
78th anniversary of D-Day
Program from June 1 to 8, 2022 (updated May 19)
Event booking info!
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Briefing of the paratroopers of the Round Canopy Parachuting Team before their jump on The Azeville Battery

Briefing of the paratroopers of the Round Canopy Parachuting Team before their jump on Graignes

Bivouac of the international association “2nd Armored in Europe”

Inauguration – Welcome speech and guided tour of the new facilities

Cocktail and concert of the group “Band of Brothers-Music from WWII”

Exceptional exhibition! The Trippelwagen, the first amphibious car in history (visible in the museum from May to September 22)

Briefing of the paratroopers of the Round Canopy Parachuting Team before their jump over Carentan

Bivouac of the international association “2nd Armored in Europe”

Demonstration of the Enigma coding machine, by Edmond Kern

Andrew Biggio, author of the book “The Rifle” will be present with 4 veterans including one of them John Althuizen, will be awarded the prestigious Purple Heart

- Bob Weber from 10th Armored Division
- Marvin Gilmore from 458 AAA Battalion
- Robert Heurgue from 82nd Airborne
- John Althuizen from 7th Armored
Purple Heart ceremony for John Althuizen by the US Army.
PREVIEW of Florent Plana’s documentary film on the Bedford Boys, “They Won’t Die Twice” – Session 1/3

The result gives us a moving film that tells the story of 34 boys from the small town of Bedford, Virginia, who landed in Normandy and of whom only 15 will return to the country. They were the “Bedford Boys”. (Read our article about the film)
The “Dîner de la Libération” with musical entertainment

Menu
- Soupe à l’oignon (Onions soup)
- Noix de joue de porc confite, topinambours et pommes de terre (Candied pork cheek, Jerusalem artichokes and potatoes)
- Riz au lait (milk rice)
- 1/4 de cider or de vin or soft.
Military Hospital Dynamic Exhibit – Operations Demonstrations

Enigma conference by E. Kern and presentation of the restart project.

Presentation of the restoration project of an Enigma machine, by engineering students from ESIX Cherbourg
As an introduction to the conference “The Enigma myth”, we are pleased to welcome the 5 students in charge of restarting the Enigma machine from our collections, as part of their study project. Working since last fall on 3D modeling, the reproduction of missing or defective parts and their assembly, they will present the stages of this titanic work which made them plunge into the history of the Second World War.

Conference “The Enigma Myth” by Edmond Kern
On the sidelines of his demonstrations inside the museum, Edmond Kern offers us a conference in which he goes into detail on the history of the famous Enigma coding machine, deemed indecipherable by the Germans. However, as early as 1940, Allied intelligence deciphered messages…
Reservation is required
Demonstration of the ENIGMA coding machine, by Edmond Kern

Demonstration of folding the canvases of RCPT paratroopers before their jump on La Fière (Ste-Mère-Eglise)

Guided tours of the temporary exhibition “Trippelwagen”, by Grégory Oswald, curator of the Museum of Molsheim (Alsace)

They will pass by the museum… Saturday, June 4 around 3 p.m.

Passage of the “Voie de la Liberté” hike – 250 bikes
The association “Voie de la Liberté” honors us with a stop at the museum, on their journey of about 140km. The 250 cyclists of the hike are members of the association with about fifty American soldiers who reinforce the workforce for the occasion!
Passage of a convoy of 150 Harley motorcycles
A convoy of around 150 Harley Davidson motorcycles from the “Rennes-Bretagnes Chapter” will also be passing through.
Passage of the Carentan Liberty March
A march in period clothes with civilians and soldiers has become a must in the region. (200 walkers in 2018)
Parade and exhibition of the “Column Notek”

1940s concert with the group Madeeson

Military Hospital Dynamic Exhibit – Operations Demonstrations

The journalist, Fréderic Patard, dedicates several of his books

Collection and translation of 70 articles published in the American press by Ernie Pyle (Pulitzer Prize), a war correspondent then very popular in the United States.
Special Edition – Channel Press
You will be able to buy and have signed several special editions published by F. Patard in recent years.
Trippelwagen: Hanns Trippel’s amphibious vehicles in the Bugatti factory, 1940 to 1944

Conference by Grégory Oswald, curator of the Molsheim museum (Alsace)
On the sidelines of the temporary exhibition that we host from May to September, the curator of the Molsheim museum (Alsace) is pleased to present his conference on the legendary amphibious car, produced in Molsheim during the war, in the Bugatti factory. made available to Hanns Trippel by the German occupier.
Reservation is required
Demonstration of the ENIGMA coding machine, by Edmond Kern

PREVIEW of Florent Plana’s documentary film on the Bedford Boys, “They Won’t Die Twice” – Session 2/3

The result gives us a moving film that tells the story of 34 boys from the small town of Bedford, Virginia, who landed in Normandy and of whom only 15 will return to the country. They were the “Bedford Boys”. (Read our article about the film)
Reservation is required
Guided tours of the temporary exhibition “Trippelwagen”, by Grégory Oswald, curator of the Museum of Molsheim (Alsace)

50s concert with the group Madeeson

Military Hospital Dynamic Exhibit – Operations Demonstrations

Demonstration of the ENIGMA coding machine, by Edmond Kern

PREVIEW of Florent Plana’s documentary film on the Bedford Boys, “They Won’t Die Twice” – Session 3/3

The result gives us a moving film that tells the story of 34 boys from the small town of Bedford, Virginia, who landed in Normandy and of whom only 15 will return to the country. They were the “Bedford Boys”. (Read our article about the film)
Reservation is required
Musical entertainment from the 40s and 50s

From June 1 to 6, the A10 Canteen restaurant offers 2 dining options
D-Day menu in the restaurant
Starter buffet
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- Braised ham with pepper sauce; fries or
- Supreme of chicken with Camembert sauce; fries or
- Entrecôte with Béarnaise sauce; fries (+ 3€) or
- Pizza of Paris
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Floating island or fruit salad or dame blanche cup or cottage cheese with red fruit coulis
Starter + Main Course + Dessert: €18 lunch – €22 dinner
Call 02 33 54 51 83 (A10 Canteen)

Outdoor rotisserie
Presentation of parachute equipment and semi-nocturnal demonstration

They will be present

Sale of military surplus under marquee
Durant toute la période des festivités, notre partenaire Stock Américain vous proposera un large choix de surplus militaires sous chapiteau.

Exhibition and sale of models
Normand Kits, spécialiste de la maquette militaria vous présentera de nombreux modèles à différentes échelles qui seront également disponible à la vente dans un des baraquements près du musée.

Tours in Hummer “Humvee”
Throughout the commemorative period, our partner Desert Storm Import offers you rides in a Hummer “Humvee” on the museum grounds. A unique opportunity to get on board this emblematic military 4×4.
Info and booking on site
Terms and practical information
Where is the Greenfield room?
The Greenfield room is accessible via the museum reception on your left.
How to take part in the inauguration: guided tours and cocktails?
Only people invited by card can participate in this event limited in number. You can contact us via the contact form if you think you should be on the guest list and haven’t received anything by April 30, 2022. (Back to event )
What does “Free with recent ticket or 5€” mean?
- The event is free if you have your museum ticket purchased in 2022
- If you wish to attend only the event without visiting the museum, the price is 5€
- Attention even if you can attend for free, the reservation is obligatory.