Normandy trip
These are photos from my day trip to Caen and the Normandy Beaches. Caen is a sizable city with an old fortress (now museam), many fine old churches, a cathedral, and abby (where I listened to an Organ and Trumpet Concert). The first three pictures are from the center of Caen and it's fortress. The flower reminded me that this was a trip of remembrance for me as much as it was an adventure. I wanted to see the place where the Allies invaded Europe 61 years ago in order to free it from the grasp of Hitler. The Normandy Invasion has loomed large in my mind for many years - I just had to see it. It was fantastic.
A flower of remembrance, in the garden near the fortress. Below a view from the fortress of Caen and of the fortress itself.
Flags standing outside the "Caen Memorial-A Museum for Peace" - It is an excellent source for information on World War II, D-Day, the battle for Normandy, and the Cold War period. It's located in Caen, Normandy, and offers package deals, including Normandy Beach tours (like the one I booked through them).
From the cliff high above Sword Beach in the British Sector. This was where the Allies build one of two artifical harbors. Sixty-one years later, you can still see the concrete breakwaters that were towed into place and sunk to form the artifical harbor. It was an amazing technological achievement to float these across the Channel and sink them in place. This artificial harbor allowed the Allies to bring fresh men and war material into the ever expanding Normandy Pocket. Eventually, the Allies broke out of Normandy, leading the Allies to think they would be marching into Berlin by Christmas.... For more information on the D-Day Invasion, click here.
One of three German Naval Gun emplacements overlooking the English Channel just west of Sword Beach in the English invasion sector. Most gun emplacements were destroyed after the war, in order to erase the memory of the German occupation. Also, the guns were scrapped for the several tons of iron they contained.
Pointe du Hoc is located strategically between Omaha and Utah Beaches in the American Sector. This small peninsula commanded views of both beaches where the Americans were going to land on D-Day. Thus, it had to be taken through a verticle assault up the bare cliff face. On D-Day, a U.S. Ranger Battalion of 225 troops climbed atop this rugged outcrop under enemy fire and defeated the Germans manning this position. Many soldiers died in the attempt and subsequent German counter attack. It took the U.S. Army several days to reach Pointe du Hoc after D-Day, then only 90 battle weary men were able to bear arms.
Standing in a bomb crater and (below) the remains of the ammunition magazine which the Rangers blew up.
A view from the windswept top towards Utah beach.
Reagon's speach on the 40th Anniversary of D-Day, click here.
Omaha Beach in the American Sector - one of the bloodiest beaches on 6 June 1944 D-Day Invasion. One in ten American Soldiers were cut down by Germans that day.
Above Omaha Beach in the American Sector
American War Cemetary above Omaha Beach
British War Cemetary at Bayeux
A flower of remembrance, in the garden near the fortress. Below a view from the fortress of Caen and of the fortress itself.
Flags standing outside the "Caen Memorial-A Museum for Peace" - It is an excellent source for information on World War II, D-Day, the battle for Normandy, and the Cold War period. It's located in Caen, Normandy, and offers package deals, including Normandy Beach tours (like the one I booked through them).
From the cliff high above Sword Beach in the British Sector. This was where the Allies build one of two artifical harbors. Sixty-one years later, you can still see the concrete breakwaters that were towed into place and sunk to form the artifical harbor. It was an amazing technological achievement to float these across the Channel and sink them in place. This artificial harbor allowed the Allies to bring fresh men and war material into the ever expanding Normandy Pocket. Eventually, the Allies broke out of Normandy, leading the Allies to think they would be marching into Berlin by Christmas.... For more information on the D-Day Invasion, click here.
One of three German Naval Gun emplacements overlooking the English Channel just west of Sword Beach in the English invasion sector. Most gun emplacements were destroyed after the war, in order to erase the memory of the German occupation. Also, the guns were scrapped for the several tons of iron they contained.
Pointe du Hoc is located strategically between Omaha and Utah Beaches in the American Sector. This small peninsula commanded views of both beaches where the Americans were going to land on D-Day. Thus, it had to be taken through a verticle assault up the bare cliff face. On D-Day, a U.S. Ranger Battalion of 225 troops climbed atop this rugged outcrop under enemy fire and defeated the Germans manning this position. Many soldiers died in the attempt and subsequent German counter attack. It took the U.S. Army several days to reach Pointe du Hoc after D-Day, then only 90 battle weary men were able to bear arms.
Standing in a bomb crater and (below) the remains of the ammunition magazine which the Rangers blew up.
A view from the windswept top towards Utah beach.
Reagon's speach on the 40th Anniversary of D-Day, click here.
Omaha Beach in the American Sector - one of the bloodiest beaches on 6 June 1944 D-Day Invasion. One in ten American Soldiers were cut down by Germans that day.
Above Omaha Beach in the American Sector
American War Cemetary above Omaha Beach
British War Cemetary at Bayeux
posted by TravelingMan! at 9:35 PM
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