Today we will be taking a Celebrity Cruise tour of the beaches of Normandy. It was an interesting day and quite informative about the landing on D-Day. There actually is no real Normandy Beach, as Normandy is the name of the entire region where the landings occurred.
While I had always heard about the high cliffs that were so difficult to access the most deadliest landing on Omaha Beach was actually a very long flat beach with limited bluffs. Unfortunately those low bluffs which were inland several hundred feet, were heavily fortified by the Germans. The invasion occurred during a high tide with the thinking that the long shallow beach would be best approached during a high tide to allow the LSD's to get further on the beach and limit the exposure of the troops coming in on the beach. Unfortunately the Germans had placed structures which were covered at high tide causing the LSD's to not be able to get as close to the beach and when the ramps were opened many soldiers immediately drowned in the deeper water. The Germans were then able to easily shoot the troops as they approached the flat sand beaches. Some of the other beach landing areas actually were the high cliffs that Normandy is noted for.
Prior to the initial landings, a small group of around 200 troops (similar to what we would now call special forces troops) landed in the areas where the high cliffs actually were located for the purpose of destroying several large gun emplacements there. While most of those initial soldiers were killed, the large guns they were to destroy were actually wood fakes.
We also learned that prior to the invasion Eisenhower had constructed a beach landing for the men to practice on with live ammunition that resulted in the deaths of around 600 soldiers. Apparently this was covered up until just recently. (Not sure how accurate that story is but that is what we heard.)
There were numerous remnants of the German gun bunkers.
The cliffs 
The American cemetery is actually located on the battle field of Omaha Beach. A beautiful but emotional site. I am glad we were able to visit the landing site areas and give thanks to those who made our life here what it is today. One more off the bucket list.
Tomorrow Brugge
Good Night all,
Shirl, Roger and Kat.
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