Sainte-Mère-Église in Manche, Normandy, France — Western Europe
Nuit du 5 au 6 juin 1944 - 23 heures
⎯⎯⎯
Night of the 5th to the 6 June 1944 - 11 p.m.
Photographed by James Hulse, June 3, 2025
1. Nuit du 5 au 6 juin 1944 - 23 heures / Night of the 5th to the 6 June 1944 - 11 p.m. Marker
Nuit du 5 au 6 juin 1944 - 23 heures
Un incendie se déclare dans le Parc de la Haule (à l'emplacement actuel du Airborne Museum), dans la maison puis dans la grange, occupées par Mlle Pommier. Les pompiers essaient de maitriser l'incendie. Pour cela, ils font appel à la population en faisant sonner le tocsin et des habitants viennent leur prêter main forte. Le couvre-feu oblige les soldats allemands à les surveiller étroitement. Soudain, un bruit sourd et caractéristique annonce l'arrivée des avions Alliés. Les mitrailleuses allemandes se mettent en action. Des centaines de voilures sont visibles dans le ciel, ce sont les parachutistes américains! Retrouvez toute l'histoire des parachutistes américains en Normandie au Airborne Museum.
Légendes
(Photo #1) La maison brulée du Parc de la Haule, actuel emplacement du Airborne Museum.
(Photo #2) Parc de la Haule à droite, une partie de la grange.
Night of the 5th to the 6 June 1944 - 11 p.m.
In Parc de la Haule (actual Airborne Museum), the house and barn where Mlle Pommier lived were on fire. Firefighters tried to conceal the fire. They called for help with the alarm bell. Quickly, inhabitants came and gave a hand to firefighters. It was a time past the curfew so German soldiers were watching on them carefully. Suddenly, a recognizable sound: the Allied planes were coming. German machine guns fired. Soon, hundreds of parachutes are to be seen in the sky, there are American paratroopers! Find more about American paratroopers in Normandy at the Airborne Museum.
Captions
(Photo #1) Burnt house in Parc de la Haule, where the Airborne Museum now stands.
(Photo #2) Parc de la Haule on the right, the barn.
Reverse Side
Le 18 juin 1940, les habitants de Sainte-Mère-Église n'ont guère le loisir d'entendre l'appel du Général De Gaulle à la BBC (radio anglaise), car ce jour-là, les soldats allemands font leur entrée dans la commune.
Sur la façade de la mairie, un drapeau à croix gammée est hissé. Sur les murs, la (Orst) kommandantur, poste de commandement allemand, fait placarder, en allemand et en français, les premières affiches annonçant l'exécution des patriotes coupables d'avoir voulu gagner l'Angleterre en bateau. L'ordre Nazi règne.
Légendes
(Foto #1) La place de Sainte-Mère-Église en 1908.
(Foto #2) La troupe allemande passée en revue sur la place de l'église.
On June, 18th, 1940, the inhabitants of Sainte-Mère-Eglise have no time to listen to a rallying radio call from General De Gaulle on a BBC broadcast from London: it was the very day the German soldiers arrived here. A German swastika flag is raised in front of the townhall. Warnings with the names of men trying to escape to England by boat announced their execution. Nazi Law and Order is now a reality.
Captions
(Photo #1) Sainte-Mère-Eglise village square: 1908 photo.
(Photo #2) A platoon of German soldiers lined up for roll-call on the south side of the church.
Erected by Sainte
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is June 6, 1944.
Location. 49° 24.527′ N, 1° 18.948′ W. Marker is in Sainte-Mère-Église, Normandie (Normandy), in Manche. It is on Rue Eisenhower close to Rue Général Koenig. The marker is located along the sidewalk near the church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14 Rue Eisenhower, Sainte-Mère-Église, Normandie 50480, France. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, a coastal Mediterranean country, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a French colony and also the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: General Dwight D. Eisenhower (within shouting distance of this marker); A Tous Les Français / To all French People (within shouting distance of this marker); Le parachutiste de l'église : John Steele / The paratrooper of the church: John Steele
Photographed by James Hulse, June 3, 2025
2. Night of the 5th to the 6 June 1944 - 11 p.m. Marker - Reverse Side
Photographed by James Hulse, June 3, 2025
3. The marker is located along the courtyard and sidewalk of the church
Credits. This page was last revised on December 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 12, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 89 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 13, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
