The Carentan Liberty March - Saturday, June 8, 2024

Among the many World War II reenactment events that flourish each year in Normandy and throughout France and Europe, the “Carentan Liberty March” has gained its prestige and reputation over the years. The waiting list to participate is long, and numerous nationalities are represented each year. The reason: a demand for authenticity, a committed respect for history, and a constant focus on making education and understanding of historical events central to this passionate and consuming pursuit known as “Historical Reenactment.”

Therefore, every year in June, the organizing committee, formed by a small group of enthusiasts of the period, proposes a theme, a different route, inspired by the real events of the liberation of Carentan by American paratroopers in June 1944. The battle and liberation of the city of Carentan allow reenactors to tread around the city, in completely preserved areas, the historic sites of the numerous battles that led to liberation. Carentan, the lower Cotentin, and its marshes, steeped in history, offer the enchanting setting of preserved nature, where the “Carentan Liberty March” manages year after year to evoke the emotion of major events.

In Carentan, one walks “intelligently,” in the footsteps of the Liberators. The highlight of these moments of deep immersion in history comes with the entry into Carentan, in the presence of veterans and an ever-growing and enthusiastic audience, deeply impacting the participants who, more than elsewhere, feel the strength and weight of remembrance.

Cohesion Day, or How to Prepare for a Historical Walk – Monday, June 3, 2024

The organizing team of the “Carentan Liberty March” invites you on Monday, June 3, to an optional full-day preparation event, known as a “cohesion day,” for the walk that will take place on Saturday, June 8. A presentation of the spirit of the walk, its philosophy, and its historical context will be given to you at the Carentan theater, located near the Place de la République. Questions regarding uniforms, logistics, and behavior will be discussed so that everyone can present themselves on the morning of departure in the best conditions to fully appreciate the 15 kilometers of this immersive historical walk. Additionally, some basic military elements and physical exercises specific to the American airborne troops, which may also be useful for the practice of Historical Reenactment, will be presented or recalled to better immerse you in the role of the men you will represent and commemorate: the troops of the 101st Airborne Division. The “cohesion day” is only accessible to individuals who are validly registered for the “Carentan Liberty March”.