Normandy

Some places are important to see as a way of remembering and honoring those that came before us.

This year we observed the 70th anniversary of the Allied invasion to liberate Normandy France. We were able to visit Normandy and walk on the beaches and in the fields where so many of our parent's generation gave so much.  This is a place that can not be adequately described by written words. The reality of the challenge met by so many young men and their leaders was reinforced by the stories shared with us at each place we visited.

Operation Overlord brought the allies to Normandy on June 6th 1944. The Americans, British, and Canadians landed over 155,000 men and 20,000 vehicles on Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword beaches on the first day of the invasion, and that day suffered 10,000 casualties. By June 11,  326,547 men and 54,186 vehicles had landed on the beaches. When the battle for Normandy was over the German and Allied casualties were placed at over 425,000 including 209,000 allied forces.

American Memorial at Colleville

Utah Beach

Pointe Du Hoc

Monument to the Rangers: a dagger stabbed into the Atlantic Wall defenses

German firing command post

Notre Dame Cathedral Bayeux

The beautiful Bayeux Cathedral dates from the 13th Century. It is representative of Norman Gothic architecture and is situated on the site of an ancient Roman church. The cathedral is rich in history and was host to the Bayeux Tapestry which depicts the story of the Norman conquest of Brittain by William the Conqueror in 1066 at the Battle of Hastings. That conflict originated from a broken pledge made in this very Cathedral. British soldiers who were based here during the liberation of Normandy in 1944 found this to be an entertaining bit of irony. 

While in Normandy we visited the town of Sainte Mere Eglise. This town is in an area where paratroopers landed behind enemy lines during the invasion of Normandy by the allies. There is an interesting airborne museum here where much of the strategy of this part of the battle is explained. 

Stained glass window in the Church of Angoville-au-Plain one of the churches we visited depicts
a paratrooper landing. The little church served as a field hospital and demonstrated bravery of two doctors who attended to wounded from both sides in the midst of the battle.

The church in Sainte-Mere-Eglise where paratrooper John Steele landed, snagging his parachute. He hung there for several hours until discovered by Germans on patrol.
They managed to get him down and, briefly, held him as their prisoner.

There was so much to take in during our tour of Normandy. From the determination of the French Resistance, working to support the Allies and free their country, to the bravery of those who landed on the beaches and prevailed in the face of overwhelming odds, the story of Normandy and what happened here is simply incredible.

Bunker and one of the German guns guarding the beach

Omaha Beach