A visit to Normandy is a poignant reminder of an important day in history
On June 6, it was 65 years since the D-Day, the day when World War II turned firmly against Adolf Hitler’s Germany. The beaches of Normandy were the setting for the largest military assault in modern history, when the Allied forces, comprising soldiers from the UK, USA and Canada, the Free French Forces and others, landed in force. An estimated 160,000 soldiers were delivered by over 5,000 ships. In the fierce battles that followed, thousands of soldiers and civilians lost their lives. The battle has been immortalised in movies such as Saving Private Ryan.
Today there are memorials along the coast of Normandy to commemorate the dead, with the principal one at “Utah” Beach. Here are the places you must visit to relive that great moment in history.
Utah Beach: This beach, about 5 km long, was the westernmost of the five landing beaches. It is located between Pouppeville and the village of La Madeleine, which became the right flank of the allied offensive along the left bank of the Douve river estuary. This theatre of battle fought by American troops saw only about 200 casualties but was famous because one of the first soldiers off the ships was Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
Omaha Beach: This beach, about 8 km long, is located east of Sainte-Honorine-des-Pertes to the west of Vierville-sur-Mer on the right bank of the Douve river estuary. For the American soldiers who landed here, very little went as planned. The defenses were unexpectedly strong and there were heavy casualties. This is the beach dramatised in Saving Private Ryan.
Pointe Du Hoc: This is a clifftop location 6.4 km west of Omaha Beach. It stands on 100-ft tall cliffs overlooking the sea. The Germans housed a battery of captured French 155mm guns here. This is the place to see the most well preserved bunkers.
Gold Beach: Near Omaha Beach, this was the landing ground for British troops. It was strategic because it opened the way to the nearby town of Caen. The troops landed here and after a fierce fight drove on to Caen.
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Juno Beach: Stretching from Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer on the east to Courseulles-sur-Mer on the west, this beach was the staging area for the Canadian troops. The battle for this beach was tough because it had the highest sea walls and concentrated fortifications. The Canadian government has built an information centre here that tells the story of its soldiers.
Sword Beach: This is the final beach after Juno Beach. Here British troops came against German tanks when they landed and fought a fierce battle to break through. As a result, memorials here have been made from old tank hulls.
