D-Day Normandy France ~  Normandy in France ~  Bed and Breakfast in Normandy, Gites and self-catering in Normandy.   Book directly through the owners.  Huge sandy beaches, Calvados and cider, beautiful rolling countryside.  Normandy in France offers a superb holiday experience.

The famous D-Day landing beaches in Normandy were operational on the eve of 5th to 6th June when three airborne divisions were dropped. Meanwhile approaching by sea towards the 5 landing beaches were 135,000 men and around 20,000 vehicles.  The rest is history.

After spending many weeks touring this location here are some excellent places to visit. Listing of main points from Cherbourg East through to Le Havre.

OBJECT—The ultimate mission of the Commanding General, ETOUSA, is the total defeat of Germany. The object of Operation OVERLORD is to mount and carry out an operation with forces and equipment established in the United Kingdom and with target date as designated, to secure a lodgement area on the Continent from which further offensive operations can be developed. This will be part of a concerted assault upon German occupied Europe from the United Kingdom, the Mediterranean and Russia

"Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers in arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.
     Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.
     But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man to man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!
     I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory! Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower
Order of the Day
June 6, 1944"

 

OPERATION OVERLORD
FORT ROULE - WAR AND LIBERATION MUSEUM
  • Perched high above Cherbourg.
Ste MARIE - INVASION & LIBERATION MUSEUM
  • Museum at Utah Beach exhibiting a model of the W5 Utah Beach situation, archive photographs, original military maps, archive film (12 mins).
UTAH BEACH

The 4th US Military landed here from 06.30 onwards, by midday the beach was completely cleared.
  • AMERICAN MEMORIAL - The World War II Utah Beach American Memorial is located at the termination of Highway N-13D, approximately a mile and a half northeast of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont (Manche), France. This monument commemorates the achievements of the American Forces of the VII Corps who landed and fought in the liberation of the Cotentin Peninsula from June 6, 1944 to July 1, 1944.
  • WAR MUSEUMS - St Mere Eglise, St Marle du Mont.
GRANDECAMP - POINTE DU HOC

The World War II Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument is located on a cliff eight miles west of Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, which overlooks Omaha Beach.  It was erected by the French to honor elements of the American Second Ranger Battalion under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James E. Rudder.  During the American assault of Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944, these elements scaled the 100 foot cliff and seized the German artillery pieces that could have fired on the American landing troops at Omaha Beach.  At a high cost of life, they successfully defended against determined German counterattacks

Taken by storm on the morning of 6 June by Colonel Rudder's 2nd Ranger Battalion, this was also one of the strong points of the German fortifications. The place reminds us of what a German battery was like, with its range-finding post, its casemates and shelters...
OMAHA

  • OMAHA MUSEUM - Just 200m behind Omaha Beach, this museum presents each phase of the US sector, from the occupation up to D-Day. Exhibition of weapons, uniforms, military vehicles, 155mm gun, landing barge, Sherman tank. Panels on different themes.
  • AMERICAN CEMETERY - This 70-hectare cemetery overlooks Omaha Beach. It contains 9387 white crosses in Carrare marble in perfect rows. The cemetery also has a chapel and a memorial dedicated to the youth of America.

 
BAYEUX

Host of the Bayeux Tapestry and also guardian of the British World War II cemetery Bayeux offers an opportunity for you to take time and remember those we lost during these war years.
  • Museum - Memorial of the Battle of Normandie. Boulevard Fabian Ware. Recounting the Battle of Normandy from 7 June to 22 August 1944 through 2300m2 of exhibitions and film show in a 144-seat auditorium.
  • Museum - Memorial of General De Gaulle
  • BRITISH WAR GRAVES
LONGUES- SUR-MER

View the beaches from the German artillery position.  This is the only battery to have kept it's guns and emplacements. Originally comprising 4 casemates, shelters, guns and a range-finding post, this German battery is one of the few remnants of the Atlantic Wall to have survived intact. Built overlooking the D-Day beaches, its defensive contribution was brief indeed, as the Allied forces neutralized it on the afternoon of 6 June.
ARROMANCHES

  • MUSEUM - Musee Debarquement - A history museum that recounts the construction and operation of the artificial harbour built at Arromanches after D-Day and which was the key to the success of the Battle of Normandy
  • 360` cinema
GOLD

Gold" was the code name for the centre beach of the five designated landing areas of the Normandy Invasion. The beach was more than 5 miles (8 kilometres) wide and included the coastal towns of La Riviere and Le Hamel. On the western end of the beach was the small port of Arromanches, and slightly farther west of that port was the town of Longues-sur-Mer.

The British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division of the 2nd Army under Lieutenant General Miles Dempsey was to land at H-Hour+1 (0730), seize Arromanches and drive inland to capture the road junction at Bayeux.  Its additional objectives were to make contact with the US forces to the west at Omaha Beach and the Canadians to their east at Juno Beach.  In addition to the 50th, the 47th Royal Marine Commandos were to land on sector Item and to attack south of Arromanches and Longues and take Port-en-Bessin from the rear.
CABOURG - ATLANTIC WALL MUSEUM
CAEN

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