to see a young private
removing his boot.
407
00:27:24,476 --> 00:27:26,561
What Cole
really wants to impress upon him
408
00:27:26,561 --> 00:27:29,856
is how vulnerable he is, how
he probably ought to move and
409
00:27:29,856 --> 00:27:31,858
put himself in a
better circumstance.
410
00:27:31,858 --> 00:27:33,902
This is a hot spot!
Get outta here!
411
00:27:33,902 --> 00:27:36,571
The young soldier
brushes off Cole�s concerns.
412
00:27:36,571 --> 00:27:37,489
Private! Now!
413
00:27:37,489 --> 00:27:39,282
And continues
to treat his minor wound.
414
00:27:41,868 --> 00:27:45,914
At that moment, a German round
hits the careless paratrooper.
415
00:27:45,914 --> 00:27:47,457
The Germans
knew the ground, they knew
416
00:27:47,457 --> 00:27:50,835
which buildings were
likely to be a command post or
417
00:27:50,835 --> 00:27:52,629
where Americans
were likely to cluster,
418
00:27:52,629 --> 00:27:54,673
because of course, they
had themselves had done
419
00:27:54,673 --> 00:27:55,882
much the same thing.
420
00:27:55,882 --> 00:27:58,885
It's a, it�s a
pretty obvious target.
421
00:27:58,885 --> 00:28:01,012
As the
Germans close in,
422
00:28:01,012 --> 00:28:05,183
Cole is in dire need of his
own accurate artillery to stop
423
00:28:05,183 --> 00:28:07,435
the German counterattack.
424
00:28:07,435 --> 00:28:09,729
Communication is critical.
425
00:28:09,729 --> 00:28:12,232
But their
Artillery Liaison Officer,
426
00:28:12,232 --> 00:28:16,903
is unable to use his radio after it landed
in the water earlier in the day.
427
00:28:17,737 --> 00:28:20,448
He cannot update the
batteries to the rear.
428
00:28:22,492 --> 00:28:24,577
You want to at least be
able to provide them with
429
00:28:24,577 --> 00:28:28,331
a basic sense of where you are,
so that they can fire beyond
430
00:28:28,331 --> 00:28:31,251
that line of where you are
to where they know you're not.
431
00:28:33,211 --> 00:28:35,004
Fortunately,
just before noon,
432
00:28:35,004 --> 00:28:37,632
a resupply breaks
through to the farmhouse,
433
00:28:37,632 --> 00:28:39,092
with a new radio.
434
00:28:40,427 --> 00:28:44,055
But it still needs to be set up.
435
00:28:44,055 --> 00:28:47,016
Rosemond has two options,
436
00:28:47,016 --> 00:28:51,312
go through a procedure to find the
right frequency on the new set.
437
00:28:51,312 --> 00:28:54,649
Or, to switch
crystals from the old radio,
438
00:28:54,649 --> 00:28:57,527
to match the frequency
of the artillery batteries.
439
00:29:00,029 --> 00:29:01,865
He understands
that time is of the essence,
440
00:29:01,865 --> 00:29:05,702
so in a way, he cannibalizes
the parts to use in a radio
441
00:29:05,702 --> 00:29:08,329
that he thinks
probably will work.
442
00:29:12,208 --> 00:29:15,044
American defensive
positions around the farmhouse
443
00:29:15,044 --> 00:29:16,838
begin to crumble.
444
00:29:22,385 --> 00:29:24,721
In the firefight,
Sergeant William Grant
445
00:29:24,721 --> 00:29:28,391
is struck in the arm, and
withdraws to get first aid.
446
00:29:31,936 --> 00:29:33,480
His guys are watching him,
447
00:29:33,480 --> 00:29:34,939
they don't see
him really get hit.
448
00:29:34,939 --> 00:29:36,816
They just see him
start to run back.
449
00:29:36,816 --> 00:29:39,694
So, in their minds, that means,
"Oh, we're withdrawing,"
450
00:29:39,694 --> 00:29:41,446
and nobody wants
to be left behind.
451
00:29:41,446 --> 00:29:43,656
Retreat!
452
00:29:49,579 --> 00:29:52,665
Other paratroopers join them
and head toward the bridge.
453
00:29:55,210 --> 00:29:59,172
Cole can�t see this movement,
but senses something is wrong.
454
00:29:59,547 --> 00:30:01,090
He knows
how hard his guys have fought.
455
00:30:01,090 --> 00:30:02,717
He knows they've been
through a rough night,
456
00:30:02,717 --> 00:30:05,512
and he knows the most
likely explanation is that
457
00:30:05,512 --> 00:30:08,556
they're starting to run out of
steam and maybe run out of ammo.
458
00:30:08,556 --> 00:30:12,936
And so, that puts them on the wrong side
in the, the fire superiority equation.
459
00:30:12,936 --> 00:30:14,270
It's probably dawning on him,
460
00:30:14,270 --> 00:30:18,024
he's starting to
lose control of this battle,
461
00:30:18,024 --> 00:30:20,902
and that is never a
good feeling at all.
462
00:30:21,319 --> 00:30:22,237
Rosemond!
463
00:30:22,237 --> 00:30:24,906
Cole demands
more artillery support.
464
00:30:26,324 --> 00:30:30,036
Rosemond continues
to work intently on the radio.
465
00:30:30,453 --> 00:30:31,663
Come on!
466
00:30:31,663 --> 00:30:36,042
Meanwhile, a few
American paratroopers retreating
467
00:30:36,042 --> 00:30:39,212
soon becomes a
flood of men running back
468
00:30:39,212 --> 00:30:42,173
toward the
bridge yelling, �Withdraw.�
469
00:30:43,132 --> 00:30:45,301
It has the makings of a rout.
470
00:30:48,888 --> 00:30:54,269
As Rosemond works to transfer
the crystals to the new radio,
471
00:30:56,229 --> 00:31:01,234
Cole receives a message
from Regimental Command
472
00:31:01,234 --> 00:31:03,611
with the order to cease fire.
473
00:31:14,372 --> 00:31:16,833
As groups of
American Paratroopers retreat
474
00:31:16,833 --> 00:31:19,043
to the bridge from the battle.
475
00:31:20,211 --> 00:31:23,423
A U.S. Jeep approaches the
German held city of Carentan
476
00:31:23,423 --> 00:31:26,050
under a red cross flag.
477
00:31:27,010 --> 00:31:31,347
Major General Maxwell Taylor,
Commander of the 101st Airborne
478
00:31:31,347 --> 00:31:34,392
sends an emissary to
Major Friedrich Von der Heydte
479
00:31:34,392 --> 00:31:38,146
accompanied by
two German prisoners of war.
480
00:31:38,146 --> 00:31:41,733
Von der Heydte defends the
French city of Carentan which
481
00:31:41,733 --> 00:31:46,195
the Americans want to capture
to link Utah and Omaha beaches.
482
00:31:47,906 --> 00:31:50,241
This is not an
American surrender.
483
00:31:50,241 --> 00:31:54,162
Instead, they offer the German Major
an honorable capitulation,
484
00:31:54,162 --> 00:31:58,041
to save the lives of his men
and the civilians of Carentan.
485
00:32:03,212 --> 00:32:05,214
Von der Heydte declines.
486
00:32:06,049 --> 00:32:08,927
{\an8}He doesn't surrender
because surrendering is against
487
00:32:08,927 --> 00:32:12,138
{\an8}the sense of duty of the
German officers of this time.
488
00:32:12,138 --> 00:32:17,977
And it's also a danger for him,
his career and also his family.
489
00:32:17,977 --> 00:32:21,397
When Von der Heydte receives
the offer to capitulate,
490
00:32:21,856 --> 00:32:26,277
he just answers, "Would you capitulate
in the same situation?"
491
00:32:27,403 --> 00:32:28,237
Maybe I look at it too much from
492
00:32:28,363 --> 00:32:30,615
the German point of view
that it's so absurd.
493
00:32:30,740 --> 00:32:33,660
The battle for the town
has really kind of just begun.
494
00:32:34,661 --> 00:32:36,704
It's almost analogous to someone
495
00:32:36,704 --> 00:32:39,874
getting a foot in
your door and saying,
496
00:32:39,874 --> 00:32:41,960
"Okay, when are you going to
turn your house over to me?"
497
00:32:49,717 --> 00:32:52,220
But the
cease fire helps the Americans
498
00:32:52,220 --> 00:32:54,097
to stabilize their line.
499
00:32:55,390 --> 00:32:57,392
Their lead unit is in crisis.
500
00:32:57,392 --> 00:33:00,311
They are not
particularly well-supplied.
501
00:33:03,481 --> 00:33:04,941
{\an8}So, any kind of
truce like this, I think,
502
00:33:04,941 --> 00:33:08,403
{\an8}is much likely to help them
much more so than the Germans.
503
00:33:10,655 --> 00:33:11,489
Von der Heydte
504
00:33:11,614 --> 00:33:14,534
also takes
advantage of the ceasefire.
505
00:33:14,534 --> 00:33:18,579
German Artillery Observers use
the opportunity to crawl closer
506
00:33:18,579 --> 00:33:20,915
to the American command post.
507
00:33:24,127 --> 00:33:28,506
They can now radio back
more accurate information.
508
00:33:30,842 --> 00:33:32,969
As soon as the truce expires,
509
00:33:32,969 --> 00:33:35,346
Von der Heydte
orders a heavy bombardment
510
00:33:35,346 --> 00:33:37,265
of the American positions.
511
00:33:38,558 --> 00:33:41,561
Von der Heydte does what
almost any commander would do in
512
00:33:41,561 --> 00:33:43,646
the similar situation
during the ceasefire.
513
00:33:43,646 --> 00:33:49,110
He reorganizes his men,
reinforces their position,
514
00:33:49,110 --> 00:33:51,320
with a message,
�We�re not going anywhere.�
515
00:33:57,410 --> 00:34:02,081
But the Americans have their own
artillery observer back online.
516
00:34:02,081 --> 00:34:06,169
Rosemond uses his new radio
to relay updated targets
517
00:34:06,169 --> 00:34:08,171
to the American batteries.
518
00:34:10,965 --> 00:34:13,926
But the hedgerows mean he
can�t really confirm where
519
00:34:13,926 --> 00:34:15,595
the artillery lands.
520
00:34:16,971 --> 00:34:19,682
In this case he may be able
to, to get a little sense
521
00:34:19,682 --> 00:34:22,185
of where explosions
occur by blasts,
522
00:34:22,185 --> 00:34:24,228
or some smoke here and there.
523
00:34:24,228 --> 00:34:27,190
But that's really
nowhere near as good as your,
524
00:34:27,190 --> 00:34:28,483
as your eyes on.
525
00:34:28,900 --> 00:34:32,361
And he's relying on sound,
which is very problematic, too,
526
00:34:32,361 --> 00:34:34,238
in the context of a battle,
527
00:34:34,238 --> 00:34:36,115
where there's probably a decent number of
weapons cooking off.
528
00:34:41,579 --> 00:34:44,540
The Germans move along
the tree line before slipping to
529
00:34:44,540 --> 00:34:47,835
the flank on the
inside of the hedgerow.
530
00:34:51,547 --> 00:34:54,759
They have moved in under
the American artillery screen
531
00:34:54,759 --> 00:34:57,553
invisible to the
defending paratroopers,
532
00:34:59,430 --> 00:35:01,724
until they start to shoot.
533
00:35:03,351 --> 00:35:07,355
As their need for supporting
artillery fire increases,
534
00:35:07,355 --> 00:35:08,898
Rosemond gets
dealt another blow.
535
00:35:08,898 --> 00:35:09,899
What did I just say!
536
00:35:11,484 --> 00:35:13,361
The Germans jammed his radio.
537
00:35:17,031 --> 00:35:18,616
Basically,
your communications are out,
538
00:35:18,616 --> 00:35:20,118
they are jammed.
539
00:35:20,118 --> 00:35:22,537
And so now, you're going to have
to figure out a way around that.
540
00:35:22,537 --> 00:35:25,623
And it's just kind of one
more headache that you have,
541
00:35:25,623 --> 00:35:28,126
and one that could
be fatal, in this instance.
542
00:35:28,126 --> 00:35:31,045
So, uh, it is a matter of
tremendous importance that
543
00:35:31,045 --> 00:35:33,172
those radios come back online.
544
00:35:34,382 --> 00:35:36,217
As the
Fallschirmj�ger close in,
545
00:35:36,217 --> 00:35:39,595
the paratroopers start
to run low on ammunition.
546
00:35:39,595 --> 00:35:42,807
Without resupply, it will
be impossible to hold off
547
00:35:42,807 --> 00:35:43,808
the German attack.
548
00:35:43,808 --> 00:35:45,309
I need more ammo!
549
00:35:47,895 --> 00:35:49,438
Last one! Make it count!
550
00:35:54,944 --> 00:35:58,739
The farmhouse command post sits
at the south end of a long causeway,
551
00:35:58,739 --> 00:36:02,577
{\an8}connected by bridges and
obstructed by a Belgian Gate.
552
00:36:03,786 --> 00:36:06,247
{\an8}Vehicle traffic to
bring ammunition forward
553
00:36:06,247 --> 00:36:08,416
is virtually impossible.
554
00:36:08,416 --> 00:36:10,001
The causeway is
still a dangerous place.
555
00:36:10,001 --> 00:36:12,253
Uh, the Germans
can still target it.
556
00:36:14,463 --> 00:36:17,091
Wounded soldiers
also clog the route.
557
00:36:23,681 --> 00:36:27,602
Even individual ammo runners
find it difficult to advance.
558
00:36:30,730 --> 00:36:34,692
They decide to use the traffic jam along
the ditches to their advantage,
559
00:36:37,612 --> 00:36:39,947
they create a
human conveyor belt.
560
00:36:40,907 --> 00:36:42,950
There's lines
of wounded waiting to get out,
561
00:36:42,950 --> 00:36:44,911
people taking cover,
whatever it is.
562
00:36:44,911 --> 00:36:47,663
And so, they just pass the ammo,
563
00:36:47,663 --> 00:36:51,584
in the direction of what they know is the
front-line positions.
564
00:36:51,584 --> 00:36:54,253
And so, once again,
this is improvised.
565
00:36:54,795 --> 00:36:58,382
Ammo boxes and belts
pass through hundreds of hands
566
00:36:58,382 --> 00:37:02,053
to resupply the American
main line of resistance.
567
00:37:05,806 --> 00:37:07,475
Major Friedrich
Von der Heydte of
568
00:37:07,475 --> 00:37:09,769
the German Sixth
Fallschirmj�ger Regiment
569
00:37:09,769 --> 00:37:12,605
faces similar
challenges of his own.
570
00:37:12,605 --> 00:37:14,106
It may not seem to Cole,
571
00:37:14,106 --> 00:37:18,069
but Von der Heydte is
running out of ammunition.
572
00:37:18,069 --> 00:37:21,530
So, for him, this barrage
is a kind of last-ditch effort
573
00:37:21,530 --> 00:37:23,616
to keep the Americans at bay.
574
00:37:25,034 --> 00:37:27,203
Von der Heydte
throws everything he has
575
00:37:27,203 --> 00:37:29,205
into the counterattack.
576
00:37:32,833 --> 00:37:35,920
Under the acute pressure,
577
00:37:36,379 --> 00:37:42,051
Cole�s men succumb to wave after
wave of intense enemy fire.
578
00:37:42,885 --> 00:37:45,930
The American
defenses give way,
579
00:37:45,930 --> 00:37:49,016
and the Germans push in even closer.
580
00:37:56,983 --> 00:37:58,818
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cole
581
00:37:58,818 --> 00:38:02,697
joins his artillery liaison.
582
00:38:02,697 --> 00:38:06,033
The two men can
hear and see a change.
583
00:38:06,993 --> 00:38:10,413
Cole would later
describe it as a dying rattle.
584
00:38:10,788 --> 00:38:14,750
The term dying rattle I
think is really quite poignant,
585
00:38:14,750 --> 00:38:17,503
because it sort of
equates to death rattle.
586
00:38:17,503 --> 00:38:20,047
That would happen
with an individual dying.
587
00:38:20,047 --> 00:38:22,133
{\an8}What he's telling you
with that term is that,
588
00:38:22,133 --> 00:38:26,679
{\an8}"My unit is dying if
this continues much longer."
589
00:38:31,392 --> 00:38:34,061
Cole believes
that his line has been cracked.
590
00:38:34,061 --> 00:38:37,148
He must start
preparations for a retreat.
591
00:38:39,525 --> 00:38:42,028
Rosemond remains determined.
592
00:38:42,028 --> 00:38:46,490
If he can just make contact
with the artillery batteries,
593
00:38:46,490 --> 00:38:49,827
American firepower could
hold off the German onslaught.
594
00:38:52,330 --> 00:38:55,624
With his radio still jammed,
he keeps changing frequencies,
595
00:38:56,042 --> 00:38:58,169
hoping to get his message out.
596
00:38:58,169 --> 00:39:00,004
The problem is during World War II,
597
00:39:00,004 --> 00:39:02,048
the radios are not
especially reliable.
598
00:39:02,048 --> 00:39:05,468
{\an8}The Germans know what frequency
the U.S. radios are on and
599
00:39:05,468 --> 00:39:08,012
{\an8}so they will use jammers,
which are oftentimes just
600
00:39:08,012 --> 00:39:11,057
a radio tuned to
that particular channel,
601
00:39:11,057 --> 00:39:13,476
and then you just
broadcast noise on it.
602
00:39:13,476 --> 00:39:15,519
Do you copy?
603
00:39:15,519 --> 00:39:16,479
Sir! We�re through!
604
00:39:16,479 --> 00:39:22,068
Captain Rosemond finally breaks
through on a different channel.
605
00:39:22,068 --> 00:39:26,822
He calls for a barrage dangerously
close to the farmhouse.
606
00:39:27,740 --> 00:39:30,117
If you are willing to call
down fire on your position,
607
00:39:30,117 --> 00:39:33,496
what military circles
are called, �Danger close,�
608
00:39:33,496 --> 00:39:37,917
it means basically that you're willing to
take some friendly casualties in order
609
00:39:37,917 --> 00:39:41,379
to save the larger unit,
and break up the enemy attack,
610
00:39:41,379 --> 00:39:43,172
and destroy the Germans here.
611
00:39:45,091 --> 00:39:49,762
But the artillery officer
on the line says they have no ammunition.
612
00:39:51,430 --> 00:39:53,391
Rosemond is out of options.
613
00:39:53,391 --> 00:39:57,686
He needs the officer to find something to
fire at the Germans.
614
00:39:58,604 --> 00:40:01,816
Cole prepares for
the worst-case scenario.
615
00:40:02,733 --> 00:40:04,693
He thinks
he's going to have to actually
616
00:40:04,693 --> 00:40:08,197
leave his wounded behind
for the care of the Germans.
617
00:40:08,197 --> 00:40:12,118
And that tells you how desperate
he perceived the situation to be
618
00:40:12,118 --> 00:40:14,787
if he was willing to
leave his wounded behind.
619
00:40:14,787 --> 00:40:16,872
So, this was the last option,
620
00:40:16,872 --> 00:40:19,083
but it was one that he
was actually contemplating.
621
00:40:20,751 --> 00:40:21,919
In a turn of luck,
622
00:40:21,919 --> 00:40:24,463
the batteries finally
receive their shipment.
623
00:40:24,463 --> 00:40:25,631
Load up!
624
00:40:27,216 --> 00:40:31,137
The American guns
let loose, all of them.
625
00:40:31,554 --> 00:40:36,392
Where Rosemond previously had support from
two battalions of artillery,
626
00:40:36,392 --> 00:40:38,853
this call receives every gun.
627
00:40:38,853 --> 00:40:42,440
To have every gun within
command supporting this battle,
628
00:40:42,440 --> 00:40:45,317
it certainly tells you that
it's a desperate situation.
629
00:40:46,402 --> 00:40:48,654
With a
critical objective.
630
00:40:51,031 --> 00:40:54,326
The artillery barrage
devastates the German attackers.
631
00:40:56,454 --> 00:41:00,082
Unfortunately, the barrage
is so close to the farmhouse,
632
00:41:00,082 --> 00:41:03,836
that it likely strikes some
American defenders as well.
633
00:41:06,380 --> 00:41:08,048
But, uh, pretty much
everyone who was there
634
00:41:08,048 --> 00:41:12,553
later said it was necessary,
that it had to be done this way.
635
00:41:12,553 --> 00:41:16,682
As they put it, "We lost some good men,
but we needed that barrage."
636
00:41:17,475 --> 00:41:20,144
Major Von der Heydte
pulls his men back to
637
00:41:20,144 --> 00:41:23,647
the southwest edge of
Carentan for a last stand.
638
00:41:24,732 --> 00:41:27,693
He knows
he's running out of ammunition.
639
00:41:27,693 --> 00:41:30,321
He had suffered
heavy casualties.
640
00:41:30,321 --> 00:41:34,783
{\an8}So, in the end, he decides to do
what any responsible commander
641
00:41:34,783 --> 00:41:36,702
would do in the
similar situation.
642
00:41:36,702 --> 00:41:38,996
He orders his troops to retreat.
643
00:41:41,624 --> 00:41:43,667
Cole�s
men have won the day,
644
00:41:43,667 --> 00:41:45,753
at a heavy cost.
645
00:41:45,753 --> 00:41:48,380
The scale
of losses is just staggering.
646
00:41:48,380 --> 00:41:50,007
You start out
with about 700 guys.
647
00:41:50,007 --> 00:41:51,759
And by the time
the fighting is over,
648
00:41:51,759 --> 00:41:54,011
you end up with 132.
649
00:41:54,011 --> 00:41:58,224
The Third Battalion,
502nd Cole�s battalion,
650
00:41:58,224 --> 00:42:01,852
is rendered almost combat
ineffective for most of the rest
651
00:42:01,852 --> 00:42:03,646
of the battle in Normandy.
652
00:42:07,191 --> 00:42:10,361
But, they have
opened the door to Carentan.
653
00:42:16,742 --> 00:42:20,538
Von der Heydte holds out for
six days but without ammunition,
654
00:42:20,538 --> 00:42:23,958
he can no longer wait
for their SS reinforcements.
655
00:42:25,042 --> 00:42:26,835
He orders a
retreat from the town and
656
00:42:26,835 --> 00:42:29,713
the Americans seize
the precious hub.
657
00:42:30,798 --> 00:42:33,342
For the SS,
Von der Heydte is the scapegoat
658
00:42:33,342 --> 00:42:35,970
for the defeat at Carentan.
659
00:42:35,970 --> 00:42:41,350
However, Von der Heydte is covered by
Senior Army and Para Officers
660
00:42:41,350 --> 00:42:44,645
so that he's not
being court-martialed.
661
00:42:44,645 --> 00:42:47,606
And in contrast, he
gets even nicknamed,
662
00:42:47,606 --> 00:42:49,525
"The Lion of Carentan."
663
00:42:52,987 --> 00:42:56,407
Captain Saint Julien Rosemond
earns the distinguished service cross
664
00:42:56,407 --> 00:43:00,369
for repeatedly moving forward
in the face of enemy fire to
665
00:43:00,369 --> 00:43:02,663
hold his position
to direct artillery.
666
00:43:08,294 --> 00:43:10,004
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cole
667
00:43:10,004 --> 00:43:12,673
is celebrated for
the heroic fight.
668
00:43:12,673 --> 00:43:14,883
Go!
669
00:43:15,301 --> 00:43:16,677
Of course,
coming across this field,
670
00:43:16,677 --> 00:43:19,305
we were exposed to these men
over here in the hedgerows,
671
00:43:19,305 --> 00:43:20,806
here all the time.
672
00:43:20,806 --> 00:43:22,766
And they had us
perfectly covered.
673
00:43:22,766 --> 00:43:25,060
So it was simply a matter of
getting across the open ground
674
00:43:25,060 --> 00:43:28,439
as quickly as possible
and getting in amongst them.
675
00:43:30,065 --> 00:43:32,651
He earns the
highest battlefield award,
676
00:43:32,651 --> 00:43:35,195
The Congressional
Medal of Honor.
677
00:43:35,195 --> 00:43:38,866
But Cole is killed by a sniper
at Operation Market Garden
678
00:43:38,866 --> 00:43:40,618
{\an8}before receiving word.
679
00:43:42,453 --> 00:43:45,706
{\an8}The capture of Carentan
springboards the Americans off
680
00:43:45,706 --> 00:43:49,835
{\an8}the beaches of Normandy and
consolidates the allied gains.
681
00:43:51,128 --> 00:43:54,798
{\an8}But the delay has allowed more
German reinforcements to close
682
00:43:54,798 --> 00:43:57,259
{\an8}in on the beaches.
683
00:43:57,259 --> 00:44:02,014
{\an8}The allies face stiff opposition
for every inch of French soil.
684
00:44:03,807 --> 00:44:06,977
{\an8}The war in Europe will rage
for nearly 11 more months.
685
00:44:09,977 --> 00:44:13,977
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