Carpiquet

Carpiquet

This airfield that is on higher ground west of Caen had a strategic location in order to allow the capture of the city by the Sword Beach troops from the north. For the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, it was the main objective to capture on June 6th before dusk.

After long bloody weeks of combat against young fanatics of the 12th SS Panzer Division, the attack on Carpiquet on July 4th by the Canadian 8th Brigade finally allowed the liberation of thousands of local civilians in town and put an end to their martyrdom under the bombings.

In the village that was almost entirely destroyed, you will discover only few pre-war remains, but certainly numerous monuments in tribute to the Canadian liberators.