HSG-A paratroopers party - Combat Mission: Afrika Korps

The German unit assigned to secure the area around the bridge was the 3rd Battalion, 6th Parachute Regiment and 3rd Battalion, 1058th Grenadier Regiment of the 91st Airlanding Divison. These units were under the command of Colonel Friedrich von der Heydte. The situation was very fluid and neither side really knew much about what was happening. During the day though the American paratroopers began getting support from the invasion beaches and the German paratroopers had become surrounded. The only route that lay open was to the west, through the flooded lowlands. Colonel von der Heydte made the decision to break out to the south and reform in Carentan. Notes: The map was made using Mapquest and the forces are mine. The area between St. Come-du-Mont and Carentan is very marshy with lots of standing water.