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A coup de main is a swift attack that relies on speed and surprise to accomplish its objectives in a single blow. The United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense

The United States Department of Defense is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government relating directly to national security and the Military of the United States....
 defines it as:

The literal translation from French
French language

French is a Romance language spoken around the world by around 80 million people as first language, by 190 million as second language, and by about another 200 million people as an acquired tongue, with significant speakers in 54 countries....
 means a stroke or blow of the hand. The term coup de main originally meant "by direct assault rather than by artillery".

The very first airborne assault in the Battle of Normandy
Battle of Normandy

The Invasion of Normandy was the invasion and establishment of Western Allies forces in Normandy, France, during Operation Overlord in World War II....
, on Pegasus Bridge
Pegasus Bridge

Pegasus Bridge is a bascule bridge over the Canal de Caen ? la Mer, near Ouistreham, France. The bridge, also known as the B?nouville, Calvados Bridge after the neighbouring village, was a major objective of Operation Tonga....
, is an example of a "coup de main" operation, and is sometimes referred to as Operation Coup de Main, though this is incorrect -- the code name for the British airborne attacks was Operation Tonga
Operation Tonga

This article summarizes British airborne operations during the Normandy Landings. For American airborne operations, see American airborne landings in Normandy...
.








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A coup de main is a swift attack that relies on speed and surprise to accomplish its objectives in a single blow. The United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense

The United States Department of Defense is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government relating directly to national security and the Military of the United States....
 defines it as:

The literal translation from French
French language

French is a Romance language spoken around the world by around 80 million people as first language, by 190 million as second language, and by about another 200 million people as an acquired tongue, with significant speakers in 54 countries....
 means a stroke or blow of the hand. The term coup de main originally meant "by direct assault rather than by artillery".

The very first airborne assault in the Battle of Normandy
Battle of Normandy

The Invasion of Normandy was the invasion and establishment of Western Allies forces in Normandy, France, during Operation Overlord in World War II....
, on Pegasus Bridge
Pegasus Bridge

Pegasus Bridge is a bascule bridge over the Canal de Caen ? la Mer, near Ouistreham, France. The bridge, also known as the B?nouville, Calvados Bridge after the neighbouring village, was a major objective of Operation Tonga....
, is an example of a "coup de main" operation, and is sometimes referred to as Operation Coup de Main, though this is incorrect -- the code name for the British airborne attacks was Operation Tonga
Operation Tonga

This article summarizes British airborne operations during the Normandy Landings. For American airborne operations, see American airborne landings in Normandy...
.

See also

  • Coup d'état
    Coup d'état

    A coup d??tat , often simply called a coup, is the sudden unconstitutional overthrow of a government by a part of the state establishment – usually the military – to replace the branch of the stricken government, either with another civil government or with a military government....
  • Siege
    Siege

    A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by Battle of attrition and/or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit." A siege occurs when an attacker encounters a city or fortress that cannot be easily taken by a coup de main and refuses to surrender ....