Educational Pamphlet
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EDUCATIONAL PAMPHLET Welcome to the Utah Beach Museum ! _____________ Built on the very spot where American troops landed in Normandy, the museum honors all the soldiers who risked their lives to free France during the Second World War. You are going to discover the various events that happened on this beach on June 6 th 1944 and the following days. You will follow in the footsteps of the defenders of the Atlantic Wall and share the daily lives of the people of the Cotentin, chafing under the deprivations and weight of the German occupation. The following rooms and commemorative objects will teach you how the American troops managed to set in motion an amphibious landing in the Sainte-Marie-du-Mont sector, known worldwide by its codename, Utah Beach. 1 THE GERMAN DEFENSES Define the role of Atlantic Wall. When was it constructed? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Hence, show that the Nazi strategy, started in 1939, has changed : ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… What defenses and war materiel were installed on the Atlantic Wall ? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… You are currently in the heart of the Atlantic Wall’s defenses, at German strongpoint WN5, which was commanded on the morning of June 6th by Lieutenant Arthur Jahnke, section chief of the 3 rd Battalion, 919th Grenadier Regiment. From what you can see of the construction and information panels, explain who built these defenses and how. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… From the window displays and your own knowledge, identify the units manning the Normandy and Sainte- Marie-du-Mont sectors. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2 In the spring of 1944, Rommel’s insistence coupled with the impending allied invasion brought additional reinforcements to the Normandy beaches. Explain why the arrival of paratroopers under Major Von der Heydte considerably increased Germany’s defensive potential. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Based on the window displays, show that the German army was not as mechanized as some believed. Explain why.? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. What material are these Eastern Front boots made of ? ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………… In the bunker you can see an identification disk belonging to a worker from Organization Todt. What is the Organization Todt ? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..... ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..... 3 THE COTENTIN UNDER THE OCCUPATION For four long years, France lived under German occupation. They garrisoned the northern part of the country and pillaged the economy. Daily life was constrained by privations, rationing, and the restrictive measures put in place. However, these actions would have dramatic consequences in the Cotentin and France at large. Name a few instances of privations that the locals had to endure. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..... Explain what rationing is and how many Normans avoided it. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..... Why do you think many Frenchmen remained imprisoned in Germany? How did they stay in touch? Base your answer on the documents provided. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..... What political actions arose from the continued German occupation? Show they are in opposition and what part of public opinion supported them in the spring of 1944. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..... 4 ALLIED STRATEGY Operation Overlord required meticulous preparation. Its iconic figure was General "Ike" Eisenhower, supreme commander of the Allied expeditionary forces. What countries comprised the Grand Alliance in 1944? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...... In what operational theatres were Allied troops committed? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...... Why did the Allies find it necessary to open a second front? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...... Why were so many countries involved? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..... 5 NAVAL FORCES The naval element, known as Force "U", was tasked with attacking the enemy on Utah Beach and supporting the infantrymen storming it. From the objects and documents on display, define the missions and means the US Navy disposed of on D-Day. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...... ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...... Why do you think there were French ships in Force "U"? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..... ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..... Analyze these two posters. 6 What is their message? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… What do you see in each of them? What are their different hooks? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7 AERIAL FORCES In order to support the naval and ground elements, an aerial force of B-26s was tasked with suppressing the enemy's defensive positions