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The 4th U.S. Infantry Division, landed here from 06.30 onwards, at La Madeleine (U.S. monument there now), nearly two miles south of the intended landing. Fortunately, the German defenses were weak at this point. By midday the beach was completely cleared. The third battalion of 8 Infantry Regiment had pushed a detachment inland about 8 miles, to Chef-du-Pont, and this had linked up with 82nd Airborne Division. 23,250 men, 1,700 vehicles and 1,695 tons of supplies had been landed. To see : War-Museums at Ste-Mere-Eglise, Ste-Marle-du-Mont and Cherbourg; Commemorative monuments at Carentan, Ste-Mere-Eglise and St-Martin-de-Varreville. Omaha The 1st U.S. Infantry Division landed here from 06.30 onwards. However, there was a rough sea at the foot of the cliffs. The first assault wave suffered heavy loses; at 07.00, when the second wave went in, the Germans opened up with artillery. The beach had not been cleared of anti-invasion devices, and the tide was rising. A few assault groups reached the top of the beach. Two destroyers moved close inshore and shelled the German gun positions. The Pointe du Hoc was climbed and captured by 225 Rangers, but they were pinned down by an enemy counter-attack until D + 2. A small bridgehead was established. This was the most difficult of all the landings. To see : the commemorative monuments at St-Laurent-sur-Mer, and lsigny-sur-Mer, and the Pointe du Hoc. Gold The 50th British Infantry Division landed here, beginning at 07.25, in front of Ver, Meuvaines, Asnelles. Good work by the Engineers in clearing the landing areas. Infantry fought their way on D-Day. No. 47 Royal Marines Commando reached its objective to the west, Port-en-Bessin, which it entered on D+2, thus linking up with the Americans. To see : the Liberation Memorial at Bayeux, the permanent Museum of the Normandy Landings at Arromanches, the commemorative monument at Port-en-Bessin. Juno The 3rd Canadian Infantry
Division landed here from 07.00 onwards.
Strongly defended, two heavily fortified radar stations held out until 17 June. One objective, Carpiquet, was not reached; but a considerable bridgehead was established. Liaison with 3rd British Division on the left flank had not been made. To see : the commemorative monument at Bernleres, the monuments at Courseulles and St-Aubin. Sword The 3rd British Infantry Division began landing at 07.30 between Lion-sur-Mer and Ouistreham-Riva-Bella. Its mission was to take Caen. But although the villages of Hermanville, Periers, Beuville, Bieville and Blainville were over-run, a vigorous counter attack by 21st Panzer Division reached Bieville at 16.00 and then Periers. No. 4 Commando, under Commander Philippe Kieffer, landed at 08.45, put the fortified position at Riva-Belia out of action, and linked up with the Airborne troops at Benouville by 13.30. A deep bridgehead was held, but Caen was still German hands. To see : the commemorative monument at Benouville, the war museums at Riva-Belia and Benouville.
American Colieville-St-Laurent, on
the seaside between Arromanches and Grandcamp,
Saint-James, in the south
of Manche, between Avranches and Fougres,
British Banneville-Sannerville, between
Caen and Troarn,
Bayeux,
Brouay, between Caen and
Bayeux,
Cambes-en-Plaine, between
Caen and Courseulles,
Chouain (Jerusalem), between
Bayeux and Tilly-sur-Seulles,
Douvres -La Delivrande, between
Caen and Luc-sur-Mer,
Fontenay-le-Pesnel, between
Caen and Caumont-I'Evente,
Hermanville-sur-Mor, on the
cost,
Hottot-les-Bagues, between
Caen and Caumont-I'Evente,
Ranville, near Pegasus Bridge,
Ryes, between Bayeux and
Arromanches,
Saint-Manvieu, between Caen
and Caumont-I'Evente,
Secqueville-en-Bessin, between
Caen and Bayeux,
Tilly-sur-Seulles, between
Caen and Balleroy,
Saint-Charies-de-Percy, near
Beny-Bocage,
Saint-Desir-de-Lisieux, near
Lisieux,
Beny-sur-Mer - Reviers, near
Courseulles,
Bretteville-sur-Laize - Cintheaux,
between Caen and Falaise,
Polish Grainville-Langannerie, between
Caen and Falaise,
German La Cambe, between Bayeux
and lsigny,
Champigny-St-Andre-de-I'Eure,
Huisnes-sur-Mer, near Pontorson,
Marigny - La Chapelle-en-Juger,
near Saint-Lo,
Orglandes, near Valognes,
Saint-Desir-de-Lisieux, near
Lisieux,
Museums From west to east American sector Cherbourg The " Fort du Roule " Liberation
Museum
Sainte-Mere-Eglise Airborne Museum (U.S.)
Sainte-Marle-du-Mont Utah Beach Landing Museum
Vierville-sur-Mer Omaha Beach Museum Surrain 1939-1945 Exposition British Sector Arromanches D-Day Museum
Ouistreham-Riva-Belia The n- 4 Commando Museum
(Commando Kieffer)
Benouville-Pegasus Bridge Airborne Museum (British)
Bayeux Battle of Normandy Memorial
Museum Bd Fabian Ware
Merville Merville Battery Museum Tilly-sur-Seulles Battle of Tilly Museum The Coastal Conservation Trust On the Landing Beaches, the Coastal Conservation Trust has acquired several sites with a view of protecting and managing : the Merville, Longues-sur-Mer batteries, the site of Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc, the Manvieux cape at Tracy-Arromanches.
Information Comiti Departmental du Tourisme
du
Comite du Deibarquement
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Cimetire American de Saint-Laurent
Edition du Comite Departmental
du
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