American soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division relax in Carentan, France, near a captured Volkswagen Type 82 Kübelwagen during the Liberation of France, June 1944
This vivid photograph shows American soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division resting on the streets of Carentan, France, during the Liberation of France in June 1944. The soldiers are part of the 327th GIR, a glider infantry unit, who had been crucial in the fight to free Carentan from German occupation. In the background, the captured Volkswagen Type 82 Kübelwagen, a highly versatile and rugged vehicle used by the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe, sits as a symbol of the changing tides of war.
The Kübelwagen, with its 1,131 cc engine and 25 horsepower, was Germany's answer to the jeep — a vehicle designed for maximum mobility and toughness in harsh conditions. In this image, it has become a trophy of the victorious Allied forces after the German retreat. Carentan, located in the Manche department, had seen fierce fighting during the Normandy Invasion, and its liberation was a crucial step in securing the Western Front.
In the photograph, the American soldiers, adorned with distinctive cloverleaf insignia on their helmets, are taking a brief respite after fierce fighting. The photo encapsulates the mix of exhaustion and triumph that characterized the Allied advance in France during the summer of 1944.
Technical photo data:
📝 Source of information: Unknown
📍 Location: Carentan, Manche department, France
📅 Date of photo: June 12-14, 1944
📷 Photographer: Unknown
101st Airborne Division
Volkswagen Type 82
Kübelwagen
Liberation of France
Carentan
Normandy Invasion
WWII vehicles
Captured vehicles WWII
Allied forces Normandy
American soldiers
German retreat
Trophy vehicles WWII
Western Front
Allied victory WWII