The Douve (French pronunciation: [duv]) or Ouve is a river, 78.6 km (48.8 mi) in length,[1] which rises in the commune of Tollevast, near Cherbourg in the department of Manche.

Once it reaches Bauptois, it alters its direction towards the Bay of the Seine in the south-eastern English Channel, passing through Carentan.

In 1944 German troops, preparing Rommel's Fortress Europa, flooded the valley to prevent landing paratroops or gliders.

With Utah in the plan, it was used to originate an offensive aimed squarely at the early domination of the peninsula and capture of Cherbourg and Caen (and eventually Rouen) at the opposite end of the lodgement.

Among those landing at the Douve was the demolition unit known as the Filthy Thirteen, whose exploits are said to have inspired the 1965 bestseller novel by E. M. Nathanson and the 1967 film The Dirty Dozen by Robert Aldrich.