The Brécourt Manor Assault (6 June 1944) during the U.S. parachute assault of the Normandy Invasion of World War II is often cited as a classic example of small-unit tactics and leadership in overcoming a larger enemy force.

Objective
Command of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division had temporarily fallen to its executive officer, First Lieutenant Richard Winters. After linking up with his parent unit at the hamlet of Le Grand Chemin on the morning of 6 June 1944, Winters was ordered away from his company. With minimal instructions of "There's fire along that hedgerow there. Take care of it," and no briefing, Winters found himself given the task of destroying a German artillery battery. 

The battery, initially reported to have been 10.5 cm leFH 18 howitzers, was firing onto causeway exit #2 leading off Utah Beach, disrupting landing forces of the U.S. 4th Infantry Division. It was located at Brécourt Manor,  southwest of Utah Beach and north of the village of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont. Earlier in the morning, several other units had stumbled onto the position and been repulsed.

Winters undertook a reconnaissance at about 8:30 a.m., after which he collected a team of 12 men from his own and other companies. He knew the general location of the gun emplacements south of Le Grand Chemin, but had no information about the other side of the hedgerow. Winters' team attacked and discovered No. 6 Battery of (Gebirgs-) Artillerie-Regiment 191, consisting of four 105 mm howitzers connected by trenches and defended by a company of soldiers.

Winters believed that the unit was part of the 6th Fallschirmjägerregiment ("6th Parachute Ranger Regiment") with emplaced MG42 machine guns. The 1st battalion of the 6th had been ordered to Sainte Marie-du-Mont from Carentan during the afternoon but arrived after dark. The 1st Company 919th Grenadier Regiment (709th Infantry Division) was posted at Sainte Marie-du-Mont and was responsible for the area. Elements of 1058th Grenadier Regiment (91st Luftlandedivision) were defending throughout the vicinity, and the artillery was part of this division also. The 795th Georgian Battalion, attached to the 709th ID, was to the northwest at Turqueville but is less likely to have been present because of terrain difficulties. Whichever unit defended the battery, the U.S. paratroopers were opposed by about 60 German soldiers.

The crew originally assigned to the four 105mm guns had apparently deserted during the night of the airborne landings. Oberstleutnant Friedrich von der Heydte of the German 6th Parachute Regiment, who was observing the landings at Utah Beach, learned that they had been abandoned, and traveled to Carentan, where he ordered his 1st Battalion to occupy and hold Sainte-Marie-du-Mont and Brécourt, and find men to work on the artillery battery.

Battle
Upon arrival at the battery location, Winters made his plan; he positioned a pair of M1919 machine guns for covering fire and sent several soldiers (2nd Lt. Lynn D. Compton, Pvt. Donald Malarkey, and Sgt. William J. Guarnere) to one flank to destroy a machine gun position with grenades and provide covering fire.

While the trenches connecting the artillery positions provided the Germans with an easy way to supply and reinforce the guns, they also proved to be their biggest weakness. After destroying the first gun position, Winters and the rest of his team used the trenches as covered approaches to attack the remaining guns in turn. Each gun was destroyed by placing a block of TNT down its barrel and using German stick grenades to set off the charges.

Reinforcements from Company D, led by 2d Lt. Ronald C. Speirs, arrived to complete the assault on the fourth and last gun. Speirs had a reputation as an excellent and extremely aggressive officer, and he led his men against the last gun position by running outside the trenches, exposing himself to enemy fire.

After the four guns were disabled, Winters's team came under heavy machine-gun fire from Brécourt Manor and withdrew. He had discovered a German map in one gun position that was marked with the locations of all German artillery and machine guns in that area of the Cotentin Peninsula. This was an invaluable piece of intelligence, and once Winters returned to Le Grand Chemin, he gave it to the 2nd Battalion intelligence officer (S-2) (Lewis Nixon), who passed the information up the chain of command. Command was so thrilled that it sent the first two tanks to reach Utah Beach to support the paratroopers. Winters directed their fire to eliminate remaining German resistance.

Winters lost one man, Pfc. John D. Halls (of A Company) from an 81mm mortar platoon. Another, Private Robert "Popeye" Wynn, was wounded during the attack. Another casualty was Warrant Officer Andrew Hill, who was killed when he came upon the battle while searching for the headquarters of the 506th PIR. Also killed were Sgt. Julius "Rusty" Houck from F Company, who was with Speirs, and one soldier from D Company under Speirs' command. Another soldier from D Company was wounded.

Aftermath
Troops landing at Utah Beach had a relatively easy landing, due in part to this successful assault. Colonel Robert Sink, the commander of the 506th PIR, recommended Winters for the Medal of Honor, but the award was downgraded to the Distinguished Service Cross because there was a policy of awarding only one Medal of Honor per division; in the 101st's case, to Lieutenant Colonel Robert G. Cole. There was later a campaign to upgrade Winters' Distinguished Service Cross to the Medal of Honor, but a bill to do so, H.R. 796, died in committee at the end of the 110th United States Congress. It was not reintroduced by its sponsor, Tim Holden.

The official Army history of these events on D-Day is quiet about the battle. Army historian S. L. A. Marshall interviewed Winters about the attack, but the interview was not private – many of Winters' superior officers were present – and, according to his memoir Beyond Band of Brothers, he may have downplayed his description of the event to avoid personal accolade and to keep the account succinct. In fact, Marshall stated in his report that Winters had about 200 men under his command. However, nearly every man involved was later recognized for his role in the attack.

A documentary film produced by filmmaker and trial attorney Vance Day, "The Battle at Brecourt Manor", was premiered in August 2010 in Salem, Oregon, during an event for Donald Malarkey who served in Easy Company and during the engagement at Brecourt Manor. Day and Malarkey traveled extensively to conduct Frontline Leadership seminars around the country, primarily for law enforcement, military, and leadership organizations. Lynn "Buck" Compton also was regularly involved in both events for Frontline Leadership and "The Battle at Brecourt Manor" showings.

Medals awarded

Distinguished Service Cross
First Lieutenant (later Major) Richard Winters

Silver Star
Second Lieutenant (later First Lieutenant) Lynn "Buck" Compton
Sergeant (later Staff Sergeant) William "Wild Bill" Guarnere
Private First Class (later Technician Fifth Class) Gerald Lorraine

Bronze Star
Sergeant (later First Lieutenant) Carwood Lipton
Private (later Sergeant) Robert "Popeye" Wynn (WIA)
Private Cleveland Petty
Private (later Sergeant) Walter Hendrix
Private (later Technical Sergeant) Donald Malarkey
Private (later Sergeant) Myron N. Ranney
Private (later Technician Fifth Class)  Joseph Liebgott
Private John Plesha
Corporal (later Staff Sergeant) Joe Toye
Private First Class John D. Halls (KIA)
Sergeant Julius "Rusty" Houck (KIA)

Purple Heart
Private (later Sergeant) Robert "Popeye" Wynn (WIA)
Private First Class John D. Halls (KIA)
Sergeant Julius "Rusty" Houck (KIA)

In popular culture
The assault of Brécourt Manor is depicted in detail in the second episode of the 2001 hit miniseries Band of Brothers ("Day of Days"), where it is the focus of the second half of the episode.

The assault of Brécourt Manor is the focus of the sixth mission (in the American Campaign) of the 2003 first-person video game Call of Duty.

The Brécourt Battery is featured as a strongpoint on the St. Marie du Mont map of the military simulation video game Hell Let Loose. It is located to the northwest on a 1 : 1 scale representation of the town of St. Marie du Mont and its surrounding countryside.

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links
Brécourt Manor - Google Earth Community 
US Army map of Airborne Assault  This large scale map shows the entire area. Sainte Marie-du-Mont is shown in the right lower middle, next to Drop Zone C. The battery at Brécourt Manor is marked in red directly above the village.

Operation Overlord
Battles of World War II involving the United States
Battles of World War II involving Germany
June 1944 events
1944 in France
브레쿠르 마르뇨 강습(Brécourt Manor Assault)은 제2차 세계 대전 중의 서부 전선에서 있었던 노르망디 상륙 작전 도중 있었던 전투이다. 이 전투는 소규모 전술 기동과 리더십을 이용해 수적으로 우세인 적군을 압도하는 대표적인 사례로서 자주 인용되고 있다.

목표 
1944년 6월 6일 노르망디 강습 과정에서 이지 중대(제101공수사단 제506낙하산보병연대 제2대대;E/2/506)의 중대장인 토머스 미헌 중위(1st Lt. Thomas Meehan III)가 수송기 추락으로 인해 전사하면서 이지 중대의 지휘권은 중대 선임장교인 리처드 윈터스 중위(1st Lt. Richard Winters)에게 넘어왔다. 대로(Le Grand Chemin)변에 있는 작은 농가에서 대대와 합류한 뒤, 윈터스는 "저쪽 울타리를 따라 포화가 발생하고 있다. 처리하라"는 간단한 명령을 받았다. 윈터스는 자신이 그곳에 있는 독일군 포대를 무력화하는 임무를 맡았다는 것을 알게 되었다. 곧이어 이어진 보고에 따르면, 그곳에는 88mm 야포가 배치되어 있었고 미 육군 제4사단의 상륙 지점인 유타 해변을 따라 계속해서 포사격을 함으로써 상륙 부대가 내륙으로 전진하는 것을 방해하고 있었다. 작전 당일 이른 아침에 소규모 부대가 길을 잘못 들어 그곳에 진입했다가 격퇴당하기도 했다.

8시 30분 경에 작전 지역을 정찰한 후, 윈터스는 E 중대와 기타 중대로 구성된 침투조를 구성했다. 포대와 기관총 진지의 위치를 제외한 아무런 정보도 없는 상태에서, 윈터스의 침투조는 생 마리 두몽(Saint Marie Du Mont) 북쪽에 있는 브레쿠르 마뇨르로 공격해 들어갔다. 그곳에서 윈터스가 조우한 것은 독일군 제90포병연대의 제6포대(제6포병중대)였다. 당시 포대에는 4문의 105mm 곡사포가 배치되어 있었고, 각각의 포대는 참호로 연결되어 있었으며 1개 소대 규모의 경비대가 배치되어 있었다. 윈터스가 상대해야 했던 독일군 부대의 숫자는 적 포대 자체 병력과 이를 보호하는 인근 독일군 부대를 포함해 약 60명 정도였다.

전투 
작전지역에 도착하자마자 윈터스 중위는 전술 배치를 시작했다. 그는 두 대의 브라우닝 기관총을 엄호 사격 위치에 배치하는 동시에 소수의 병사들(린 캄튼 소위, 도널드 멀라키 이병, 윌리엄 가니어 병장)로 하여금 적의 기관총 진지를 우회하여 공격하도록 했다.

보급과 지원을 용이하게 하기 위해 각 포대를 잇도록 만들어놓은 참호는 이 전투에서 독일군에게 오히려 불리하게 작용했다. 첫 번째 야포를 무력화시킨 이후 윈터스와 그의 침투조는 독일군이 파놓은 참호를 이용하여 비교적 안전하게 다른 포대에 침투할 수 있었다. 윈터스의 침투조는 그들이 가져온 TNT와 독일군 진지 내에 있던 독일군 수류탄을 이용하여 각 야포를 무력화시켰다.

지원부대인 로널드 스피어스 소위와 D 중대가 마지막 곡사포를 마무리했다. 평소 극단적인 공격성을 보이는 것으로 유명했던 스피어스는 참호 밖으로 뛰쳐나와 포대로 돌격해 들어갔고, 그 과정에서 그의 중대는 적의 사격에 노출되었다. 결과적으로 이 진지를 공략하는 과정에서만 3명의 사상자가 발생했다.

모든 야포가 무력화된 이후 윈터스의 침투조는 브레쿠르 마뇨르에서 철수했다. 작전 도중 윈터스는 독일군 지도를 발견했는데, 그 지도에는 코탕탱 반도(Cotentin Peninsula) 전역에 배치된 모든 독일군 야포와 기관총 진지가 표시되어 있었다. 이 지도는 상당한 전략적 가치를 갖고 있었기 때문에 곧바로 대대본부 정보과에 전달되었다. 또한 윈터스는 남은 독일군의 저항을 무력화시키기 위해, 유타 해안에서 뒤늦게 상륙한 전차 2대의 유도를 맡기도 했다.

윈터스의 침투조에서는 1명의 전사자와 1명의 부상자가 발생했는데, 81mm 박격포 소대원인 존 D. 홀 일병이 전투 중에 전사했으며, 로버트 "뽀빠이" 윈 이병이 부상을 입었다(윈은 이후 영국으로 후송되어 부상을 회복한 후, 마켓 가든 작전 직전 이지 중대에 다시 합류했다.) 스피어스 휘하의 D 중대의 손실은 각각 전사자 2명, 부상자 1명이었다. 이외에 앤드루 힐 준위가 제506연대 본부를 찾아가던 도중 전사했다.

전투 이후 
이 작전의 성공으로 인해 유타 해안에서의 상륙작전은 상대적으로 쉽게 이루어질 수 있었다. 제506공수연대 연대장 로버트 싱크 대령(Col. Robert F. Sink)은 윈터스를 명예 훈장(Medal of Honor) 수여 대상자로 추천했지만, 1개 사단 당 1개의 명예 훈장을 수여한다는 원칙으로 인해 윈터스에게는 명예 훈장보다 한단계 낮은 십자 훈장(Distinguished Service Cross)이 수여되었다. 이후 책과 영화 "밴드 오브 브라더스"가 인기를 끌면서 윈터스에게도 명예 훈장을 소급하여 수여하여야 한다는 서명 운동이 시작되었지만, 윈터스가 작고한 2011년까지도 미국 보훈 위원회(U.S. House Armed Services Committe)에서는 별다른 반응이 없다.

전투 관련 훈장 

십자 훈장
 리처드 윈터스 중위(전역시 소령)

은성 무공훈장
 린 "벅" 캄튼 소위(전역시 중위)
 윌리엄 가니어 병장(제대시 하사)
 제럴드 로레인 일병

동성 무공훈장
 카우드 립튼 병장(전역시 소위)
 로버트 "뽀빠이" 윈 이병(제대시 병장)
 클리블랜드 페티 이병
 월터 헨드릭스 이병(제대시 병장)
 도널드 멀라키 이병(제대시 중사)
 마이런 래니 일병(제대시 병장)
 조지프 리브갓 이병(제대시 5등병)
 조 플레샤 이병
 조지프 토이 상병(제대시 하사)

퍼플 하트 훈장
 로버트 "뽀빠이" 윈 이병
 존 D. 홀 일병
 앤드루 힐 준위

출처 
 Band of Brothers, Stephen E. Ambrose, 
 Winters, Dick Beyond Band of Brothers

각주 

1944년 미국
1944년 독일
육전
미국이 참가한 전투
독일이 참가한 전투
오버로드 작전
1944년 6월
1944년 프랑스
독일이 참가한 제2차 세계 대전의 전투와 작전
미국이 참가한 제2차 세계 대전의 전투와 작전