Horsa Bridge facts for kids
Horsa Bridge is a famous road bridge in France. It crosses the Orne river near the village of Ranville. This bridge played a very important role during D-Day in World War II.
On June 6, 1944, British soldiers captured Horsa Bridge. They arrived in special gliders as part of a surprise attack. This happened in the very first minutes of D-Day.
Another nearby bridge, Pegasus Bridge, was also captured. Taking both bridges was super important. It helped protect the soldiers landing on Sword Beach. It also stopped German tanks from attacking the British troops. Horsa Bridge is a road bridge. It is about 400 yards east of Pegasus Bridge.
Why the Bridge is Called Horsa Bridge
After the soldiers captured the bridge, some wanted to call it 'Light Infantry Bridge'. This was to honor the soldiers who took it. The other bridge, Benouville Bridge, was already named Pegasus Bridge.
After World War II, the bridge over the Orne river became known as Horsa Bridge. This name honors the Horsa gliders. These were the gliders that carried the soldiers to the bridge.
The original bridge was made of steel. It was a swing bridge, meaning it could open for boats. In 1971, a new bridge was built to replace it. But some parts of the old bridge's support structure are still there.
In June 1989, a special event happened. It was the 45th anniversary of D-Day. The mayor of Ranville officially named the bridge Horsa Bridge. A special plaque was put up. It honors the glider pilots and the soldiers who captured the bridge. This happened before the main Allied invasion of Normandy began.
Horsa Bridge in Books and Movies
The exciting story of capturing these bridges is famous. It was told in a book called The Longest Day. This book was written by Cornelius Ryan.
Later, a movie was made based on the book. The movie is also called The Longest Day. It came out in 1962.
