Normandy D-Day Landings WW2

Well after visiting the WW1 sites we headed off to visit the very significant WW2 landing sites of D-Day June 6 1944. My knowledge of this is not anywhere near as extensive as the other sites mostly because it was primarily an American, Canadian and British offensive - we were busy with the Japanese in the Pacific (as far as I am aware anyway) But I did learn a few things on the way. Anyway we arrived in the village of Bayeau which was the first town to be liberated from the Germans. It is a very quaint little town. But as we found out later very limited in the TV stakes (No football!!!!)

Anyway we arrived latish in the afternoon/evening and found a bed to sleep in. We decided to check out the tourist office tomorrow for a map. None of us had researched sites on this place, although Anthony was reading a D-Day book and had some information (although he still can't read a road map and direct!)

So on Thursday we headed off first stop was the German Cemetary at Le Cambe which has 21ooo graves. It again has the stone crosses and shady figures. Apparently this cemetary was an American site until the remains were exhumed and returned to the US in 1947. It didn't become a German Cemetary until 1948. 3 years after the very end of the war. There is a plaque that reads "With it's melancholy rigour, it is a gravesite for soldiers not all of whom had chosen either the cause or the fight. They too have found rest in our soil of France."

Next we headed to a little church in Sainte Mere Eglise which is significant in that one of the parachuters landed and got caught on the church roof. He survived by pretending to be dead and the silly Germans presumed he was. The Church has a replica of the dude hanging off the roof and it also has one of it's stained glass windows made in rememberance. To give a little info about the landing apparently they parachuted in to take control of the guns etc before the beach landings. This was the first time in some years that allies were on French soil so it had to be planned down to a 'T' because the western coast was very heavly defended.

Next we went to the beach - Utah Beach one of the American landing sites. It is amazing to see the changes in how bunkers etc were built in WW2 as opposed to WW1 and how well they had lasted. There is evidence of WW2 all along the coast. It was very heavly defended by these bunkers and massive guns.

Next up was Pont du Hoc Ranger. I found this place the most fascinating of all the WW2 sites. There are craters from bombs everwhere. All over grown with grass and tracks from people running through them. They're not masssive but there is just sooooooo many of them all in the one spot. The reason for this is there were quite a few guns mounted here and the allies were trying to destroy the guns before landing on the beach (we all know how it ends if they don't get rid of the guns first. Maybe lessons have been learned). Anyway they sent in parachuters to take control of the guns - but they weren't there. The Germans had moved them 1km in land!!!!! ( They eventually took control of them and the beach landing was successful)

Next we headed to Omaha Beach, another American landing. Anthony was navigating so it took some time to find this beach - almost and hour (it is only about 5 min from the last beach and 15 min from Bayeau) Anyway we finally got there quite latish. This beach really doesn't have alot left there except the reamins of a floating pontoon which they unloaded the ships on. There is a wharf there now as well.

There is also an Americcan Monument.

We then headed to the American Cemetary ( The largest in the world) but unfortunately we got there at 6pm and it closed at 5pm. Well we will just have to come back tomorrow as we have to get back and find somewhere to watch the Aust V Croatia match. Well you wouldn't believe it but all the pubs in town that have TV's don't have the station that is playing the Aus game - only the Brazil game. Shit Shit Shit!!!!! So we check out the hostel and we get all excited because for half an hour before the game Eurosport is doing a lead up to the match showing Aus interviews etc. Great we think Eurosport will definitely play it - Wrong they showed sumo wrestling and boxing!!!!!! Can you believe it so we had to watch the Brazil game and wait for updates. It was very disappointing. But at the end we let everyone know it was a draw which meant really we won!!!!!! Especially after drinking a bottle of the finest €1 french red wine!!!!!!! Yes and this is how wonderful I look at about 4am!!!

So after having a pretty big night, we all felt a little sorry for ourselves. But I pushed through and checked out the British Cemetary here in Bayeau, and there are 17 Aus buried there as well. See I didn't realise we were involved in this - but obviously we are involved in everything!!!!

So after moving the boys out of bed we headed back on our WW2 journey. Next stop is another beach. Except this beach was a British landing site and was turned into a man made harbour. There are still heaps of the harbour wall scattered around and is still very visible.

Our next stop was probably my next most favourite site on the WW2 trek. It is called Longues-sur-mer. It is the only coastal battery where the Germans kept their guns. And this is what caused alot of problems for the allied landing. The guns are massive as you will see.

The final site we went to on our WW2 trek was the American Cemetary. Apparently the biggest and most famous in the world. It is absoltely massive and in a great location on the cliffs above the Omaha Beach.

Well that was the end of the D-Day sites, however, our journey didn't quite end there. We still had a few hours up our sleeve so we thought we would checkout Le Mont St Michel. The French castle that is right on the coast and gets surrouded by water at high tide. Driving up to it, it is very imposing and definitely makes a statement.

So then we were off to our final bed for the night in Paris. We didn't know how to get there or where to stay or even which side of the city the airport was. But we seemed to manage it finding the cheapest hotel of the trip, only minutes from the airport. Only thing was the boys flew out at 11am and I didn't fly out til 5pm so a lovely day sitting in a very BORING airport!!!!! So managed to survive one week with 2 strange boys and not kill any of them, drive on the wrong side of the road without crashing (an no speeding tickets - not that I didn't speed!)