landing
Operation «OVERLORD»
This large-scale operation was decided at the Casablanca conference on January 24, 1943, where the Allies decided to create the preconditions for the landing on the continent in 1944, under the code name “Overlord».
The landings took place on 5 beaches. OMAHA and UTAH (American sector) GOLD and SWORD (British sector) JUNO (Canadian sector).
General Dwight Eisenhower
General Clarence HUEBNER
Brig-General William M. HOGE
General Omar BRADLEY
General Charles GERHARDT
Major General Walter M. ROBERTSON
Omaha Beach:
The Landing
At 6:30 am, the Americans landed at low tide. With the German fortifications still in full swing, the soldiers had great difficulty reaching the top of the hill. At around 10:00 a.m., they reached the top of the cliffs under German cannon fire, and the advance was only 800 m for the rest of the day.
Losses were heaviest in Omaha.
3881 American soldiers were killed, wounded or missing on June 6, 1944.
A few images vintage
MULBERRY A :
American artificial harbour of Omaha
This artificial harbor was brought from England and sunk on site to break the waves coming in from the open sea and facilitate the unloading of ships full of equipment.
- 600,000 men landed
- 1,000,000 tonnes of material
- 104,000 vehicles
The remains of this port can still be seen at low tide.
The storm on June 19 and 20, 1944, prevented the port from operating at full capacity. Ships were sunk to plug the breaches, but the port remained in use until 1945.