COBRA 44 – Operation Cobra Commemorations Program
[ This event took place in 2021 – It has ended ]
A few weeks after the D-Day in Normandy, the allies are entangled in a war of attrition and in the hedges of the Norman bocage which serve the Germans placed in ambush. The advance is more difficult than expected and only a large-scale operation will be able to open the way to the East and to Paris. This will be Operation Cobra and the breakthrough to Avranches led by General Omar Bradley. This operation will signal the victorious end of the Battle of the Hedges and will finally open the road to Liberation.
For four days, Cobra 44 invites you to (re) discover and understand this milestone episode of the Battle of Normandy. Commemorations and events to make history accessible and to come together to pay tribute to all these soldiers and civilians who made our Freedom possible.
Program from July 22 to 25, 2021
Thursday July 22
Friday July 23
Saturday July 24
Dimanche 25 juillet
Guided tour
Guided tour of the museum by Patrick Fissot, co-founder
At 6 p.m. into the museum
To start this commemorative festival, the Normandy Victory Museum is offering a guided tour of the museum, by one of the three founders: Patrick Fissot, collector and professor of history and geography at Carentan. During the visit, special development will be reserved for the preparations for Operation Cobra and its deployment.
Price of a classic entry ticket – MANDATORY RESERVATION at +33 233 717 494 – (40 people maximum)
Menu theme 40’s
1940s themed meal with entertainment
From 8 p.m., in the Greenfield room
Also as an introduction to this weekend of commemoration, the Normandy Victory Museum and the A10 Canteen are offering a 1940s-themed meal served in the Greenfield room.
The menu is inspired by the dishes that could be served at the time (Kir Normand, onion soup, pot-au-feu, old-fashioned rice pudding, 1/4 of wine or cider) – Price 25 € / person
Booking and information directly from the A10 Canteen at +33 233 545 183 (50 people maximum)
Thursday July 22
Friday July 23
Saturday July 24
Dimanche 25 juillet
Friday July 23
Camp
A10 AIRFIELD
“A10 Airfield” REENACMENT CAMP
From July 23 to 25 on the A10 Airfield runway
In order to make the most realistic possible evocation of the battle of the hedges and then of Operation Cobra, the Normandy Victory Museum called on several reconstitution associations with recognized work. They will coordinate to represent the troops of units that have gone through these battles, including the 30th US Infantry Division and the 2nd US Armored Division.
Reenactment camp organized by the groups: Front Line Issue and Forty’s Group Reenactment
FREE ENTRANCE
Demonstrations
ENIGMA coding machine demonstrations
Between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., inside the museum
Edmond Kern is back at the museum to introduce you to the famous German coding machine ENIGMA, of which he knows all the secrets. In particular, it will have you code and then decode your first name, on one of the few machines still functional in the world.
Price included in the price of an entrance ticket to the museum
Conference
Conference “The American armored force” by Christophe PRIME, historian
At 5:30 p.m. in the Greenfield room
It is an honor that Christophe Prime, historian of the Caen Memorial and author of « La bataille du Cotentin », does us to come and present to us the evolution of the American armored force during the Second World War, as well as its use. in Operation Cobra. After the conference, Christophe Prime will be available to sign his books.
Free on presentation of a recent ticket * from the museum or € 5 / Pers. – MANDATORY RESERVATION at +33 233 717 494
*Recent ticket = Purchased since June 6, 2021
Dedication
Dedication of the book “Granville et la Seconde Guerre mondiale” by Didier Lejeune
Between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. in the entrance hall of the museum
For lovers of local history, Didier Lejeune delivers a global fresco of Granville during the Second World War. He will be happy to discuss with his readers while dedicating his book Granville et la Seconde Guerre mondial (Granville and the Second World War) for Rivages de France.
Free access
Swing concert
Swing concert by the group Dancing Day
At 7 p.m. on the terrace of the A10 Canteen
Marie, singer, William, versatile musician and singer, and Henri, double bass player, compose the group Dancing Day and cover the greatest French and English classics of the 1940s, in a swing atmosphere that will not leave anyone indifferent.
Free
Thursday July 22
Friday July 23
Saturday July 24
Dimanche 25 juillet
Saturday July 24
Dedication
Dedication by the author, Julien Hervieux of the comic strip “Le Petit Théâtre des Opérations”
Between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., in the entrance hall of the museum
This is one of the big events of this first edition of Cobra 44, the coming for a signing session of Julien Hervieux, known on YouTube under the pseudonym « Un odieux connard », creator of the popular history channel “Le Petit Théâtre des Opérations”, and author of the eponymous comic strip, recently released by Fluide Glacial.The principle of comics is the same as that of YouTube videos: to tell the stories of characters from the two world wars with literally incredible feats of arms, and yet very real. All with a good dose of humor, but also serious historical research.
Free – Comic strip available in store and on our website at € 14.90 (In french)
Conference
Conference “The ENIGMA Myth” by Edmond KERN, cryptography enthusiast
At 11 a.m. in the Greenfield room
On the sidelines of his demonstrations inside the museum, Edmond Kern offers us a lecture in which he reviews in detail the history of the famous Enigma coding machine, considered indecipherable by the Germans. However, from 1940, Allied intelligence deciphered messages …
Free on presentation of a recent ticket * from the museum or € 5 / Pers. – MANDATORY RESERVATION at +33 233 717 494
*Recent ticket = Purchased since June 6, 2021
Demonstrations
ENIGMA coding machine demonstrations
Between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. – Inside the museum
Edmond Kern is back at the museum to introduce you to the famous German coding machine, of which he knows all the secrets. In particular, it will have you code and then decode your first name, on one of the few Enigma machines still functional in the world.
Price included in the price of an entrance ticket to the museum
Dedication
Dedication of the book “Granville et la Seconde Guerre mondiale” by Didier Lejeune
Between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. in the entrance hall of the museum
For lovers of local history, Didier Lejeune delivers a global fresco of Granville during the Second World War. He will be happy to discuss with his readers while dedicating his book Granville et la Seconde Guerre mondial (Granville and the Second World War) for Rivages de France.
Free access
Screening
Screening of the numerous award-winning webseries “Resistance”
At 3 p.m. in the Greenfield room
A Norman director, Maxime Chefdeville, a Norman production, the French Corp, and a 99% Norman cast for a brand new webseries on the Resistance in Normandy: this has something to dream about! The series, with its quirky tone and its assumed references to La Grande vadrouille, the 7th Company or even Kaamelott, makes us follow the adventures of the FIFI (and not FFI), a group of Normans determined to resist the German occupier. A selection of episodes will make up this one-hour screening, which will be followed by a discussion with the team, to make you want to discover more.
This screening will be preceded by a conference on the Resistance in Normandy, by Patrick Fissot
Free on presentation of a recent ticket * from the museum or € 5 / Pers. – MANDATORY RESERVATION at +33 233 717 494
*Recent ticket = Purchased since June 6, 2021
Conference by Julien Hervieux, the popularizer of History
At 7 p.m. in the Greenfield room
Halfway between the history lesson and the stand-up, the creator of the “Le Petit Théâtre des Opérations” gives us the honor of a conference on the battles and forgotten heroes of the Second World War. A moment as informative as it is entertaining.Free on presentation of a recent ticket * from the museum or € 5 / Pers. – MANDATORY RESERVATION at +33 233 717 494
*Recent ticket = Purchased since June 6, 2021
Concert
Concert by the band Band of brothers – Music from WWII
At 8:30 p.m. – Outdoor terrace of the restaurant A10 Canteen
This Dutch group, made up of a singer and five musicians, perfectly covers the greatest Anglo-Saxon titles of the war years.
Free
Thursday July 22
Friday July 23
Saturday July 24
Dimanche 25 juillet
Dimanche 25 juillet
Dedication
Dedication by the authors of the comic strip “NORMANDY JUIN 1944, la bataille des haies”
Between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. – In the entrance hall of the museum
Volume 8 of the successful Normandy June 44 series has just been released this year by Orep. In this issue, whose subtitle is none other than “la bataille des haies” (The Battle of the Hedges), it is indeed the events of the summer of 1944 in the American sector that are developed, from the start of the battle of the hedges to success of Operation Cobra. Jean-Blaise DJIAN, comic book scriptwriter, will be pleased to be present for a signing session throughout the day.
Free – Comic strip available in store and E-boutique for 13,80€
Conference
Conference “The ENIGMA Myth” by Edmond KERN, cryptography enthusiast
At 11 a.m. in the Greenfield room
On the sidelines of his demonstrations inside the museum, Edmond Kern offers us a lecture in which he reviews in detail the history of the famous Enigma coding machine, considered indecipherable by the Germans. However, from 1940, Allied intelligence deciphered messages …
Free on presentation of a recent ticket * from the museum or € 5 / Pers. – MANDATORY RESERVATION at +33 233 717 494
*Recent ticket = Purchased since June 6, 2021
Demonstrations
ENIGMA coding machine demonstrations
Between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. – Inside the museum
Edmond Kern is back at the museum to introduce you to the famous German coding machine, of which he knows all the secrets. In particular, it will have you code and then decode your first name, on one of the few Enigma machines still functional in the world.
Price included in the price of an entrance ticket to the museum
SCREEINING OF TWO EXCEPTIONAL SHORT FILMS
The battle of the edges filmed by young Norman filmmakers
At 4 p.m. in the Greenfield room
These two films, both made to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, have a lot in common. First of all, they each stage in their own way the battle of the hedges, that is to say the fights which take place after D-Day, in the so-called American sector of the battle and then, although having few resources, the quality is largely at the rendezvous thanks to the strong impact of the message and the respective talents of these two young Norman directors.
After the screening you will have the opportunity to interact with them.
After the screening you will have the opportunity to interact with them.
Free on presentation of a recent ticket * from the museum or € 5 / Pers. – MANDATORY RESERVATION at +33 233 717 494
*Recent ticket = Purchased since June 6, 2021
A Rose Died in July, by Orian Ziad
When a museum curator questions a veteran about a WWII helmet, the latter immediately recognizes the rose painted on the dented metal but also the fatal impact of a bullet. His memories take us to the front of the terrible Battle of Normandy …
Duration: 19 mins
Duration: 19 mins
La cabane, by Maxime Chefdeville
At the end of June 1944, the Americans trample in the Normandy countryside. As a group of soldiers prepares to cross a field, the Germans engage in combat. But an event comes to stop the hostilities. In fact, a child has just appeared in the middle of the battlefield …
Duration: 15 mins
Duration: 15 mins
Sunday July 25
Retro Festival organized by the A10 Canteen
From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Restaurant and outdoor terrace
Hot Rod 56 Concert
Rockabilly des années 50 – Tribute to Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry et autres légendes du Rock’n’Roll.
Exhibition of old civilian and military vehicles
(motorcycles, cars)
And many other events as well as the weekend menus (to be found on the Facebook of the A10 Canteen)
Find the full program, information and booking methods on our partner’s website
–> See the A10 Canteen Facebook page
–> Or call the +33 233 545 183
And throughout this weekend from July 23 to 25, 2021
Exhibition and sale of models
Normand Kits, militaria model specialist will present many models at different scales which will also be available for sale in one of the barracks near the museum.
Book your seats for conferences, screenings and events by reservation (except catering) directly by phone at +33 233 717 494
