Paul, our local tour guide in Normandy, took us to Arromanches and Mulberry harbor.

 

     The Germans had destroyed many of the ports along the coast.  The Allies needed a deep water port that could operate 24 hours a day to be able to supply their troops in the field with food, fuel, ammunition, mail, clothing, etc.  To complicate matters, there was a large tidal distance between low tide and high tide in Normandy — boats in the harbors rest on the sand and raise back up during high tide.

     To compensate for these challenges, Allied engineers were forced to build the largest deep water port in history using large concrete caissons that were designed create a protective breakwater for the pier.

     Over 200 were constructed and towed into place all the way from England.  They were filled with compressed air and could sink or float as necessary.   It was designed to only be used for a few months, but ended up being used for several years.  These concrete caissons were outfitted with anti-aircraft guns and barrage balloons that had metal cables preventing enemy planes from attacking the port (see picture of barrage balloons below).

     In addition, they built floating roadways called “Whales” connecting the pier to the land for offloading supplies, personnel and vehicles.

     All this work on land and sea needed workers.  The Allies had hired French workers, but they went on strike wanting shorter work days and longer lunch breaks.  Instead of giving into their demands, the Allies hired German and other POWs to work.  I guess it shouldn’t be too surprising that the POW’s would rather have something to do than sit in prison.

     The movie, “The Longest Day” presents the Army Rangers assault on Pointe du hoc.  These were the elite troops who had trained in England.  Their job was daunting.  Land on a small beach, use rocket propelled grappling hooks and ladders to ascend a cliff face that would just crumble away.

Oh, plus Germans were shooting at them and dropping concussion grenades the whole time.  But they needed to take out the large navel guns on top of the ridge that were capable of hitting Utah and Omaha beaches.  You can see in this arial photo the strategic significance of this area and the large craters from all the Allied bombing:

In addition, they need to take out the command bunker that was used as a forward observation post by the Germans:

     Since the Army Ranger hemp ropes became heavier as they got wet from the rainstorm, the rockets were not strong enough to launch them to the top.  Many of the men had to use their knives to make hand holds and climb step by step.  When they did reach the top, they discovered that several of the German navel weapons had never even been installed!  They were just logs propped up to look like guns!  It must have been so disheartening to know that they had lost so many of their friends for an objective that was not necessary to win the war.  Also, when their reinforcements reached them, some of the men were lost to friendly fire — another tragedy of war.  Of the 225+ men who landed at Point du hoc, only 90 survived.

     Ronald Reagan gave a speech at Pointe du hoc commemorating the 40th anniversary of the assault.

     Angoville au Plain was the location of Drop Zone D.  High winds scattered parachute jumpers into flooded fields and confused the troops as they were separated by hedgerows, lands and farms.  Small groups of outnumbered American paratroops held their own against the Germans.

     The church at Angoville au Plain was turned into a medical clinic:

     Two medics, Robert Wright and Kenneth Moore, worked tirelessly inside the church for 2 nights and days to save the lives of 80 combatants and a child.  The blood stained pews can still be seen today, 70 years later!

 

     Paul told us the story that while the medics were treating injured American and German troops, several Germans burst into the church with guns drawn.  When they saw the compassionate medical care that was being offered to all in need regardless of their “side” in the war, they simply backed out, closed the door and left.

     The church itself took considerable damage during these battles.  The original windows were blown out, and overtime, the villagers (with a population of less than 100) raised money to restore the church and at the same time honor the men who fought here for the freedom we enjoy today.  The stained glass window with paratroopers is amazing:

 

     The first Americans to reach Normandy landed on Utah Beach.  The 4th Infantry Division landed 21,000 troops on Utah at the cost of only 197 casualties.

     Today, Utah Beach is a popular swimming and play area for families.  A few memorials stand in honor of the troops who took this location.

     Then in, Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, we viewed this water pump:

     It has a plaque reading: “An American paratrooper hid in the recess behind this pump.  Broad shouldered but lean, he was clearly older than his comrades, his face lined with wrinkles, his eyes pale and expressionless, his legs bent like a horseman’s.  He held his rifle in the crook of his elbow, like a hunter, Lying in wait behind the pump, he fired at the panic-stricken German soldiers.  He is said to have killed ten of them from this position, two of which at least 60 yards away on the road.”

     He also took out snipers in the bell tower at the church across the square.

     Inside the church I spotted this moving photo of soldiers crammed into the pews and around the altar: “The First Mass celebrated the first Sunday after the Allied Landing on June 6th 1944, at the Church in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont.”

     This Museum was built to house a bomber plane and has since been added too.  You can see the bomber in the pictures below.

Here is the unbelievable story:  “Over Blosvill, flying the Argon, in the early morning hours of 6 June, 1944, Charles Young, Pilot, and Adam Parsons, Co-Pilot, bailed out 22 paratroopers of the 101 Airborne Division.

     When, in 1983, the Argonia was offered by the French Army to be exhibited at Sainte-Mere-Elise Airborne Museum, Young and Parsons symbolically took part in the last flight of the Argon, with Parsons piloting for most of the flight.”

     We also saw the glider planes that were notoriously dangerous to land.  They often landed at night, and had to skid to a stop as there were no breaks.  Airborne troops arriving the area behind Utah Beach by parachute and glider numbered 14,000 men, with 2,500 casualties.  Many brave soldiers lost their lives in these gliders.

     Those who did make it to land had active and passive threats to contend with.  Active threats such as enemy troops and tanks, and passive threats such as antipersonnel devices.  The war department gave our young troops reading material about the latter.

   I think I would read this little book in depth!   It just might save your life.

     We were blessed to learn so much D-Day History as a family.

We give thanks for the multi-national cooperation, courage, and sacrifice of the Allied Forces during WWII who stood up to tyranny to fight for freedom.

“Our daughters are clearly thinking through the historical lessons they have received during our time in Normandy. We are proud of them for not only “learning facts from the past” but for being thoughtful and wise to see and feel concerned for modern parallels within American and international political situations. Hopefully they will grow to be wise people who will advocate for freedom, peace, and a refusal to let history repeat itself through prideful ignorance.” — Nicole