Radio communication means played a crucial role during the Second World War. During Operation Bluecoat in particular, radio made it possible—though not without difficulties—to announce the discovery of the famous bridge over the Souleuvre River, found intact and unguarded. Here is the original message:

"At 10.35 hours the bridge at 637436 is clear of enemy and still intact. I say again, at 10.35 hours the bridge at 637436 is clear of enemy and still intact."

To illustrate this part of history, in 2017 the museum installed an amateur radio station with the official callsign F4KKE.

Its goal is to organize educational activities about the military radiocommunications of the time, to showcase the transmission methods used during the war, and to allow those interested to demystify radio technology. Courses to prepare for the amateur radio license exam can also be offered.

The station actively takes part in various amateur radio contests, such as the World Championship and the French Championship, achieving notable results.

In addition, special callsigns granted by the authorities are regularly used during commemorations or events related to the Battle of Normandy.

Thus, in 2020, we made more than two thousand contacts with countries around the world to mark the anniversary of General de Gaulle’s Appeal of June 18, 1940, using the special callsign TM80CDG.

Every year, during our Liberation Festival, we set up an amateur radio station. TM11AD, TM80SMB, TM81SM, and others have made several thousand contacts across the world, contributing to the international reach of the Musée de La Percée du Bocage.

Find Us

Musée de La Percée du Bocage
9, rue du 19 Mars 1962
Saint-Martin-des-Besaces
14350 Souleuvre-en-Bocage

Please note: Number 9 corresponds to the new address adopted in 2025, following the creation of the new municipality of Souleuvre-en-Bocage in 2016. Some map or navigation sites may still display the old Number 5; in that case, Number 9 is located right next to the Renault garage.

To make sure you arrive at the correct location, please use our GPS coordinates:
49.011276956376406, -0.8499941552297583

Opening Dates

The Percée du Bocage Museum welcomes visitors every weekend and public holiday from April to September, and every day (except non-holiday Mondays) in July and August. Exact dates are shown on the homepage. Private tours can be arranged on request outside the regular opening period.

Opening Hours

Unless otherwise indicated for special events, the museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket sales close at 4:15 p.m. to allow for the 45‑minute audioguided tour.

Admission

• Adults: €6
• Children (6–18 years): €2 — free for under 6s
• School groups: Free (booking required)
• Groups: €4 per person — free for drivers and group leaders

Payment Methods

Cash, checks, and credit cards are accepted.

Your Visit

Follow the story of the battle step‑by‑step through an immersive sound‑and‑light experience. The tour is available in French or English and lasts around 45 minutes. If a session is already in progress, visitors are kindly asked to wait until the previous tour ends. Our team is working to improve visitor flow and comfort. While you wait, your host will be happy to share background information about the battle at the museum’s entrance. You can also browse the museum shop, which offers a wide range of books and souvenirs.

Group Visits

Our museum’s intimate size means we can’t accommodate full coach groups. To ensure everyone’s comfort, groups are limited to 15 people at a time. Larger groups can be divided: while one visits the museum, others can explore nearby memorials with a guide (subject to availability and transport). Please contact us in advance so we can help organize your group visit under the best possible conditions.

Nearby Services

A free car park is available on site, with additional parking close by. A picnic table is also provided. The village of Saint‑Martin‑des‑Besaces is just a 5‑minute walk from the museum, offering a small supermarket, a bar‑tabac, two butchers, a bakery, and a florist — all open on Sunday mornings. For refueling, a 24‑hour service station is located less than 100 meters from the museum.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I visit without the audioguide?

Yes, but it’s not recommended. The soundtrack is synchronized with lighting effects and tells the story of the battle — without it, the experience loses its meaning.

Are there places to eat nearby?

There’s no restaurant in Saint‑Martin‑des‑Besaces itself, but in high season the “Sous les étoiles” campsite (less than 500 m away) offers meals. There are also two pizza vending machines nearby and a food truck every Tuesday in front of the museum.

Are dogs allowed?

Not usually, especially when other visitors are present. However, well‑behaved, leashed dogs are welcome if you are the only visitors. Owners remain responsible for their pet’s behavior.

Can I take photos?

Photos are allowed, though lighting conditions are quite low. Flash photography is not permitted so as not to disturb other visitors.

Is the museum accessible to visitors with reduced mobility?

Yes. The building is fully on one level, with no steps or stairs, and includes wheelchair‑accessible toilets.

I’m a motorcyclist — can I store my helmet and belongings?

Yes. You can leave your personal items safely at the museum reception, free of charge.

At the end of July 1944, while the Americans were exploiting their breakthrough south of the Cotentin Peninsula (Operation Cobra), General Montgomery launched Operation Bluecoat to support their advance and prevent a German counteroffensive south of Caen. The objective was to pin down German forces and protect the Americans’ left flank.

The British and Canadian troops attacked beginning on July 30, 1944, between Caumont-l’Éventé and Vire, following a massive but largely ineffective bombardment. The Germans, well entrenched in the Normandy bocage and supported by Panzer divisions, slowed the Allied advance. Despite a difficult start, the 11th British Armoured Division captured Saint-Martin-des-Besaces and crossed the Souleuvre River, establishing a crucial bridgehead.

Over the following days, fighting intensified around Vire, Mont Pinçon, and Thury-Harcourt. The British faced strong counterattacks from S.S. divisions but continued to make slow progress. Several British commanders were relieved of their duties due to the setbacks encountered.

In early August, the Allies regained the initiative: the Canadians held their positions east of Caen, while the 43rd Wessex Division captured Mont Pinçon on August 6. The Germans, threatened with encirclement between Mortain and Thury-Harcourt, began to withdraw.

In conclusion, Operation Bluecoat enabled the Allies to contain most of the German forces around Caen, secure control of Mont Pinçon and the Caen plain, and above all, facilitate the American advance toward Le Mans, paving the way for the encirclement of German armies in the Falaise pocket.

Key Points

Context
• Period: 30 July – 7 August 1944, during the Battle of Normandy.
• Objective: to secure the crossroads at Vire and the heights of Mont Pinçon.
• Forces involved: VIII Corps and XXX Corps of the British 2nd Army (General Miles Dempsey).
• The operation aimed to exploit the American success of Operation Cobra and the withdrawal of the 2nd Panzer Division engaged against them.

Allied Preparations
• Redefinition of sectors: the British replaced the US V Corps in a weakly defended area.
• Forces moved: VIII Corps, with the 7th, 11th, and Guards Armoured Divisions, regrouped near Caumont.
• Schedule advanced: originally planned for 2 August, the attack was launched earlier due to the rapid evolution of the front.

German Preparations
• The 2nd Panzer Division withdrew and was replaced by the 326th Infantry Division along a 16 km front.
• Fortified positions in the Normandy bocage with mines, trenches, and concealed defences.

British Plan
• XXX Corps: main attack with the 43rd (Wessex) and 50th (Northumbrian) Divisions.
• VIII Corps: right flank, with the 15th (Scottish) and 11th Armoured Divisions to exploit any breakthrough.
• Air preparation: massive bombardment by over 1,000 bombers due to limited artillery support.

Course of the Battle
• Difficult conditions: dense fog, poor visibility, limited air support.
• Bombing caused little material damage to the Germans.
• Despite mines and bocage obstacles, the British advanced about 8 km on the first day.
• The 11th Armoured Division discovered an undefended bridge (“Dickie’s Bridge”), enabling rapid progress.
• Advanced to within 8 km of Vire on 2 August but slowed by poor corps coordination.
• German counterattacks: reinforcements from the 3rd Parachute Division and 9th SS Panzer Division.
• Command changes: Bucknall (XXX Corps) and Erskine (7th Armoured Division) replaced.
• Mont Pinçon taken on 6 August by the 43rd Division and 13th/18th Royal Hussars; Vire captured the same night by the Americans.

Outcome and Consequences
• Strategic result:

• Fixed German armoured forces on the British front.
• Contributed to the attrition of German divisions and prevented concentration for Operation Lüttich (German counteroffensive).
• Facilitated the Allied breakthrough and led to the Falaise encirclement.
  • British losses: 5,114 men for VIII Corps.

Operation Bluecoat was thus a decisive British attack supporting the American breakthrough, disrupting German defences and paving the way for the closing of the Falaise pocket, despite initial difficulties and hasty execution.

The Museum of the Breakthrough of the Bocage is a memorial site dedicated to the men who fought to liberate the Bocage during Operation Bluecoat (late July/early August 1944), which led to the encirclement of the German 7th Army in the Falaise Pocket in August 1944. In 1983, the museum opened its doors in the attic of the Saint-Martin-des-Besaces school. The current building was inaugurated in 1994 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the D-Day landings. The institution is entirely run by volunteers.

Operation Bluecoat: a major British success after D-Day
Across eight exhibition areas and a sound-and-light show, experience the remarkable story of the British soldiers and the daily life of the Bocage’s inhabitants during the occupation from 1939 to 1944. With collections continually enriched by veterans and their families, immerse yourself in the events of this extraordinary military achievement that changed the course of history.