D-Day in Normandie June 1944

We will always remember June 6th 1944. Normandy, and more precisely the coast side of the Calvados, was the theater of the first interventions of the Allies.
Many soldiers lost their lives during the desperate fightings and bombings.
June 6th 1944, is the beginning of a long and liberating fight for freedom in Normandy, spreading out its wings throughout France and the rest of Europe during the following months.

Omaha Beach (June 6th 1944) : Chronology

Most of the events of D-Day in 1944 where located on the beaches of Colleville-sur-Mer, Saint-Laurent and Vierville.

June 1940 : The coast side of the Bessin is invaded by the German army.
1942 : Germany occupies the complete coast side of the Bessin and starts constructing its defense along the shore (bunkers).
End of 1943 : With the nomination of marshal Rommel, the defense of the West-front is intesified: increase of bombing, more air and sea trafic.
June 5th 1944 : The weather is very bad in the United Kingdom and the sea is rough near the French coasts. The surveillance was partly slackened off on this Monday, the preceding day. The parachute droppings at night and the early morning attacks were a total surprise for the Germans.
During the night of June 5th-6th 1944 : Intensif bombing of the whole area.
6 juin 1944: D-Day on the beaches of Colleville, St-Laurent and Vierville. The American troops loose one thousand of their G.I.'s in only a few hours on these landing grounds before climbing the cliffs of Colleville at 7.30 AM . At 8.00 AM, the first American troops arrive at the villages of Colleville, Vierville and Saint-Laurent.

The beaches of these 3 villages were called "Bloody" Omaha Beach. It remained one of the most important places of D-Day and it was the witness of one of history's greatest confrontations. It was here that the final victory of the Allied forces started. The battles at Omaha Beach were one of the toughest and one of the most difficult the Allies endured, as we can easely imagine while visiting the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-mer.