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Chef-du-Pont
While the Bridge near La Fière usually gets most attention, there was another important bridge some miles to the south at Chef-du-Pont. Just like Sainte-Mère-Eglise and La Fière bridge, the bridge at Chef-du-Pont was one of the objectives of the 505PIR.
1944
Today
More than 60 years after the battle the area has hardly changed.
Picture 1: Chef du pont from the west
This image was taken from the causeway leading from Hill30 to the main Chef-du-Pont causeway. In 1944 the fields were flooded and formed a barrier between the troops isolated on the westbank of the Merderet and the main force to the east. Between the trees in the centre is a factory were troopers set up a defensive position to protect the bridge, which is more to the right on this images. Despite heavy shelling the situation was never as desperate as at La Fière, but it proved impossible to truly control the area during the first days.
Picture 2: Looking to the south-west
From the other side of the causeway the fields to the northwest can be seen.
Picture 3 and 4: The causeway from Hill30
 
These images show the causeway looking east (Pict.3) and northwest (Pict.4). Back in 1944 the natural cover was even less with only some scarce trees spread along the causeway. In fact it better resembles the situation on the La Fière causeway, though the vegetation was still a bit more dense at that location.
| NORMANDY 1944 RESEARCH COMMUNITY |
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