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WWII History: This article on the American military cemetery at Normandy is continued from the previous page. |
One large hillside has been preserved with the original German defenses. It is within quick walking distance of the military cemetery, high on the bluffs on the extreme eastern end of the landing zone. The grass is kept trimmed and the area clean.
German Fortifications.
The concrete fortifications in this area were of course heavily damaged during the landings, and have been left in that condition, although now worn and discolored, with moss creeping over the portals and the metal supports visible in the gashes and shell holes on the concrete.
German Fortifications.
German Fortifications.
It is breath taking to stand on these relics and look down on to the beaches, all painfully close and quite visible and clear to the sights of the now destroyed German guns. The weight of history is tremendous in the incredible view, the American flag is visible above the trees on the plateau, and the entire landscape is now quiet and peaceful. Both the cost and gifts of victory are here.
View of Omaha beach from German positions.
Both at the cemetery and in Vierville there scattered monuments and memorials to the soldiers of the units who took part in the combat. One of the most impressive memorials is a tall grey obelisk on the crest of the bluffs over 'Easy Red' beach dedicated to the American 1st Infantry Division.
1st ID Memorial.
In Vierville itself stands a large memorial to the National Guard. It rests on top of a large German fortification, which has been preserved intact and sealed off to form the base of the memorial.
National Guard Memorial.
Other memorials include those to the American 29th Infantry Division (who along with the 1st Division were the infantry units assigned to Omaha), Ranger battalions, and combat engineer groups, the last two being critical parts of the support troops for the landings.
29th ID Memorial.
The beach itself is accessible by car for the first mile or so, and then accessible by footpath. The part of the Normandy coast that was designated 'Omaha' is around four miles wide, and was divided into four main sectors with the code names 'Charlie', 'Dog', 'Easy', and 'Fox'. These sectors were further divided by color, so that each landing zone had a designation of 'Dog White' or 'Fox Green'.
View down the beach from the sea wall.
In some places it is nearly 200 yards from the water's edge to the base of the dominating bluffs that tower over the beaches. This distance is shortest at the village of Vierville, where only a small sea wall and a few houses separate the beach from the bluffs.
View of the beach from the water's edge.
The beach itself has a natural sea wall, a sharp ridge or hump just off the water's edge that runs much of the length of the beach. Between the top of this sea wall and the bluffs are a series of rolling, swampy dunes. During the invasion this sea wall was topped with barbed wire and heavily mined, and the dead ground beyond covered by fire from the sides and from above.
Sea-wall Omaha beach.
There were five natural 'draws' or valleys that allowed access off the beach and onto the bluffs above. The landing forces planned to break through these draws and move onto the high ground, but the murderous fire from the defenses and the impossible geography conspired against these plans.
The first waves of men clung to the scant cover of the natural sea wall, pinned down for hours. Slowly, realizing the draws were too heavily defended, small groups of men made their way to the base of the bluffs, scaled the heights and attacked the German defenses from the rear, opening the way for the draws to be cleared.
America suffered nearly 2500 casualties in the few hours from dawn to noon when the beaches were finally secured. Those who never left the beach in life now lie on that elusive high ground, their flag above symbolizing their victory, not just on that day but the victory of liberty.
Looking out on the Channel from inside the Atlantic Wall.
