D-day in Normandy
On 6 June 1944, Normandy became the scene of one of the most decisive military operations of the Second World War: the Allied landings, known as D-Day. This amphibious and airborne assault marked the beginning of the liberation of occupied Europe and remains etched in history as one of the most daring battles of the 20th century. Five main beaches – Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Gold Beach, Juno Beach and Sword Beach – were the scene of fighting, divided between American, British, Canadian and French forces. Today, these places steeped in memory are home to museums, military cemeteries and relics of the war, giving visitors a better understanding of the scale and sacrifice of this operation.
US sector
The American forces were tasked with storming two crucial D-Day beaches: Utah Beach and Omaha Beach.
At Utah Beach, the soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division landed with less resistance than expected, taking advantage of a navigational error that led them to a less defended area. Thanks to a rapid advance and the support of paratroopers from the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions, the advance was more effective, allowing the troops from the air to join up.
Omaha Beach, on the other hand, was the scene of some of the deadliest fighting of D-Day. Faced with heavy fire from the German bunkers on the cliffs, the 1st and 29th American Infantry Divisions suffered heavy losses from the very first waves of the assault. This area, nicknamed ‘Bloody Omaha’, still bears witness to the immense sacrifice of the Allied soldiers. The nearby Colleville-sur-Mer American cemetery honours the memory of the thousands of young men who fell in battle.
UK sector
The British forces stormed two beaches: Gold Beach and Sword Beach.
On Gold Beach, the British 50th Infantry Division met strong resistance at the start of the assault, due in particular to the German fortifications set up on the heights. Despite this, the British managed to advance, aided by special tanks designed by General Hobart, which made it easier to overcome the obstacles. Their rapid advance led to the capture of Bayeux, the first town liberated in France after D-Day.
At Sword Beach, the 3rd British Infantry Division, accompanied by French commandos, landed at dawn. Their objective was to advance towards Caen, a strategic city that would nevertheless be the scene of fierce fighting for several weeks. The British troops also fought alongside Commander Kieffer’s French Commandos, who played a key role in the capture of Ouistreham and the German coastal defences.
Canadian sector
The Canadians played a major role in Operation Overlord by landing on Juno Beach, located between the American and British beaches. The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division was tasked with this difficult mission. Despite well-organised German defences, the Canadians managed to break through enemy lines quickly, advancing further inland than any other Allied forces that day.
Today, the Juno Beach Centre at Courseulles-sur-Mer is a place of remembrance dedicated to the Canadian soldiers who contributed to the liberation of France. It recalls their commitment, their sacrifice and the impact of the war on their country.
French sector
Although the D-Day landings are often associated with the American, British and Canadian forces, the French also took part in the fighting from 6 June 1944. The 1st Battalion of Fusiliers Marins Commandos, better known as the Commandos Kieffer, was made up of 177 Frenchmen, the only soldiers from their country to land that day. They were integrated into British troops and fought at Sword Beach, playing a key role in the capture of Ouistreham and the Atlantic Wall bunkers.
At the same time, the French Resistance played an essential role in the success of the D-Day landings. By providing intelligence and sabotaging German railway lines and communications, the Resistance slowed enemy reinforcements considerably, thus facilitating the advance of the Allied troops. Today, museums and memorials such as the Musée de la Résistance in Falaise pay tribute to these fighters in the shadows.