Troops from three airborne divisions descended by parachute and glider on the flanks of the invasion area. The American 82nd and 101st airborne divisions were dropped into a zone at the base of the Cotentin Peninsula, and secured their objectives. The British 6th Airborne Division at the eastern end captured key bridges over the Caen Canal and Orne River. When the seaborne units began to land about 6:30 AM on June 6, the allied soldiers stormed the beaches against fierce opposition from German gun positions and mined beach obstacles. The soldiers raced across the wide-open beaches swept with machine gun fire, and stormed the gun positions. In fierce hand-to-hand fighting, they fought their way into the towns and hills and then advanced inland.
By the end of the day the 3rd British Division was within three miles of Caen, the 3rd Canadian Division was well established on its intermediate objectives and the 50th Division was only two miles from Bayeux. In the American zone, the 4th Division had established a 4-mile deep penetration inland and was within reach of Ste-Mere-Eglise, where the 82nd had fought throughout the night. The assault forces at "Omaha" beach had met fierce resistance, incurring significant casualties, but here too, beachheads had been established.
It was a magnificent accomplishment; the formidable Atlantic Wall had been successfully breached. By the end of D-Day, the Allies had landed more than 150,000 troops in France by sea and air, 6,000 vehicles including 900 tanks, 600 guns and about 4,000 tons of supplies and, astonishingly, had achieved complete surprise in doing it. More soldiers and supplies were pouring ashore to continue the advance on D-Day-plus-one. The victory was a turning point in World War II and led to the liberation of Europe and the defeat of Nazi Germany.
Summers are a little warmer than in southern Britain with up to 8 hours of sunshine per day. Cyclists love the region because it is not nearly as hot as most other parts of France and can be more compared to southern England than inland France. Either way, sunscreen and a hat is necessary even if it doesn't feel as hot as the rest of France, the sun is still beating down with force!
Car rental in Normandy can be arranged through several international chains including Avis, Budget, Eurocar and Hertz. Cars can be picked up in Caen and . Driving in France is on the right hand side of the road and all distance and speed measurements are in km.
bus routes in Normandy with services between Caen and Bayeux, Bayeux and Ouistrem, and Bayeux to Grandcamp. These cover most of the main landing beaches. All the routes are operated by [http://www.busverts14.fr/ Bus Verts du Calvados], and free timetables can be acquired from the main tourist offices. Telephone 0810 214 214.
Bike tours are very popular in France and biking is an excellent way of visitng the battlefields. You can rent bicycles at most major towns and railway stations in France.
When you visit, _gTake time to stroll on the beaches and through the villages and to drive country lanes that are once again regulated by rural rhythms, just as if they_fd never been devastated at all. It_fs pretty and poignant, and here_fs a strange thing, it brings out the best in people. There_fs respect in the air and a common bond between visitors. Folk behave well, smile and chat more easily than usual._h Anthony Peregrine, The Sunday Times.
An excellent time to visit is on the June 6th anniversary when there are numerous memorial ceremonies to mark the occasion. A large number of reenactment groups attend, adding pageantry and atmosphere. The church bells ring in the towns to celebrate the anniversary of their liberation. The French people will be happy to see you - these people remember, and the welcome will be warm.
The following description of the beaches is organized in an _geast to west_h order, so that it can be used to organize a driving tour along the coast. The length of a tour depends on how many sites and museums a person decides to visits. Enthusiasts could spend several weeks, however a 2 or 3 day visit will suffice to cover a couple of museums and most of the major sites. A good starting point is to get an orientation on the area and history of D-Day at either the [http://www.memorial-caen.fr/portail_gb/hp/hp.asp Memorial de Caen, Caen] or Musee du Debarquement (The Landing Museum) in Arromanches, and from there set out to explore.
The beaches are still known today by their D-Day code names.
Sword beach, the most easterly of the five beaches, stretches from Ouistreham to Luc-sur-Mer. The British 3rd Infantry Division landed on the 2?-miles of beach between Ouistreham and Lion-sur-mer. The 41st Royal Marine Commando landed at Lion-sur-Mer, while the N__4 British Commando landed at Ouistreham. Integrated with the N__4 British Commando were 177 Frenchmen of the 1st Batallion of Fusiliers Marins Commandos who were granted the honor to set foot on Normandy soil in the first wave. On the eastern flank of Sword beach, the Sixth British Airborne had parachuted in the early morning hours of June 6th to seize bridges over the River Orne and Caen canal, silence gun batteries and secure the eastern flank of the D-Day beaches.
'''1. Musee de la Batterie de Merville, Merville-Franceville''' Located in the Merville coastal battery casemate, the museum retraces the Sixth British Airborne operations. Place du 9eme Bataillon, 14810 Merville-Franceville, Tel. 02 31 91 47 53
'''2. [http://www.normandy1944.com Memorial Pegasus, Ranville - Benouville]''' The capture of Pegasus Bridge was a remarkable achievement of the Glider Pilot regiment and the Sixth British Airborne. The story is well covered in the museum where exhibits include the original Pegasus Bridge and a Horsa Glider. Several monuments to the Sixth British Airborne are beside the bridge. Avenue du Major Howard - 14860 Ranville, Tel. 02 31 78 19 44 (__2.85)
'''3. Site D_fOuistreham''' This beautiful seaside resort town has a legacy of fortifications, memorials, museums and military cemeteries, that stand at ease between beach hotels, fine stretches of sand, breezy cliffs and postcard-picturesque fishing harbours. There are several monuments in the town including the Free French monument - Kieffer monument, Royal Navy et Royal Marines monument, 13th/18th Royal Hussars monument, and N__4 Commando and Commando Kieffer plaques.
'''4. Musee No4 Commando (N__ 4 Commando Museum), Ouistreham''' In this museum one can see scales models, weapons, and uniforms to retrace the epic story of the Franco-British Commandos who landed on Sword Beach. Place Alfred Thomas - 14150 Ouistreham, Tel. 02 31 96 63 10
'''5. [http://www.musee-grand-bunker.com Musee Du Mur De L_fAtlantique (Atlantic Wall Museum), Ouistreham]''' In a former artillery range-finding post on the Atlantic Wall, this 17 meter high concrete tower is the only one of its kind and has been restored and re-equipped to its original state. Avenue du 6 Juin 14150 Ouistreham Tel, 02 31 97 28 69
'''6. Site de Lion-sur-Mer''' Monuments include the Liberation monument, Royal Engineers Corps monument, and 41st Royal Marine Commando stele.
'''7. Site de Colleville-Montgomery''' A plaque is located on the Hillman Battery main blockhouse in memory of the 1st Battalion the Suffolk Regiment soldiers. There is also a General Montgomery statue and the Provisional Cemetery, Kieffer and Montgomery monument.
'''8. Site D_fHermanville''' Monuments in the area include 3rd Infantry Division and South Lancashire monument, Royal Artillery monument, Allied headquarter and Field hospital plaques and Allied Navy sailors monument. The British Cemetery Hermanville-sur-Mer, where 1,003 soldiers rest is close to Hermanville-sur-Mer.
'''9. Musee Du Radar, (Radar Museum), Douvres-la-Delivrande''' Located on the site of a German fortified radar base, the museum explains the evolution and operation of radar. Outside one can observe a German radar Wurzburg. Route de Basly 14440 Douvres la Delivrande, Tel 02 31 06 06 45
'''10. Ranville War Cemetery''' The name of Ranville will always be linked with the parachute and glider landings of the 6th Airborne Division, many of whose dead are buried here, among the 2,235 graves.
'''11. Site de Langrune-sur-Mer''' Located in the town center, on the sea front is the 48th Royal Marine Commando monument. In the entrance hall of the city hall there is a plaque in memory of the friendship between the 48th Royal Marines Commando veterans and the citizens of Langrune-sur-Mer.
'''12. Site de Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer''' A 50-mm gun casement has been preserved at Place du Canada. There are stone memorials to the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, Fort Garry Horse and 48th Royal Marine Commando here.
'''13. Site de Bernieres-sur-Mer''' This pretty seaside village is distinguished by its church with a 13th century bell tower and 220-foot spire. La Maison Queen_fs Own Rifles of Canada commemorates the men of this regiment. The house is one the famous houses on the beach as it appeared in many news reels and official photos. Memorials to the Queen_fs Own Rifles, Le Regiment de la Chaudiere and Fort Garry Horse are located by a German bunker at La Place du Canada. There is an excellent view of the beach from the bunker position and you can imagine what it must have been like when 800 men of the Queens_fs Own Rifles stormed ashore here as the lead wave of the dramatic D-Day assault. There are also the North Nova Scotia Highlanders plaque and Journalists HQ plaque. There is a walkway on the seawall that makes for a pleasant stroll along the ocean. If you walk east along the seawall about ? km, you can see the house that appears in the background on the famous film footage showing the Queen_fs Own Rifles of Canada storming the beach on D-Day.
'''14. Site de Courseulles-sur-Mer''' In the Courseulles-sur-Mer town center, on the sea front there is a Sherman Duplex Drive (DD) tank on display. This tank was recovered in 1970 from the sea and restored. Badges of regimental units who fought in the area are welded to it. Monuments in the area include the Royal Winnipeg Rifles monument, Regina Rifles Regiment stele, Canadian Scottish Regiment stele, Royal Engineers plaque, and the Liberation and De Gaulle monument. The Croix de Lorraine monument commemorates the return of General de Gaulle in France.
'''15. [http://www.junobeach.org Centre Juno Beach (Juno Beach Centre), Courseulles-sur-Mer]''' The Juno Beach Centre presents Canada_fs role in military operations and the war effort on the home front in World War II. Film, audio and displays bring pre-war and wartime Canada alive, as well as covering the fighting experiences. Juno Park at the front of the center has walkways with interpretation panels, a preserved German bunker and a path leading to the beach. There is little development here, so nothing interrupts your contemplation of beach and ocean. You can imagine the sands littered with mines-on-sticks, spiky metal _ghedgehogs_h, barbed wire and other barbarisms intended to rip the heart out of landing craft and the 14,000 Canadians that landed in this area. Voie des Francais Libres - BP 104 - 14470 Courseulles-sur-Mer, Tel. 02 31 37 32 17 (__3.50)
'''16. Site de Graye-sur-Mer''' Monuments include the Liberation monument , Churchill _gOne Charlie_h tank - Breakthrough plaque, Royal Winnipeg Rifles and 1st Canadian Scottish plaque, Canadian plaque, and Inns of Court monument.
'''17. Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, Reviers''' Surrounded by the fields where the 3rd Canadian Division fought, this cemetery contains the graves of 2,044 Canadian soldiers. This is a place of reflection and remembrance.
Gold beach is more than 5 miles wide and includes the towns of La Riviere, Le Hamel and Arromanches. The British 50th Infantry Division reinforced by the British 8th Armoured Brigade landed in two brigade groups at Gold beach. The 47th Royal Marine Commando landed on the western flank with the objective to take Port-en-Bessin.
'''18. Musee America Gold Beach (America Gold Beach museum), Ver-sur-Mer''' This museum recounts the 1st airmail flight between the USA and France, together with a retrospective of the D-Day Landing and the British beachhead on Gold Beach. 2 Place Amiral Byrd - 14114 Ver-sur-Mer, Tel 02 31 22 58 58
'''19. [http://www.arromanches360.com/htm2/index.htm Arromanches 360]''' The film _gThe Price Of Freedom_h impressively mixes archived film from June 1944 with present day pictures and is presented on 9 screens in a circular theater. Chemin du Calvaire ? BP 9 ? 14117 Arromanches, Tel 02 31 22 30 30
'''20. Arromanches''' At Arromanches, you_fre looking down a stretch of Gold Beach and site of the Mulberry harbour. The invasion needed a port to bring in supplies on a huge scale. So the allies built concrete pontoons that were towed across the channel and sunk to form the port_fs outer perimeter. Twenty of the original 115 pontoons still defy the waves.
'''21. [http://www.normandy1944.com/debarquement_presentation_01.php Musee du Debarquement (The Landing Museum), Arromanches]''' Located in front of the actual vestiges of the Mulberries, this museum is devoted to the incredible feat of technology achieved by the British in building and setting up the artificial harbour. Military equipment is on display outside. Place du 6 Juin - 14117 Arromanches, Tel. 02 31 22 34 31 (__3.90),
'''22. Batterie de Longues, Longues-sur-Mer''' The Longues-sur-Mer battery housed four 150 mm guns with a range of 20 kms and gave the Allied ships a pounding on the morning of 6th June. It is the only coastal battery to have kept its guns, giving an impressive picture of what an Atlantic Wall gun emplacement was really like. 14400 Longues-sur-Mer, Tel. 02 31 06 06 45, Access from the D514 road (follow the road-signs).
'''23. Site de Port-en-Bessin''' A Monument in memory of the 47th Royal Marine Commando soldiers who were killed during the liberation of Port-en-Bessin and Asnelles is located on top of the cliff, at the western side of the harbor.
'''24. Musee des epaves sous-marines (Under-water wrecks museum), Port-en-Bessin''' This museum presents recovered wrecks and artifacts from more than twenty-five years of under-water exploration, in the coastal landing area. Wrecks include a Sherman tank. Route de Bayeux - Commes - 14520 Port-en-Bessin, Tel. 02 31 21 17 06
'''25. Musee Memorial de la Bataille de Normandie, (Battle of Normandy Memorial Museum), Bayeux''' This museum offers a chronological presentation of the events of the Battle of Normandy along with an exhibition of equipment, weapons and uniforms, films, mementoes and slides. Bd Fabian Ware - 14400 Bayeux, Tel. 02 31 51 46 90
'''26. Musee Memorial du General de Gaulle (General de Gaulle Memorial), Bayeux''' Situated in the former Governors House, this museum is dedicated to the numerous visits made by the General to Bayeux and in particular, the two important speeches delivered on 14 June 1944 and 16 June 1946. Film archives, photos, manuscripts, documents and memorabilia. 10, rue Bourbesneur - 14400 Bayeux, Tel. 02 31 92 45 55
'''27. Bayeux War Cemetery''' Bayeux War Cemetery is the largest British cemetery of the Second World War in France, containing the graves of 3,843 British soldiers. The Bayeux Memorial stands opposite the war cemetery and bares the names of 1808 Commonwealth soldiers who have no known grave.
Omaha beach is overlooked by bluffs which rise to 150 feet and command the beaches. These naturally strong defensive positions had been skillfully fortified by the Germans with concrete gun emplacements, anti-tank guns and machine guns. Allied bombing left these largely undamaged, and since there was no cover on the beach, this tranquil strand of beach became a killing field. The US 1st Infantry Division had the most difficult landing of the whole Allied assault on D-Day. Within a mile to the rear of the beach lay the fortified villages of Colleville-sur-Mer, Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer and Vierville-sur-Mer
'''28. [http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/no.php Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer]''' Overlooking Omaha Beach, this 172.5 acre cemetery contains the graves of 9,387 American soldiers. The rows of perfectly aligned headstones against the immaculate, emerald green lawn convey an unforgettable feeling of peace and tranquility. The beaches can be viewed from the bluffs above, and there is a path down to the beach. 14710 Colleville-sur-Mer, Tel 02 31 51 62 00
'''29. 1st Infantry Division Monument, Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer''' A monument dedicated to the _gBig Red One_h, the US 1st Infantry Division, is located on the sea front, within walking distance from the American cemetery. Other monuments in the area include the 5th Engineer Special Brigade Memorial, and plaques commemorating the American armoured vehicles that passed through here.
'''30. [http://www.musee-memorial-omaha.com Musee Memorial d_fOmaha Beach (Omaha Beach Memorial Museum), Saint Laurent-sur-Mer]''' Located in Saint Laurent-sur-Mer on Omaha Beach, this museum has a fine collection of uniforms, weapons, personal objects and vehicles. Dioramas, photos, and maps together with a film featuring veterans_f testimonies explain the landings at Omaha Beach and at Pointe du Hoc. A landing ship, Sherman tank and _gLong Tom_h 155 mm gun are on display outside. _gles Moulins" - Avenue de la Liberation 14710 Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, Tel. 02 31 21 97 44
'''31. [http://www.dday-omaha.net Musee D-Day Omaha (Omaha D-Day Museum), Vierville-sur-Mer]''' This museum is devoted to the landing on Omaha Beach. Various equipment is displayed including: vehicles, weapons, radios, and engineer equipment. Omaha Beach, Musee Omaha, Route de Grandcamp-Maisy - 14710 Vierville-sur-Mer (02 31 21 71 80).
'''32. Site de Vierville-sur-Mer''' Monuments here include the 29th US Infantry Division stele, National Guard monument, 6th Engineer Special Brigade stele, 29th DI Engineer plate, 81st CM battalion and 110th FA bat. Plates, 5th Rangers Battalion plate, 58th Armored Field Battalion stele, Boundary Marker in memory of the 58the Artillery Battalion. Along the coastal road, 500 meters from Les Moulins a monument is situated in the place of the First American Cemetery in Normandy on Omaha beach. The soldiers interred there were later moved to the military cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer. The beach's desolation makes it a powerful site to imagine soldiers battling on the sand, completely vulnerable to German artillery.
'''33. La Pointe du Hoc''' La Pointe du Hoc, a rocky headland towering over the beaches, has become a symbol of the courage of American troops. Here, Germans had placed bunkers and artillery. The positions were bombed, shelled and then attacked by 225 US Rangers, who scaled the 35-metre rock wall, besieged the bunkers and finally took them, only to find there were no guns at all. The guns had been dismantled and hidden in an orchard inland. Only 90 rangers were still standing at the summit. Today, bomb and shell craters remain. There is a monument in memory of the 2nd Rangers Battalion, who assaulted and captured La Pointe du Hoc battery. The memorial is built on a control firing casemate where bodies of the soldiers still lie under the ruins.
'''34. Musee des Rangers ? Batterie de Maisy (Rangers Museum), Grandcamp Maisy''' This museum recalls the history of the American Rangers unit, who assaulted La Pointe du Hoc on the D-Day. Uniforms and equipment displays revive the actions of the American Rangers. 14450 Grandcamp-Maisy, Tel. 02 31 92 33 51
'''35. [http://www.paratrooper-museum.org/about_dmc.html Dead Man_fs Corner Museum, Saint Come du Mont]''' At the point where the 101st Airborne Division encountered the Green Devils (the German paratroopers) you can get an insight into the battle for Carentan on the site which has remained largely intact. 2 Village de l'Amont - 50500 Saint Come du Mont, Tel./Fax 02 33 42 00 42
'''36. [http://www.airborne-museum.org/ Musee Airborne (Airborne Museum), Sainte-Mere-Eglise]''' The story of D-Day is told in pictures and mementos of the American 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. On display is a Douglas C47, weapons, equipment, uniforms and historic objects. 14 rue Eisenhower - 50480 Sainte-Mere-Eglise, Tel. 02 33 41 41 35 (__2.85),
'''37. Ste-Mere-Eglise''' Ste-Mere-Eglise, is perhaps the most famous _gD-day village_h of all. Street panels around Ste-Mere-Eglise explain the operations of the US paratroopers. In the square, a parachute effigy still dangles from the church, commemorating what happened to John Steele when his parachute snagged on the spire. Inside the church is a stained-glass window featuring the Virgin and child, surrounded by paratroopers. Monuments in the area include the 82nd Airborne plate, 505th Parachute regiment stele, and Sainte-Mere-Eglise liberators stele.
'''38. [http://www.utah-beach.com Musee du Debarquement (Utah Beach Landing Museum)]''' Located opposite the beach on the Utah site, this museum uses film, documents and models to recall D-Day in a unique and innovative manner. Several armored vehicles, equipment and a landing ship are on display. Utah Beach - 50480 Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Tel. 02 33 71 53 35 (__2.70)
'''39. Monuments located by the Utah Beach Museum''' include: American soldier_fs monument, 4th Infantry Division monument, 90th Infantry Division monument, VIIth Corps headquarter plaque, Coast Guard plaque and US Navy plaque.
'''40. Batterie d_fAzeville (Azeville Battery), Azeville''' Located near Sainte-Mere-Eglise, the Azeville Battery consisted of a dozen casemates, including four blockhouses with 105 mm heavy guns, 350m of underground tunnels, underground rooms and ammunition storages. The position was held by 170 German gunners. Guided tours of the Azeville battery offers insight into the German coastal defences and the battle that took place here. La Rue - 50310 Azeville, Tel. 02 33 40 63 05
'''41. Musee de la Batteries de Crisberg (Crisbeq Gun Battery Museum), Saint Marcouf''' The Crisbeq Gun Battery was one of the largest German coastal artillery batteries located on Utah Beach. There are 21 blockhouses linked by more than 1km of trenches and restored recreation rooms, hospital and kitchens. Route des Manoirs - 50310 Saint-Marcouf, Tel. 06 86 10 80 59
'''42. Memorial de la Liberte Retrouvee (Freedom museum), Quineville''' This museum recalls the French peoples daily life during the German occupation until the liberation. 18 avenue de la Plage - 50310 Quineville, Tel. /Fax 02 33 95 95 95
Guided tours of the D-Day beaches are available from a number of tour companies.
Take a D-Day Beach day trip from Paris.
Take a private plane tour from England for a unique aerial and land tour of the Normandy D-Day beaches.
Take a self guided cycling tour of the Normandy beaches.
Take a private tour from London to Normandy by train
Hotels in Bayeux
Many visitors stay in Caen, the capital of Normandy with its various attractions an excellent shopping.
Hotels in Caen
Hotels in Arromanches-les-Bains
Hotels in Ouistreham