Sainte-Mère-Église
Church with Parachute Memorial
Sainte-Mère-Église
Location within Lower Normandy region  Sainte-Mère-Église
Administration
Country	France
Region	Lower Normandy
Department	Manche
Arrondissement	Cherbourg
Canton	Sainte-Mère-Église
Intercommunality	Sainte-Mère-Église
Mayor	Jean-Paul Bouet (2001–2008)
Statistics
Elevation	1–41 m (3.3–135 ft) (avg. 34 m or 112 ft)
Land area1	17.68 km2 (6.83 sq mi)
Population2	1,585  (1999)
- Density	90 /km2 (230 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	50523/ 50480
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Coordinates: 49°24′32″N 1°19′05″W / 49.4089°N 1.3181°W / 49.4089; -1.3181

Church with Parachute Memorial to John Steele in Sainte-Mère-Église

Sainte-Mère-Église is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.

History [edit]

Founded in the eleventh century, the earliest records (1080–1082) include the name Sancte Marie Ecclesia, Latin for "Church of St. Mary", while a later document written in Norman-French (1317) mentions Saincte Mariglise. The current French form of the name is ambiguous, with the additional meaning, "Holy Mother Church". The town was significantly involved in the Hundred Years' War as well as the Wars of Religion.

The town's main claim to fame is that it played a significant part in the World War II Normandy landings because this village stood right in the middle of route N13, which the Germans would have most likely used on any significant counterattack on the troops landing on Utah and Omaha Beaches. In the early morning of 6 June 1944 mixed units of the U.S. 82nd Airborne and U.S. 101st Airborne Divisions occupied the town in Operation Boston, giving it the claim to be one of the first towns liberated in the invasion.

D-Day battle [edit]

The early landings, at about 0140 directly on the town, resulted in heavy casualties for the paratroopers. Some buildings in town were on fire that night, and they illuminated the sky, making easy targets of the descending men. Some were sucked into the fire. Many hanging from trees and utility poles were shot before they could cut loose. The German defenders were alerted.

A famous incident involved paratrooper John Steele of the 505th PIR, whose parachute caught on the spire of the town church, and could only observe the fighting going on below. He hung there limply for two hours, pretending to be dead, before the Germans took him prisoner. Steele later escaped from the Germans and rejoined his division when US troops of the 3rd Battalion, 505 Parachute Infantry Regiment attacked the village, capturing thirty Germans and killing another eleven. The incident was portrayed in the movie The Longest Day by actor Red Buttons.

Later that morning, about 0500, a force led by Lt. Colonel Edward C. Krause of the 505th PIR took the town with little resistance. Apparently the German garrison was confused and had retired for the rest of the night. However, heavy German counterattacks began later in the day and into the next. The lightly armed troops held the town until reinforced by tanks from nearby Utah Beach in the afternoon of 7 June.

Krause and Lt. Colonel Benjamin H. Vandervoort both received the Distinguished Service Cross for their actions in the capture of the town. Sgt. George Bowler Tullidge III received the Bronze Star, and a collection of Bible verses and of his letters home, A Paratrooper's Faith, was distributed throughout the 82nd Airborne by his parents following his death until the 1990s.

Henry Langrehr was also involved in the capture of Sainte-Mère-Église. He crashed through a greenhouse roof, as retold in the movie The Longest Day. On 6 November 2007 he received, along with five other men, the Legion of Honor medal from the President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy.

Heraldry [edit]

The arms of Sainte-Mère-Église are blazoned : Azure, a church argent roofed Or charged with the capital letters A and M sable, issuant from a base gules charged with a leopard Or; in chief 2 mullets Or hanging from parachutes argent.

Sights [edit]

Tourism in Sainte-Mère-Église today centers on its role in the D-Day invasion. There are many small museums (such as the Airborne Museum) and World War II-related giftshops and eating places. A dummy paratrooper hangs from the church spire, commemorating the story of John Steele.

Behind the church is a spring, believed by pilgrims to have healing powers, dedicated to Saint Mewan (Saint Méen).

See also [edit]

• Communes of the Manche department

Also of note is that Sainte-Mère-Église is twinned with the English village Sturminster Marshall

References [edit]

• INSEE commune file

Further reading [edit]

• Harrison, Gordan A. (2002) [1951]. "Chapter VIII, The Sixth of June". Cross Channel Attack. The United States in World War II. United States Army Center of Military History. CMH Pub 7-4. 

External links [edit]

• The Airborne Museum
• The Tourist Office of the District Communities of Sainte-Mère-Église
• A Paratrooper's Faith

• 

  Parachute Memorial in Sainte-Mère-Église

• 

  Monument to John Steele who was caught on the church spire during D-Day

• 

  Sainte-Mère-Église Church.

• 

  Church bell tower with dummy parachutist.

• 

  Stained glass window in village chapel depicting the landing of the paratroopers.

• 

  Stained glass window in village chapel depicting Saint Michael and the insignia of various Allied military units that fought in or near the village.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sainte-Mère-Église

v t e Communes of the Manche department Acqueville Agneaux Agon-Coutainville Airel Amfreville Amigny Ancteville Anctoville-sur-Boscq Angey Angoville-au-Plain Angoville-sur-Ay Anneville-en-Saire Anneville-sur-Mer Annoville Appeville Argouges Aucey-la-Plaine Auderville Audouville-la-Hubert Aumeville-Lestre Auvers Auxais Avranches Azeville Bacilly La Baleine Barenton Barfleur Barneville-Carteret La Barre-de-Semilly Baubigny Baudre Baudreville Baupte La Bazoge Beauchamps Beaucoudray Beauficel Beaumont-Hague Beauvoir Bellefontaine Belval Benoîtville Bérigny Beslon Besneville Beuvrigny Beuzeville-au-Plain Beuzeville-la-Bastille Biéville Biniville Bion Biville Blainville-sur-Mer Blosville La Bloutière Boisroger Boisyvon Bolleville La Bonneville Bourguenolles Boutteville Braffais Brainville Branville-Hague Brécey Brectouville Bréhal Bretteville Bretteville-sur-Ay Breuville Brévands Bréville-sur-Mer Bricquebec Bricquebosq Bricqueville-la-Blouette Bricqueville-sur-Mer Brillevast Brix Brouains Brucheville Buais Cambernon Cametours Camprond Canisy Canteloup Canville-la-Rocque Carantilly Carentan Carnet Carneville Carolles Carquebut Catteville Catz Cavigny Céaux Cérences Cerisy-la-Forêt Cerisy-la-Salle La Chaise-Baudouin Les Chambres Champcervon Champcey Champeaux Champrepus Les Champs-de-Losque Chanteloup La Chapelle-Cécelin La Chapelle-en-Juger La Chapelle-Urée Chasseguey Chaulieu Chavoy Chef-du-Pont Le Chefresne Cherbourg-Octeville Chérencé-le-Héron Chérencé-le-Roussel Les Chéris Chèvreville Chevry Clitourps Coigny La Colombe Colomby Condé-sur-Vire Contrières Cosqueville Coudeville-sur-Mer Coulouvray-Boisbenâtre Courcy Courtils Coutances Couvains Couville Crasville Créances Les Cresnays Cretteville La Croix-Avranchin Crollon Crosville-sur-Douve Cuves Dangy Denneville Le Dézert Digosville Digulleville Domjean Donville-les-Bains Doville Dragey-Ronthon Ducey Écausseville Écoquenéauville Éculleville Émondeville Équeurdreville-Hainneville Équilly Éroudeville L'Étang-Bertrand Étienville La Feuillie Fermanville Ferrières Fervaches Feugères Fierville-les-Mines Flamanville Fleury Flottemanville Flottemanville-Hague Folligny Fontenay Fontenay-sur-Mer Foucarville Fourneaux Le Fresne-Poret Fresville Gathemo Gatteville-le-Phare Gavray Geffosses Genêts Ger Giéville La Glacerie Glatigny La Godefroy La Gohannière Golleville Gonfreville Gonneville Gorges Gouberville Gourbesville Gourfaleur Gouvets Gouville-sur-Mer Graignes-Mesnil-Angot Le Grand-Celland Granville Gratot Gréville-Hague Grimesnil Grosville Guéhébert Guilberville Le Guislain Le Ham Hambye Hamelin Hardinvast Hauteville-la-Guichard Hauteville-sur-Mer Hautteville-Bocage La Haye-Bellefond La Haye-d'Ectot La Haye-du-Puits La Haye-Pesnel Héauville Hébécrevon Helleville Hémevez Hérenguerville Herqueville Heugueville-sur-Sienne Heussé Hiesville Hocquigny Le Hommet-d'Arthenay Houesville Houtteville Huberville Hudimesnil Huisnes-sur-Mer Husson Hyenville Isigny-le-Buat Jobourg Joganville Juilley Jullouville Juvigny-le-Tertre Lamberville La Lande-d'Airou Lapenty Laulne Lengronne Lessay Lestre Liesville-sur-Douve Lieusaint Lingeard Lingreville Lithaire Les Loges-Marchis Les Loges-sur-Brécey Lolif Longueville Le Loreur Le Lorey Lozon La Lucerne-d'Outremer Le Luot La Luzerne Macey Magneville La Mancellière-sur-Vire Marcey-les-Grèves Marchésieux Marcilly Margueray Marigny Martigny Martinvast Maupertuis Maupertus-sur-Mer La Meauffe Méautis Le Mesnil Le Mesnil-Adelée Le Mesnil-Amand Le Mesnil-Amey Le Mesnil-Aubert Le Mesnil-au-Val Le Mesnilbus Le Mesnil-Eury Le Mesnil-Garnier Le Mesnil-Gilbert Le Mesnil-Herman Le Mesnillard Le Mesnil-Opac Le Mesnil-Ozenne Le Mesnil-Rainfray Le Mesnil-Raoult Le Mesnil-Rogues Le Mesnil-Rouxelin Le Mesnil-Tôve Le Mesnil-Véneron Le Mesnil-Vigot Le Mesnil-Villeman La Meurdraquière Millières Milly Mobecq Les Moitiers-d'Allonne Les Moitiers-en-Bauptois Montabot Montaigu-la-Brisette Montaigu-les-Bois Montanel Montbray Montchaton Montcuit Montebourg Montfarville Montgardon Monthuchon Montjoie-Saint-Martin Montmartin-en-Graignes Montmartin-sur-Mer Montpinchon Montrabot Montreuil-sur-Lozon Mont Saint-Michel Montsurvent Montviron Moon-sur-Elle Morigny Morsalines Mortain Morville La Mouche Moulines Moyon Muneville-le-Bingard Muneville-sur-Mer Nay Négreville Néhou Le Neufbourg Neufmesnil Neuville-au-Plain Neuville-en-Beaumont Néville-sur-Mer Nicorps Notre-Dame-de-Cenilly Notre-Dame-de-Livoye Notre-Dame-d'Elle Notre-Dame-du-Touchet Nouainville Octeville-l'Avenel Omonville-la-Petite Omonville-la-Rogue Orglandes Orval Ouville Ozeville Parigny Percy Périers La Pernelle Les Perques Perriers-en-Beauficel Le Perron Le Petit-Celland Picauville Pierreville Les Pieux Pirou Placy-Montaigu Le Plessis-Lastelle Plomb Poilley Pontaubault Pont-Hébert Pontorson Ponts Portbail Précey Précorbin Prétot-Sainte-Suzanne Querqueville Quettehou Quettetot Quettreville-sur-Sienne Quibou Quinéville Raids Rampan Rauville-la-Bigot Rauville-la-Place Ravenoville Reffuveille Regnéville-sur-Mer Reigneville-Bocage Remilly-sur-Lozon Réthoville Réville La Rochelle-Normande Rocheville Romagny Roncey La Ronde-Haye Rouffigny Rouxeville Le Rozel Sacey Saint-Amand Saint-André-de-Bohon Saint-André-de-l'Épine Saint-Aubin-de-Terregatte Saint-Aubin-des-Préaux Saint-Aubin-du-Perron Saint-Barthélemy Saint-Brice Saint-Brice-de-Landelles Saint-Christophe-du-Foc Saint-Clair-sur-l'Elle Saint-Clément-Rancoudray Saint-Côme-du-Mont Saint-Cyr Saint-Cyr-du-Bailleul Saint-Denis-le-Gast Saint-Denis-le-Vêtu Saint-Ébremond-de-Bonfossé Sainte-Cécile Sainte-Colombe Sainte-Croix-Hague Sainte-Geneviève Sainte-Marie-du-Bois Sainte-Marie-du-Mont Sainte-Mère-Église Sainteny Sainte-Pience Sainte-Suzanne-sur-Vire Saint-Floxel Saint-Fromond Saint-Georges-d'Elle Saint-Georges-de-Bohon Saint-Georges-de-la-Rivière Saint-Georges-de-Livoye Saint-Georges-de-Rouelley Saint-Georges-Montcocq Saint-Germain-d'Elle Saint-Germain-des-Vaux Saint-Germain-de-Tournebut Saint-Germain-de-Varreville Saint-Germain-le-Gaillard Saint-Germain-sur-Ay Saint-Germain-sur-Sèves Saint-Gilles Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët Saint-Hilaire-Petitville Saint-Jacques-de-Néhou Saint-James Saint-Jean-de-Daye Saint-Jean-de-la-Haize Saint-Jean-de-la-Rivière Saint-Jean-de-Savigny Saint-Jean-des-Baisants Saint-Jean-des-Champs Saint-Jean-du-Corail Saint-Jean-du-Corail-des-Bois Saint-Jean-le-Thomas Saint-Jores Saint-Joseph Saint-Laurent-de-Cuves Saint-Laurent-de-Terregatte Saint-Lô Saint-Lô-d'Ourville Saint-Louet-sur-Vire Saint-Loup Saint-Malo-de-la-Lande Saint-Marcouf Saint-Martin-d'Aubigny Saint-Martin-d'Audouville Saint-Martin-de-Bonfossé Saint-Martin-de-Cenilly Saint-Martin-de-Landelles Saint-Martin-des-Champs Saint-Martin-de-Varreville Saint-Martin-le-Bouillant Saint-Martin-le-Gréard Saint-Martin-le-Hébert Saint-Maur-des-Bois Saint-Maurice-en-Cotentin Saint-Michel-de-la-Pierre Saint-Michel-de-Montjoie Saint-Nicolas-de-Pierrepont Saint-Nicolas-des-Bois Saint-Ovin Saint-Pair-sur-Mer Saint-Patrice-de-Claids Saint-Pellerin Saint-Pierre-d'Arthéglise Saint-Pierre-de-Coutances Saint-Pierre-de-Semilly Saint-Pierre-Église Saint-Pierre-Langers Saint-Planchers Saint-Pois Saint-Quentin-sur-le-Homme Saint-Rémy-des-Landes Saint-Romphaire Saint-Samson-de-Bonfossé Saint-Sauveur-de-Pierrepont Saint-Sauveur-la-Pommeraye Saint-Sauveur-Lendelin Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte Saint-Sébastien-de-Raids Saint-Senier-de-Beuvron Saint-Senier-sous-Avranches Saint-Symphorien-des-Monts Saint-Symphorien-le-Valois Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue Saint-Vigor-des-Monts Sartilly Saussemesnil Saussey Savigny Savigny-le-Vieux Sébeville Sénoville Servigny Servon Sideville Siouville-Hague Sortosville Sortosville-en-Beaumont Sottevast Sotteville Soulles Sourdeval Sourdeval-les-Bois Subligny Surtainville Surville Taillepied Tamerville Tanis Le Tanu Le Teilleul Tessy-sur-Vire Teurthéville-Bocage Teurthéville-Hague Le Theil Théville Tirepied Tocqueville Tollevast Tonneville Torigni-sur-Vire Tourlaville Tourville-sur-Sienne Tréauville Trelly Tribehou La Trinité Troisgots Turqueville Urville Urville-Nacqueville Vains Valcanville Le Valdécie Valognes Le Val-Saint-Père Varenguebec Varouville Le Vast Vasteville Vaudreville Vaudrimesnil Vauville La Vendelée Vengeons Ver Vergoncey Vernix Vesly Vessey Les Veys Le Vicel Videcosville Vidouville Vierville Villebaudon Villechien Villedieu-les-Poêles Villiers-Fossard Villiers-le-Pré Vindefontaine Virandeville Virey Le Vrétot Yquelon Yvetot-Bocage