In the present day marks the 80th anniversary of the solemn, but monumental, day when the Allied forces stormed the seashores of Normandy, France, on June 6th, 1944. Referred to as “D-Day,” this shock initiative consisted of seven,000 ships and nearly 150,000 troops from eight international locations, and continues to be the biggest amphibious invasion in human historical past. At 6am that June morning in 1944, 133,300 troops stormed the shores, the place over 10,000 courageous, brave, and freedom defending males (largely American troopers) misplaced their lives.
Brady and I’ve at all times been fascinated and emotionally touched by the historical past of the Second World Battle, so we deliberate a visit to France in October 2022 based mostly round visiting the D-Day websites. Brady’s grandfather got here ashore in Normandy three days after D-Day, close to the city of Arromanches-les-Bains, and was later injured within the Battle of the Bulge in 1944, making this journey much more vital. To say it was a transferring, humbling expertise is an understatement, and a reminiscence we expect again to typically, even after two years. I really suppose it’s a spot all People ought to expertise if they’re in a position, and a spot that calls for reflection, prayer and gratitude for the courageous younger troopers that fought to liberate Europe from despotism.
We rented a automotive in Paris (one thing I don’t advocate, however that’s a narrative for an additional time!) and made our option to Normandy alongside roads lined with hedgerows. I do need to observe, there are historic guided excursions which I feel we’ll need to do the following time we go to (together with this Overload Tour), however we have been actually grateful to have the additional time to essentially soak all of it in at our personal tempo. Listed here are the websites we have been in a position to expertise, with suggestions to assist plan your journey to Normandy for those who get the chance to go to.
Omaha Seashore
After a 22-minute drive from our dwelling base on the metropolis of Bayeux we arrived on the shores of Omaha Seashore. I have to say, I used to be shocked at how empty and uninhabited it was, however I used to be additionally grateful, as a result of the quietness amongst the mild waves gave us time to stroll the seaside, go to the Les Braves memorial, and simply actually replicate on what befell there in 1944. Whereas it was tough to completely grasp the sounds, smells and horror that the lads had endured whereas it was so peaceable and calm, I completely felt the burden of the bottom I used to be strolling on.
After reducing the ramps of the touchdown crafts, 1000’s of People waded into the water, weighed down with gear, being ruthlessly shot at by machine weapons from shore. Round 2,500 courageous troopers died proper on the seaside. What actually caught with me was studying that the water between the sandbars have been rivers of pink on D-Day, stained with blood from all of the casualties. Strolling the seaside right now, these sandbars are nonetheless seen (you possibly can see them within the picture above), and I can solely think about the scene on D-Day. After we mentioned our prayers, walked among the seaside, collected sand and had time to replicate, we headed again to the automotive for the second cease on our journey. Fast tip – Make sure to deliver a baggie or water bottle to gather sand from this hallowed floor, you’ll be completely happy you probably did.
Normandy American Cemetery
The famed Normandy American Cemetery is a 10-minute drive from Omaha Seashore, located on a hill overlooking the lengthy stretch of seaside the place so lots of the troopers misplaced their lives. On the entrance to the cemetery stands the Normandy Guests Middle, which incorporates an impactful museum with artifacts and written accounts and views from D-Day troopers. The cemetery is pristinely saved and is the ultimate resting place for 9,238 troopers, together with a wall itemizing the names of 1,557 MIA troopers. Strolling previous the 1000’s upon 1000’s of graves, you possibly can actually really feel the gravity of the acute sacrifice. We have been fortunate sufficient to catch a free strolling tour of the cemetery, offered by the cemetery itself, which started with visuals from June 6, 1944, a tour of the cemetery to the Wall of the Lacking, and ended with a transferring wreath laying ceremony on the base of the Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves statue, concluding with a trumpet enjoying Faucets. I couldn’t assist however tear up, as did many others. This peaceable, lovely closing resting place is clearly a must-visit web site to anybody visiting the Normandy area.
Colleville Sur Mer – WN 62 & Battle Memorials
To the correct of the Normandy American Cemetery parking lotis a non-descript path that results in Nazi bunkers, warfare memorials, and a path that leads all the way down to Omaha Seashore. After leaving the cemetery and returning to our resort that evening, we realized we missed this vital D-Day space and returned again the following day, which turned out to be one of many highlights of our journey. It isn’t marked, and might be simply missed, which is extraordinarily unlucky! As soon as once more, not very many individuals have been on this path, so we had the chance to stroll the quiet grounds and discover the bunkers (Widerstandsnest 62) the place Nazi troopers have been strategically positioned alongside the coast to gun down American troopers as they made their approach up the hill. It was one other transferring expertise, with much more time for reflection. Waking all the way down to the seaside, we stumbled throughout a big memorial, the Fight Medics 16th Regiment 1st Infantry Division Memorial. This massive stone construction marked the place the place medics arrange the primary casualty station on the seaside, risking their lives to assist their fellow troopers within the midst of heavy hearth, loss of life and sheer chaos.
Overlord Museum
Lower than a 5 minute drive from the cemetery is the Overlord Museum, which is an absolute must-see. We arrived within the late afternoon, and obtained fortunate once more because it was comparatively empty earlier than closing time, however had about two hours to soak all of it in. A brand new museum opened in 2013, it’s devoted to D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, filled with artifacts, reveals, autos, tools, and unimaginable first-hand accounts from D-Day troopers. Additionally they have an in depth present store, the place we purchased mementos to recollect our journey by. One other journey spotlight! Tip – When you’ve got extra time, the Airborne Museum devoted to paratroopers is close by, and I’ve learn that the Caen Memorial Museum is the most effective WWII museum in France, about 40ish minutes from the cemetery. We are going to make some extent to see these museums subsequent time!
Longues-Sur-Mer Battery
After taking a number of flawed turns down one lane roads in coastal fields, we closing discovered this web site, however it was definitely worth the wrestle. The 4 monumental gun installations lie close to the coast, providing views of the Atlantic, and a strategic place for the Nazis to guard the territory. The gun installations have been bombed by the Allies the evening earlier than D-Day, however you possibly can nonetheless go to them right now, full with bunkers. We went round sundown and have been the one individuals round for miles, as soon as once more giving us the right time to replicate on what the courageous American troopers have been up in opposition to.
Pointe Du Hoc
A thirty-minute drive from the cemetery lies Pointe du Hoc, the positioning the place one other key battle befell within the early morning hours of D-Day. U.S. Military Rangers scaled the 100 foot cliffs whereas enduring heavy artillery from Nazi troopers. Towards the percentages, they pushed ahead and prevailed, seizing German artillery that might have been used in opposition to the troopers on Omaha and Utah Seashore, but as soon as once more, at the price of the lives of many courageous People. In the present day, the grounds round Pointe Du Hoc are cratered from the bombardment on the Nazi bunkers on that poignant day. Guests can stroll designated paths across the craters and the bunkers on the grounds, in addition to rise up near the cliffs that the Rangers scaled. You may’t assist however be awe-inspired by the bravery these males exuded.
President Ronald Reagan mentioned it greatest when he visited Pointe du Hoc on the 40th anniversary: “We stand on a lonely, windswept level on the northern shore of France. The air is delicate, however 40 years in the past at this second, the air was dense with smoke and the cries of males, and the air was full of the crack of rifle hearth and the roar of cannon. At daybreak, on the morning of the sixth of June, 1944, 225 Rangers jumped off the British touchdown craft and ran to the underside of those cliffs. Their mission was one of the crucial tough and daring of the invasion: to climb these sheer and desolate cliffs and take out the enemy weapons. The Allies had been instructed that among the mightiest of those weapons have been right here and they’d be educated on the seashores to cease the Allied advance…These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the lads who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped finish a warfare.”
General, this journey to the D-Day websites of Normandy is one thing we’ll keep in mind and honor for the remainder of our lives, and left me feeling a lot pleasure for the bravery of the spirit of the American soldier. This can be a area that each WWII fanatic and patriot ought to go to if they’ve the chance. Could God Bless our troopers, their households and those that struggle and defend our nation every day.
