​Operation COBRA

Operation COBRA was a resounding success for the allied forces on their path to liberating France in the summer of 1944, a key turning point of the history of the Second World War. 

Those days of fast moving actions between 25th and 30th of July saw the beginning of the final collapse of German occupation in France, yet these events are surprisingly overlooked, the exact battle sites undocumented and in some cases un-located, lost to the overgrown hedge lines and sunken lanes of Normandy.

Join Us

Situated 20 miles south of the D-Day Beaches in the deep Normandy country side of the Cotentin peninsular known as the ‘bocage’ or hedgerow country. Impenetrable walls of trees and foliage built into high banks of earth, cultivated by Norman farmers for centuries, imposable to cut through and built like a maze, an interconnecting patchwork of small field systems each linked by small tree cover sunken roads that snaked through the landscape like rat runs or communication tunnels.

The Germans mapped the ‘bocage’ and used this terrain as traps or kill boxers for German machine gunners. Allied Tanks stalled in this type of country leaving the infantry exposed often finding themselves bounded by high hedgerows and shot down like in a shooting gallery. 

Be a part of our professional archaeological team working on a world first for WW2 battlefield archaeology in Normandy

​The Archaeology of Operation Cobra project is the first time a World War Two battlefield in Normandy has been studied in its entirety. It’s our hope that this project will greatly enhance our understanding of this conflict and help in formulating future Archaeological research strategies in this field of study. First season in the field 17th August - 30th August 2019. The team will comprise expert archaeologists, and volunteers. It doesn't matter if you have little or no previous experience. We will train you, and, working together, uncover the true evidence of the people. the actions and the battle itself.

2nd season in the field, 26th September - 5th October 2020. Apply to join us as a volunteer and be a part of our team in season two. Price £680 for 10 days.  contact us for more details