D-Day beaches Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
D-Day beaches are in Normandy, France.
Contents |
Understand
History
On June 6, 1944, now known to history as D-Day, Operation Overlord, the long-awaited invasion of Northwest Europe, began with Allied landings on the coast of Normandy. The task was formidable for the Germans had turned the coastline into a continuous fortress with guns, pillboxes, wire, mines and beach obstacles - and on it, depended the outcome of the war. Following an all-night bombardment of the assault areas, the Allies attacked on a five-division front, with the simultaneous landing of U.S., British, and Canadian forces on five separate beachheads code named:
- Sword Beach (British),
- Juno Beach (Canadian)
- Gold Beach (British)
- Omaha Beach (American)
- Utah Beach (American)
Troops from three airborne divisions descended by parachute and glider on the flanks of the invasion area. The American 82nd and 101st airborne divisions, 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.
Beaches
Now more than 60 years after D-Day, the Normandy coast is peaceful with lovely seaside towns and picturesque beaches. Behind the coast is an old-fashioned farming landscape of grain fields, cattle and pastures, hedges and farmhouses. But the memories of war and D-Day are engrained in the landscape. Along the 50-mile D-Day invasion coast there are the remains of German gun emplacements and bunkers, and memorials mark where the allied forces landed. War memorials and monuments are in almost every village and at every bend in the road, for there is barely a square yard that wasn’t fought over. Beautiful cemeteries overlook the sea and countryside and are essential stops along the way to understand the human cost. Along the coast and inland there are numerous D-day-related museums. Only by visiting do you get a proper idea of the vastness of the enterprise.
Take 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’d never been devastated at all. It’s pretty and poignant and — here’s a strange thing — it brings out the best in people. There’s respect in the air and a common bond between visitors. Folk behave well, smile and chat more easily than usual.
The beaches are still known today by their D-Day code names.
Sword Beach
Juno Beach
Gold Beach
Omaha Beach
Utah Beach
Climate
Get in
Normandy is easily reachable from Paris, either by car (2 to 3 hours drive) or by train (2 hours from Paris St Lazare station to Caen central station). Alternatively, a ferry across the channel will take you in 5 hours from Southampton to Ouistreham, the easternmost D-day target, an ideal starting point.
Get around
See
Do
Buy
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Lodging
Camping
Backcountry
Stay safe
Get out
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