The Lost Paratroopers of Normandy: A Story of Resistance, Courage, and Solidarity in a French Village

by Stephen G. Rabe

The fateful days and weeks surrounding 6 June 1944 have been extensively documented in histories of the Second World War, but less attention has been paid to the tremendous impact of these events on the populations nearby. The Lost Paratroopers of Normandy tells the inspiring yet heartbreaking story of ordinary people who did extraordinary things in defense of liberty and freedom. On D-Day, when transport planes dropped paratroopers from the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions hopelessly off-target into marshy waters in northwestern France, the 900 villagers of Graignes welcomed them with open arms. These villagers – predominantly women – provided food, gathered intelligence, and navigated the floods to retrieve the paratroopers' equipment at great risk to themselves. When the attack by German forces on 11 June forced the overwhelmed paratroopers to withdraw, many made it to safety thanks to the help and resistance of the villagers. In this moving book, historian Stephen G. Rabe, son of one of the paratroopers, meticulously documents the forgotten lives of those who participated in this integral part of D-Day history.

Genres: History, World War II, Nonfiction, War, Audiobook, Military History, Adult

264 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 10, 2022

Reviews

[JD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was very excited about this book, but turned into a disappointing read. The hook is filled with way too much filler surrounding everything this book is supposed to be focused on, and the story of the paratroopers gets lost in between it.

I have read 7 Leadership Lessons From D-Day, that also includes an account of the battle of Graignes on 11 June 1944. That chapter was even more detailed than the few pages used in this book to describe the battle.

The most information in this book is about the help the French civilians of the town gave the paratroopers, and this in the end saves this book from being a 2 star read. Not highly recommended.

[Darya Silman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Publication Date: November 10, 2022.

In The Lost Paratroopers of Normandy: A Story of Resistance, Courage, and Solidarity in a French Village, Stephen G. Rabe offers a moving story of the resilience and courage of the dwellers of the small French village of Graignes on 6-16 June 1944.

The author aimed to light up yet another piece of the puzzle called D-Day while paying profound respects to local French civilians who helped the US paratroopers. In fact, if not for the villagers of Graignes, especially the Rigault family, this book couldn't have been written: the family saved the author's grandfather, Rene E. Rabe.

For the Headquarters Company of the 3rd Battalion of the 507th Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division, severe fighting started on 11 June 1944. On D-Day, they were dropped in the wrong place, around 31 km from the designated village of Amfreville. After the debate, the paratroopers decided to fortify Graignes and wait for the advancing Allied forces. French men, women, and teenagers helped paratroopers, knowing full well that Germans would retaliate for assisting the Allies. Women organized feeding, and men and teenagers retrieved ammunition from the surrounding swamps; everybody spread disinformation and conducted reconnaissance in the adjusting areas. On the 11h of June 1944, on their way to Carentan, the 1st battalion of the 37th regiment of the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division attacked the village.

The story of Graignes becomes heart-touching, considering the fact that the paratroopers' children and grandchildren know who saved their fathers and grandfathers. The traumas of WW2 prevented the surviving paratroopers from paying tribute to the villagers until forty years after the war. With time, the paras (as Americans were called) and their family members established deep personal contacts with the villagers that last to this day.

In his book - and with the help of photographs - the author managed to reenact the events as if everything happened just recently. The focus always stays on the people, paratroopers and villagers; there are few strategic decisions of the high command. The author's decision to give the overview in the beginning and then go back to the training and then D-Day adds a chill to the bones because we already know the outcome: who will be killed, what atrocities the SS will commit in the village, etc.

The story of resistance in Graignes may not be as grandeur as the invasion, but it deserves to be remembered and cherished. It's an essential point in understanding the French resistance movement, which mainly consisted of ordinary men and women.

I received an advanced review copy from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Taylor Panezott · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very well written and researched. I enjoyed reading about the story of what happened at Graignes.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been fascinated to read something on the battle of Graignes. This battle has been mentioned in many books I've read on D-Day invasion but not in detail. The book is a very detailed accounting of the paratrooper drop at the beginning of the Normandy invasion. Many missed their drop zones, including two companies that landed 15 miles away in the marshes of the Cotentin Peninsula. After dawn, the soldiers noticed a village atop a nearby hill, and about 180 men drifted in during the following days. The hope was that the town and paratroopers could wait until the Allied troops landing on the beaches reached them. The hope was in vain. When the SS Panzergrenadier Division arrived, they thought there was no one to oppose them. They discovered otherwise. When the US troops finally ran out of ammunition and had to retreat, everyone thought that a white flag would protect the townspeople, the injured paratroopers and the medical staff who remained. That hope was also in vain. Graignes and her citizens and the injured paratroopers paid a heavy and horrible price for what they selflessly did. I was in awe of what the villagers bravely took on, knowing what the Germans might do in revenge.

The book is a heartfelt tribute to the aid given by the French. The writing was little disjointed in parts, but it is hell of good story, and I really enjoyed it. Every time I read another book on the D-Day invasion I find myself asking myself how many more can be written on this subject? I have read so many books from both sides of this military battle and just when I think I have covered all the bases on this battle, out comes another book which had a tremendous impact on the events of that day. Keep them coming because we must never forget those who have given their life for our freedoms. Awesome book!

[jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earnest and mostly well-written account of the Paratroopers who landed behind enemy lines in support of the Allies coming ashore at Normandy on and after June 6, 1944. Among the greater chaos going on these soldiers were inaccurately dropped near the village of Graignes on the Cotentin Peninsula. Regrouping, they were fortunate to find the villagers more than willing to help feed and hide them from the German troops nearby. In the next few days there engaged in repeated battles with SS Panzer troops while greatly outnumbered. Eventually they were outgunned and ran out of ammunition. They had to leave the village to the enemy. Unfortunately the villagers and remaining wounded allied soldiers became victims, and many were murdered. Eventually the Germans completely destroyed the village. Only many years later were the heroics of the villagers recognized.

The book unfortunately is a bit repetitious and has some problems with punctuation, thus lending a sense of amateurism to the work. However, it is definitely worth reading.

[Kristen]

DNF at 12%

The Lost Paratroopers of Normandy focuses on two divisions of airborne troops that were dropped kilometers away from their intended drop points and found solace in the rural French village of Graignes. The entire village rallied to help the Allied paratroopers, even when German SS soldiers took over the hamlet and threatened the villagers.

I didn't give this book a lot of time, so I'll be brief. I generally prefer personal narratives over solely informational books, and this one is definitely the latter. I found it extremely dry. I also felt that it tended to jump around all over the place and wasn't necessarily easy to follow for someone who is not intimately familiar with the subject matter. I actually wondered, briefly, if this was the culmination of some doctorate student's thesis, printed for posterity.

While there are (currently) only a handful of reviews for this book, the majority of them have been favorable. It's very possible that this is simply not a book for me, particularly when it comes to writing style and overall tone.

[Tom Washington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Untested US Army Airborne soldiers parachute into German-0ccupied Normandy in France on the day before D-Day delivered by C-47 cargo planes and gliders. Due to heavy anti-aircraft fire and the fierce winds, many of the troops end up miles away from their planned landing sites.

Troops from the Headquarters Company of the 507th Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division end up stranded behind enemy lines far from the D-Day landings. They meet up and hide in the small Norman village of Graignes. The village treats the American soldiers as liberators. The American soldiers decide that they will defend the village from the Germans until the American Army can arrive in force.

The German 17th Waffen SS Panzer Grenadier Division consisting of more than 13,000 troops is driving through Graignes on their way to defend Carentan, a key city that must be taken from the Germans. On June 11th, the soldiers in Graignes and the villagers take on a Battalion from the German Waffen SS Division.

This is the amazing story of what happens next.

[Philip Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really interesting view of events which took place when American paratroopers were dropped off target during the D Day operations in June 1944. They landed near a small French village which was nowhere near their intended drop zone. They, and the villagers, worked together to hold off German attacks. It's harrowing at times, but ultimately shows the strength of the human spirit to hold out in the face of adversity.
If you're a historian, or just interested in WWII, this is certainly worth reading.

[Cam Torrens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephen G. Rabe poignantly reveals the little-known heroism of the villagers of Graignes, France, who selflessly aided lost and stranded American paratroopers during D-Day. Through meticulous research and personal connection, Rabe gives a vivid account of ordinary individuals who exhibited extraordinary courage and compassion in the face of mortal peril. This moving narrative honors the resilience and solidarity of those who risked everything to defend liberty, freedom, and Graignes during a pivotal moment in history.

[Dan Schaeberle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely, without a doubt, one of the worst books I have ever read. Extremely boring and so much information that was repeated throughout the book. I’m not sure if I missed something but when did the battle of Graignes actually even happen in the book?
Absolutely atrocious book. I’m really disappointed too bc I was in Normandy in the summer of 2022, saw the beaches and the American cemetery, I’ve read so many books about WW2 and storming the beaches but this book is brutal. Do not recommend unless you want something to help put you to sleep.

[John Stieven · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more I read military history, the more I understand that wars are a summation of small company interactions culminating in victory or defeat. And truly, one group CAN have a HUGE impact on a war.

Plus, this group, landing well off their intended target, made the best of a bad situation. Plus the civilians risked it all to help them.

Great story!

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little know tale of persistence in an era of many. Well-researched and written, a must-read for historians everywhere.

[Fern · Rating 3 out of 5]

Small touching story but perspective is all American, not enough of the Graignes villagers. Tone also borders on jingoistic at some points.

[Anna Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing story.

[Tyler Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Benito Marin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of repetition, the battle for Graignes is described in a couple of pages, the rest is background history for novice readers about D-Day.

[Kenneth W Ortensie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book

It was a fair read, but just not to my liking. I will try another book by this author in the future.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good to be able to have this event join the chronicled experiences of World War II.

[Wayne Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. My only critique is that there’s some repetition and chronological bouncing around.

[Paul F.Stottlemyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story but the book title doesn't reflect its contents I was looking for a more complete description of the events.