Airborne Museum14 rue Eisenhower

50480 Sainte-Mère-EgliseWeb : www.airborne-museum.org

Your name : ...................

Your first name :...................

Your age :...................

Visit the museum with

Albert !

Airborne MuseumSainte-Mère-Eglise

Visit guide

9-11 yea

rs old

Hello and welcome to the Airborne Museum !

My name is Albert.I was 10 years old in 1944, when the

American soldiers arrived in Sainte-Mere-Eglise. I will follow you during

the visit.

2 © Airborne Museum / Toute reproduction partielle est strictement interdite.Crédits photographiques et sources iconographiques : © Musée Airborne, Archives départementales, NARA.

Typographies : «Verdana» et police manuscrite «Amandine» (disponible sur www.philing.net).

I hope you enjoyed your visit !

See you again soon at the Airborne Museum !

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22. At the end of your visit, draw your favorite part.

This way!

You are there!Locate yourself in the museum thanks to the buildings colors!

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Why ? .................................................

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Go to the last building to watch the movie!

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iBefore the visit ...

History recap:Hitler, the leader of Germany, wanted France and Europe to become German. He invaded France in 1939. In 1940, after a «Blitzkreig», France was defeated and partly occupied by the Germans. The other part, known as Vichy France, was governed by Marechal Pétain who collaborated* with Germans.

General De Gaulle wanted to liberate France. He took refuge in England and appeals to the French people to keep up the resistance*. (Broadcast of June 18th 1940).

Thousands of American, English and Canadian soldiers assembled in England to prepare for the liberation of France from the Germans. They were commanded by General Eisenhower.

Collaboration was the co-

operation with the German

invaders between 1940 and

1945.

The resistance was the French

people organisation which was

against the power of German

forces in France. The resistance

fighters fought a secret war

against the Germans. If they were

caught they could be executed.

Area under German Occupation

Free Vichy France

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This year

D-Day year

Many young soldiers died to liberate France!Thanks to them, we live in a free country!

You could ask them about what it was like at that time.

20. Everything you’ve learned today happened in 1944. How long ago was that ? (Do your calculation on the note book)

................................

21. Do you know anybody of that age or older ?

.............................................

2 _ _ __ _ _ _

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Continue your visit. For the next question, find the answers on the civilians panel :

Despite the destruction and high number of civilian casualties, the soldiers are warmly welcomed ! And they always will be !

19. In the same way as the Coca Cola, join the drinks and candy to their country of origin

(For exemple : The American make discover Coca-Cola to the French people.)

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1. From what you know and what you have just read, connect these men to the appropriate word below.

On June 6th 1944 the Allies* landed in Normandy. Code name : OperAtiOn OverlOrd

The Allies were all those

nations who fought

together against the

Germans forces.

Eisenhower Hitler Charles de Gaulle

Occupation-Germany

ResistanceLiberation-

Allies

5

iCalais

NORMANDY

ENGLAND

English Channel

2. The Americans arrived in Normandy by sea and by air. Take a look at the sculpture near the museum entrance, can you tell how they arrived in Sainte-Mere-Eglise ? ..................................................................

Then, draw a circle around the red dot on the map which is at Sainte-Mere-Eglise

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Continue the visit to get the answers for the next questions.

It is going to take longer than they thought for the soldiers to carry out their missions!

18. Finish the following sentences by ticking the appropriate words below :

In the Battle of Normandy, the types of landscape that the soldiers had to cross were (There are two correct answers):

Marshlands Forest

Desert Fields with hedgerows

For the American soldiers, these types of terrain were :

An advantage A hinderance

Why ? (Explain your answer)......................................................................................

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Moreover, Normandy was not as

well defended as other sectors. The

Germans were conviced that the

landings would happen at Calais

because it is much nearer from the

English coast.

Normandy was chosen for the

Invasion because its wide beaches

would enable the landing of a huge

amount of men and equipment.

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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Answer the next questions in the first two rooms after the plane !

15. You have landed in Sainte-Mere-Eglise, it is June 6th 1944. Based on what you have read, seen and felt, tick the true statements (only one in each line) :

16. In your opinion, how would the soldiers have been feeling at that time?......................................................................................

17. Before going into the room with the church, find the display dedicated to John Steele. You can see all of his medals there.

What happened to him ? ................

....................................................

....................................................

....................................................

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It is daytime It is nighttime

There is a house on fire, the Germans are there

It’s all quiet and the Germans have left

All of the soldiers landed at the right place

Some of the soldiers are lost, others drowned in the flooded marshlands

WACO BUildinG

3. The gliders were used to transport soldiers and supplies to Normandy. They also carried heavier equipment such as the military vehicle you can see in the entrance of this building.

What is the name of this vehicle?

..........................................4. What is the name of the glider?..........................................

5. In the display cabinets, find a drink that the American soldiers brought over with

them in 1944 and that we still drink today. How is it named?

.............................................

6. In the room, find this object. Who used to wear this necklace? ..............................................................

What was this used for ?

To show the identity of the soldier

The soldiers’ mission was written on them

It was a gift for French girls

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iAn airborne division is a group of soldiers transported by air and by parachute, and by glider.

8. During your visit you will see these badges on the soldiers’ uniforms. When you find the panel with all the badges, complete this sentence :

7. When you are on the blue walkway, complete the drawing of the glider.

I started this drawing in 1944. These gliders were landing in our fields !

The ______nd and ______st Airborne divisions* landed in Sainte-Mere-Eglise, Carentan and the surrounding area.

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14. On the panel at the end of the corridor find out two of the main missions of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. Tick them in the list below :

To get control of certain roads and bridges

To liberate Caen and Bayeux

To prevent German reinforcements from getting to the landing beaches

To warn the civilians that the war was about to break out

«Operation Neptune» was the

codename of the first assault

phase of the Allied landing in

Normandy.

Let’s go and experience the events of June 6th 1944 and the Battle of Normandy !

When you see John the radio operator on the signs you can get more informations.

«OperAtiOn neptUne» BUildinG

John the radio

operatorIn fact, both of these elements were forecast to be good on the 5th, 6th and 7th and the original plan was to go on the 5th. However, due to a storm over the channel, D Day was delayed by 24 hours !

The date of June 6th was chosen for the landing due to combined tidal and moonlight conditions.

iCivilians are non-military persons. In 1944, the civilians continued to live in their villages and towns despite the War.

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C-47 BUildinG

9. You can see a Douglas C-47 aeroplane. Its name is painted near the cockpit. Can you see how it’s named? .......................

June 5th 1944 was the eve of the invasion. The allied troops were all ready to set off for Normandy to liberate France.

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In the middle of the first floor, you can see some civilian* clothes. This is how my parents used to dress !

13. In the American army there were also women. You can see some of their uniforms on the way to the exit. They could occupy multiple positions, two of which are in the below proposals. (Draw circles around the right answers) Nurses Airplane Pilots Paratroopers

10. Write the following countries names in their right location on the map : england (country from where the Allies took off), France (country under German occupation) and Germany (country which invaded France). Draw a circle around Normandy, this is where the Allied soldiers landed.

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11. Look at the photograph. This scene is reproduced next to the plane. It is June 5th 1944, an American general has come to encourage his men before they board their planes to go to Normandy.Who is he? (To find his name, complete the crossword using the clues on the next page)

The photographer immortalized the scene !

This is the general who planned and commanded the Normandy Invasion.

?

IE E H O E

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Clues:

1: The aircraft used to transport the paratroops and tow the gliders.

2: The Allied troops left this country on June 5th, 1944, to go to Normandy.

3: The name of the glider you visited in the first building.

4: The 82nd and 101st are .............................. divisions.

O

A

L

D

12. Go on to the walkway with an adult, to go on the top of the plane.

From the left wingtip to the right wingtip, the aircraft spans 321/2 yards !

How many inches is that ?

.................................................