fter joining up the five beaches and establishing a firm beachhead covering 50 miles along the Channel coastline,
the Allies proceeded to implement their plan. Whilst the British brought pressure to bear in the Caen direction drawing the German tank divisions around the regional capital the Americans broke out from Utah towards Barneville to cut off the Cotentin Peninsula. Following the capture of the major continental port of Cherbourg in late June they attempted to break through the German defences southwards whilst at the other end of the front the British made efforts to clear the Caen sector.
The second fortnight in July saw three great successes: the liberation of Caen the capture of St-Lô and the breakthrough southwards towards Granville and Avranches. After a fruitless attempt at cutting off a section of Patton's Army in the Mortain counter-attack the Germans whose resistance was weakening began their withdrawal to the Seine. However in a great two-pronged attack by the British, Canadians and Poles in the North and the Americans and Lercler's French coming from Alençon in the south, part of two German armies were trapped in the Falaise-Chambois pocket (the 'Corridor of Death' at Montormel).
This brought the Battle of Normandy to a close at Tournai-sur-Dives on 21st August 1944. The Allies had pulled off their first victory on the continent. Three days later, they crossed the seine and entered Paris.
Landing Beaches of WWII
History & Landmarks
Musée de la Batterie de Merville - Merville-Franceville. This museum retraces the conditions and unfolding of the operation carried out by British 6th Airbourne Div. Mémorial Pegasus - Ranville-Benouville. At dawn on 6th June 1944 the first allied troops arrived in Ranville-Benouville. Relive their story and learn about their heroic combat to liberate the region.
Musée du Mur de l'Atlantique - Ouistreham. In a former artillery range-finding post on the Atlantic Wall, this restored and re-equipped concrete tower is the only one of its kind.
Centre Juno Beach - Courseulles-sur-Mer. The only Canadian Museum on the Landing Beaches, the Juno Beach Centre explains the role of Canada in the Second World War.
Musée America Gold Beach - Ver-sur-Mer. This museum recounts the 1st airmail flight between the USA and France, together with a retrospective of the D-Day landing and the British beachhead on Gold Beach. Arromanches 360 - Arromanches. This 360º film show of events is an unfogettable experience.
Musée du Débarquement - Arromanches. This museum is dedicated to the incredible feat of technology achieved by the British in building and setting up the artificial harbour.
Batterie de Longues - Longues-sur-Mer. This german artillery battery, which gave the Allied ships a pounding on the morning of the 6th June, is the only coastal battery to have kept its guns.
Musée des Epaves sous-marines du Débarquement - Port-en-Bessin. Collection of impressive remains and personal items found in the great warships sunk on/around 6 June 1944.
Musée Mémorial de la Bataille de Normandie - Bayeux. Located in the first town in France to be liberated, this museum's displays offer a better understanding of this decisive action in the liberationof Western Europe.
Cimetière Amêricain - Colleville-sur-Mer. Overlooking Omaha Beach, the American cemetery contains 9,387 perfectly aligned white crosses on a 170-acre plot and a visitors centre.
Musée Mémorial d'Omaha Beach - Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer. This 1200m2 museum has a fine collection of uniforms, arms, vehicles and personal effects.
Cimetière Militaire Allemand - La Cambe. This impressive necropolis brings together over 7 acres of 213300 soldiers who fell during the fighting in 1944.
Musée Airbourne - Sainte-mère-èglise. The longest Day is told in pictures and momentos of the operations carried out by the American 82nd and 101st Airbourne Divisions.
Musée du Débarquement - Saint-Marie-du-Mont. This museum uses archives and souvenirs to recount the military and engineering exploit of the American landing at UTAH.
Le Mémorial de Caen - Caen. Section dedicated to the 20th Century. Topics include WWII the reconstruction the cold war the political stakes and the construction of peace.
Opening times available on request.
