Normandy: the eastern end of Omaha Beach

Omaha Beach stretches along 6 kms of dunes and golden sand. Walking along the beach at this time of year you hear just the sea and the calling of the seabirds.

Seventy years ago the hillside behind the dunes was part of the Atlantic Wall, containing a sophisticated German system of bunkers and other fortified positions. The American troops landing here suffered heavy casualties.

The American military cemetery at Coleville-sur-Mer is located just behind the trees at top right of this photo. It is the burial place for over 9,000 of the US casualties (of all ranks) suffered in the campaign for Normandy.


It is a sobering thought that the number of Norman civilian causalties was as high as that of the Allied invasion forces during the Normandy campaign.