That’s just part of why these two beaches are the most recognized by Americans. However, the Americans’ entry points were Omaha and Utah beaches, explains Ambrose. They designated five beaches as landing zones, and Canadian and British soldiers landed at Juno, Gold, and Sword beaches. The Allied forces decided to call the beach landing part of the attack Operation Neptune. It goes without saying that Omaha Beach can’t be missed at the Normandy beaches. It’s just a short walk from the main square on Cale Neptune. If you arrive around lunchtime, I recommend having fresh seafood at Restaurant La Maison du 6. While you cannot walk on the remaining constructions, at low tide you can get quite near them. You have a splendid view of the artificial harbor from above. Incredibly, 2.5 million troops and 4 million tons of supplies came through Mulberry B, notes historian Jonathan Falconer.Ī 17-minute drive from Bayeux gets you to scenic Arromanches. Today, you can see remnants of Mulberry B in Arromanches-the very same harbor the Allies used for over 10 months after D-Day. ![]() Then they built Mulberry B at Arromanches-les-Bains on Gold Beach. They named the first harbor at Omaha Beach Mulberry A. A key piece of their success was the genius installation of two portable, temporary harbors. You might wonder how the Allied forces moved their vehicles and cargo across the English Channel and onto the shores of France. That fateful event marked the end of Operation Overlord.Ĭost: starting at €7.50 (buy in person only) The Germans retreated across the river to the east on August 30, 1994. Their goal was to liberate Paris, and according to WWII historian Stephen Ambrose, Paris was liberated on August 25. After the successful but bloody D-Day invasion, Allied troops pushed southeast across Normandy to the Seine river. Part of Operation Overlord, the Battle of Normandy took place over the summer of 1944. Thus, it seems apt that Bayeux would also tell the story of a more recent, historic invasion.īayeux’ museum focuses solely on the Battle of Normandy. Wondering what that is? Well, it’s not a tapestry at all but a famous embroidery that tells the story of the invasion of England by William the Conqueror. This ancient city also hosts the famous Bayeux Tapestry. Bayeux is around 20 miles west of Caen on the inland side. The Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy is a top place to see at Normandy. Uwebrodrecht, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons ![]() The Caen Memorial Museum is the perfect place to get a full understanding of what you’ll see here at the Normandy D-Day Beaches before you head to Omaha Beach.Īddress: Esp. Finally, you’ll hear the stories of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. You’ll see objects related to the French Resistance, which was extensive. Different areas of the museum tell different stories, so be sure to allow plenty of time here.įor example, you’ll learn about how civilians coped with the German Occupation. The Caen Memorial Museum provides visitors with a comprehensive picture of the war in this part of France. It was heavily bombed by the Germans during World War II, and the city lost numerous historical buildings entirely. It is the largest city in Normandy and played a crucial role in the war as it has in days past, such as when William the Conqueror once used Caen as his capital. Caen is about 10 miles inland from the English Channel. I recommend starting your Normandy D-Day Beaches visit in Caen. Here are 8 important sites from the Caen Memorial Museum to La Pointe du Hoc you won’t want to miss. In this article, I will explain why 50 miles of coastline in Normandy-which includes specific areas you can visit-held the key to victory. The battle that turned the tides of World War II started in Normandy. They had also occupied cities such as Caen, the capital of Normandy.Įisenhower warned the troops, “Your enemy is well-trained…He will fight savagely.” Therefore, it was up to the Allied forces to liberate the land and the French people. The Germans had established positions, including bunkers, along the coast. Allied troops landing in Normandy were extremely vulnerable. Gaining a strategic foothold in northwest Europe was essential to turning the tides in the war. The invasion architects who selected Normandy as the landing zone gave it the codename Operation Overlord. The huge D-Day operation included the invasion and the push through Normandy then southeast to Paris. In fact, according to the US Department of Defense, 4,700 of the 35,000 soldiers who first went ashore that day were wounded, killed, or declared missing. ![]() Those words were part of his now-famous official order for the June 6, 1944, D-Day invasion. “Your task will not be an easy one,” Eisenhower wrote to the Allied troops. What You Have to See at the Normandy D-Day Beaches
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