Battle of Normandy

The battles of Normandy is one of the great battles of the Second world war on the European theater . It is held between June and August 1944 in Normandy, and makes it possible the allied forces to open a new face in Europe, vis-a-vis the German troops. It begins on June 6th, 1944 - called D-day - by the unloading and parachuting from the first allied troops on and with the accesses of the beaches of the west of the Apple-brandy and the east of Cotentin to finish between 19 (first allied units crossing the the Seine) and the August 21st (closing of the Poche of Cliff), opening the way with the Libération of Paris the August 25th. Certain historians consider that the end of the Bataille of Normandy is completed the September 12th with the release of the Havre.

More than 60 years afterwards, this battle remains the greatest logistic operation of unloading, 3 million American soldiers mainly , British, Canadian but also of other forces allied (French Army, Polish troops, Belgian, Czechoslovakian, Norwegian Dutchwomen and ) crossing the Manche to unload in Normandy the D-day and the following weeks.

The objective of Alliés in this operation is to create a second face, claimed by Stalin since 1942, in Europe of the North-West (Opération Overlord), by the installation of a Tête of bridge which can open a rather fast access towards the heart of the Germany. The progression of the Italian face, too slow, does not make it possible, indeed, to hope for a fast exit in Europe.

The plan of execution in Normandy is articulated in two phases:

  1. to seize a head of bridge in order to take the road junction of Caen and the port of Cherbourg (operation Neptune).
  2. To widen the zone by the conquest of the Brittany and the ports of the Atlantic frontage on the one hand, to advance to a line Le Havre - Mans - Turns on the other hand.

This line is the objective planned at 40 days. The optimistic objective in three months (that is to say at the beginning of September) is a zone extending until the the Loire in the south and the the Seine in the North-East. If the unloading the D-day partially is successful, the continuations of the operation appear much more difficult and longer than envisaged with fierce combats in Normandy, known under the name of battles of Normandy .

Be a prelude to

The planning of the invasion of the continent of Europe begins the January 14th 1943 at the time of a meeting with Casablanca between Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin whereas this last claims with insistence the opening of a second face in Europe to relieve the Red Army which supports the essence of the weight of the war in Europe. The operational ray of the fighter plans and the logistic constraints reduce the possibilities of unloading to two choices: the Pas-de-Calais and the Normandy. Although the Pas-de-Calais offers the best beaches and a faster access towards the Germany, he is regarded as a too obvious choice being likely to be too well defended. The Normandy is thus selected.

The failure of the Débarquement of Dieppe (on August 19th 1942) showed that it is not desirable to directly attack a port to unload. Moreover, the defensive capacity of the large ports was considerably increased since 1942, making them quasi-impregnable by an attack coming from the sea.

The generals Dwight Eisenhower and Bernard Montgomery are respectively named supreme commander of the allied forces expeditionary and operational commander of the terrestrial forces of invasion in December 1943 and January 1944. At this time, the plan envisages the unloading of three divisions by the sea and two brigades by the airs. This total is quickly carried to five divisions by the sea and three by the airs by Montgomery.

The D-day, initially fixed at May 1st, 1944, is pushed back at June 1st, 1944 then with the June 5th 1944, this time making it possible to profit one month additional of production of barges of unloading. Finally, the unloading will be deferred to the June 6th because of bad weather conditions.

To delude the Axis and to persuade it of an unloading in the Pas-de-Calais, the Allies set up a broad plan of misinformation called Opération Fortitude. A fictitious army is entirely created, the US First Army Group , " commandée" by dreaded the general Patton, using factitious buildings and equipment (of which inflatable tanks), sending even false radio messages. The Germans, eager to know the place of the unloading, have a network of spies in all the south of the England. The spies of this network however, for the majority, are controlled by the Allies (operation “ double-cross-country race ”) and send messages confirming that the Pas-de-Calais must be the point of attack. Consequently of many German armor-plated divisions are put there in reserve.

See also: Operation Fortitude

Specialized military machines are developed especially for the attack. Under the orders of the 79th Armored Division of Major-General the Percy Hobart, amphibious tanks Sherman are developed, as well as tanks bomb disposal experts, layers of bridges and road genious. These tanks are known under the name of Hobart' S Funnies or the “menagerie of Hobart”.

In November 1943, when Hitler decides that the risks of an invasion of the France cannot any more be been unaware of, Erwin Rommel is named inspector of coastal defenses then ordering Groupe of armies B (defense of the north of France). Rommel is persuaded that the best way of pushing back a coastal unloading is to counter-attack using armoured tanks as quickly as possible. He thus asks that divisions of Panzer S be laid out near the coasts, but its authority is limited by the fact that he is not commander-in-chief of the Western armed forces, posts occupied by the marshal Von Rundstedt, and that certain armor-plated divisions (Panzerdivision of reserve) are placed under the direct authority of Hitler. Von Rundstedt, supported by Heinz Guderian, inspector-general of the armor-plated troops, prefers to concentrate divisions of Panzers more inside the grounds in order to be able to launch a massive counter-attack once the place of the given unloading. The agreement thus consists in keeping three divisions under the direct orders of Rommel, close to the coasts, while three others remain placed behind and cannot be freed without the order express train of the operational team of Hitler. The aerial cover is ensured by 169 fighter plans (what is ridiculously little compared to the allied air force). The battle begins in England with the construction of provisional ports which must be conveyed with the troops, the plans of rebuilding of the railway lines and the roads being ready.

The unloading

The combined unloading, known under the name of D-day (in English, D-Day ), represents the first hours of this operation. Initially fixed at the June 5th, the unloading will be deferred to the June 6th because of bad weather conditions.

The June 6th 1944, 1.213 warships, 736 ships of support, 864 cargo liners and 4.126 machines and barges unload 20.000 vehicles and 156.000 men on the beaches of Normandy and the Cotentin. The operations of unloading, they, will continue during still several weeks. The unloading marks the beginning of the Bataille of Normandy. This battle begins the June 6th 1944 to continue the following weeks until the fall of the Poche of Cliff the August 21st and the release of the Eagle the August 22nd. Certain historians consider that the end of the Bataille of Normandy is completed the September 12th with the release of the Havre.

The beaches chosen, protected by the fortifications from the Atlantic Wall, are gathered in 5 zones between Ouistreham in the East, with the mouth of the Orne, and Saint-Martin-with-Varreville, in the Cotentin, in the West:

Involved forces: allied forces (American, British, Canadian, French Army, Polish troops, Belgian, Czechoslovakian, Norwegian Dutchwomen and etc) against troops of the IIIe Reich (German, but also of the back-up troops resulting from Russian troops mainly overcome in the East which defended the Atlantic Wall).

5.000 boats, including 4.000 barges of unloading and 130 warships, are implied. 12.000 planes are committed in order to ensure the support of the unloading, of which a thousand of planes transporting the parachutists. 5.000 tons of bombs are released on the coasts Normans.

The plan

Of Is in West, the battle order was roughly the following:

  • the 6 {{E}} airborne division British, to which the 1st Canadian battalion of parachutists was attached, to some extent parachuted and air-transported in Planeur S, lands in the east of the Orne to cover the left side.

  • the 1st Special Service Brigade including/understanding the British Commandos No.3, No.4, No.6 and No.45 (RM) unload with Ouistreham in the sector Queen Red (with the extreme left). The men of No.Commando 4 are reinforced by the 1st Troop and the 8th Troop (including 177 French marine fusiliers of the commander Kieffer) of the 10th interallied commandos.
  • the 3rd British division of infantry and the 27e brigade armoured with Sword Beach , of Ouistreham to Lion-on-Sea.
  • 41e (RM) commando (of the 4th Special Service Brigade with 46e (RM), 47e (RM) and 48 E (RM) commandos), unloads with the right-hand side of Sword Beach.
  • the 3rd division of infantry and the 2nd armor-plated brigade of the Canadian armed , the 2de armoured brigade and the 48e (RM) commando with Juno Beach , between Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer and Courseulles-on-Sea.
  • 46e (RM) commando with Juno must climb cliff on the left estuary of the Orne and destroy a battery there (the firepower of this battery having appeared negligible, the 46e commando is put on side like a floating reserve and unloads up to date J+1).
  • the 50e British division and the 8th armoured brigade with Gold Beach , of the River with Arromanches.
  • the 47e (RM) commando on the Western side of Gold beach.
  • the 5th US Body (1 {{Re}} division of infantry and 29 {{E}} division of infantry) of the US Army with ''' Omaha Beach ''', of Holy-Honorine-of-Losses to Vierville-on-Sea.
  • the 2nd battalion of US rangers to the Point of Hoc.
  • the 7th US body (4 {{E}} division of infantry more other elements) with Utah Beach , around Pouppeville and the Madeleine.
  • the 101 {{E}} airborne division US parachuted around Vierville (Operation Albany).
  • the 82 {{E}} airborne division US parachuted around Holy-Mother-Church, protecting the right side (Operation Boston).

The actions of the FFI, French Forces of the interior, or Maquis help to disturb the lines of German communications.

The shore was largely strengthened by the Germans of the Organization Todt within the framework of the Atlantic Wall. It is kept by 4 divisions, including only one, the 352e division of infantry, is of standard quality. The majority of the other units are made up men who (often for medical reasons) are regarded as inapt for the face of the East and foreign troops, especially Russian or ex Soviet, the Osttruppen having incorporated the German army rather than to become prisoners of war. The '' 21.Panzerdivision '' is positioned between Caen and Falaise, the 6th regiment of hunters parachutists ( Fallschirmjäger ) defends Carentan and the '' 12.SS-Panzerdivision '' is stationed between the the Seine and the Orne around Dreux. The men of the latter are recruited among the Jeunesses hitlériennes starting from the 16 years age, and will acquerront a reputation of ferocity in the engagements to come. The marshes close to Utah Beach were flooded to prevent any parachuting and to make difficult an exit of the beaches.

Before the battle, the Allies carefully charted the zones of unloading, by paying an special attention to the weather in the Manche. The favorable conditions with an unloading are hazardous: between one day before and four days after full moon for reasons of tide; calm time, with winds lower than force 3 (less than 12 km/h) on the coast, and of force 4 (less than 20 km/h) with the broad one; not very thick cloud cover until an altitude of 2.400 m, and bases it clouds above 900 m altitude; visibility higher than 4,5 km. For these same reasons, the Germans do not fear an unloading on this date.

The assessment

00:05 Bombardment of the German positions between Le Havre and Cherbourg
Largage 00:15 of the pathfinders , parachutists in charge of the beaconings of the zones of jump
00:20 Landing of the British sailplanes near the Pegasus Bridge
01:00 Dropping of the parachutists of airborne divisions
03:20 Landing of the sailplanes with the heavy material of airborne divisions
06:00 Beginning of the naval bombardment of the coast Norman
06:30 Hour H, unloading on the American beaches
07:30 Hour H, unloading on the beaches British and Canadian

At the evening of June 6th, 156.350 men had unloaded. The allied losses amounted to 10.300 of which thirds out of of killed.

Material losses:

2 warships
131 LCT (Landing Kraft Tank)
117 LCA (Landing Assault Kraft)
43 LCI (Landing Infantry Kraft)
27 lost planes and 63 damaged

After the unloading

The allied plans of invasion include/understand the catch of Caen and Bayeux the first day, all the beaches having to be connected except Utah and an advanced frontline to 10-15 kilometers inside the grounds. In the facts, none of these goals is reached. However losses, 4  000 died and 6  000 wounded, is less than three percent of the implied forces, as important as are not envisaged and the heads of bridge managed to push back the German counter-attacks with the support of naval artillery.

The priorities of the days which follow the unloading were to connect the heads of bridge, to take Caen and to capture Cherbourg to have a large port.

The Anglo-American heads of bridge of Omaha Beach and Sword Beach meet with Bayeux the 12th division armor-plated S ( Hitler Jugend , Jeunesses hitlériennes) attacks the Canadians June 7th and 8th, by causing heavy losses, but does not manage to bore. During this time, the beaches are connected between them - Omaha the June 10th and Utah the 13 thanks to the catch of Carentan by the 101e airborne division after rough combat against the Fallschirmjäger. The Allies reinforce their face more quickly than the Germans. Whereas the Allies unload all their resources, the allied air superiority and the damage caused with the railway network make the troop movements German slow and dangerous.

Logistics

One of the main challenges of the Allies was to be able to convey without stopping during days and weeks, tens of thousands of men, armaments heavy, ammunition, materials, fuel, etc…

If the Allies are trustful in the unloading the D-day and in the creation of a head of bridge, the critical moment is located between J+3 and J+9, time to convey sufficient troops to face the counter-attacks of the German forces.

Since the attempt missed by the Unloading of Dieppe, they know that it is impossible for them to take a port in a frontal way. In the Atlantic Wall, all the large ports of the English Channel are frightening fortresses. The objective in the days which follow the D-day is to seize Cherbourg, large deep water port, by the ground.

But, while waiting to be able to have which it, the Allies will set up 2 artificial harbors, the ports Mulberry with Arromanches and Saint-Laurent-on-Sea, will unroll a pipeline submarine, PLUTO, and will thus organize a formidable logistics of supply of the head of bridge in Normandy Greece with a noria of ships. A storm on June 19th, will destroy the American artificial harbor of Saint-Laurent-on-Sea, obliging the latter to proceed to more unloading with very the beaches. Only that of Arromanches could be given in state. There will remain operational during 8 months and will allow the unloading of 20% of the men, vehicles and materials which will have been committed until the end of August 1944 on the theater of north-western operations.

See also: Mulberry, Operation PLUTO

In 87 days of countryside, more than 2 million combined soldiers, more than 438.000 vehicles, more than 3 million tons of equipment and supplies will have been unloaded in Normandy.

The battle of Caen (June 7th - July 19th)

See also: Battle of Caen

Supposing that Caen is the key position of the battle, Montgomery carries out to it three attacks between the June 7th and on July 1st before the city is not encircled and is bombarded the July 7th (Opération Charnwood). Hoping for a decisive opening by the plain of Caen in direction of Paris, Montgomery then launches a major offensive with three British armor-plated divisions, code name: Operation Goodwood. Initial success is opposed by impromptu but given resistance 1st and the 12th armor-plated divisions S supported by German troops of the genius acting as infantry to them. The British losses out of armoured tanks are important. Hitler, which underestimates the Americans, concentrates its reserves vis-a-vis the English. Those undergo the disadvantages of a too narrow head of bridge, largely exposed to the shootings of enemy artillery.

The opening of Avranches and the surrounding of the Cliff pocket

See also: Battle of the Hedges

The Americans, on their side, complete the conquest of Cotentin north. Cherbourg, in spite of its powerful fortifications, goes the June 26th. Mid-June with the July 24th, the progression of the 1st American army towards Saint-Lo is very slow. Obstructed by the Scrap-metal favorable to a skilful German defense, the American troops trample thus more than one month, not progressing but at the price of important losses.

July 24th, the Allies launch then the Opération Cobra. It acts, by a massive bombardment and very concentrated (" carpet of bombes"), to open a breach in German defenses in the south of Cotentin. The operation succeeds and, on July 30th, American divisions are engulfed in the open breach. Patton, with American armor-plated divisions (and the French 2 {{E}} dB of Leclerc) can then launch its large opening towards the south. It releases the Brittany, (except for the strengthened main ports), advances to the Loire, then returns towards north by taking to reverse the German face.

See also: Operation Cobra, Operation Bluecoat

Instead of folding up itself, the Wehrmacht, on order of Hitler and against the opinion of its staff, launches against attack baptized operation '' Lüttich '' in the area of Mortain towards Avranches (7th army and 5th armor-plated army), with an aim of cutting the American lines. As of the beginning, this German offensive is a failure. The scrap-metal, which blocked the advance of the allied motorized troops, embarrassment also the German counter-attack. The state American major surprised, because was not informed of the German intentions, and could prepare the reaction. But the counter-attack was especially dedicated to the failure by its quasi-absence of aerial cover, whereas the allied bombers made 2.000 to 3.000 exits per day, ramming German troops that the offensive obliged to be discovered. The American troops then take the Germans with reverse by the south while the English, the Canadians and the Poles of the First dB (gen. Maczek) closes the clipper which they formed by north, by occupying coast 262. Encircled in the pocket of Cliff, the Germans run away themselves painfully by leaving 10.000 dead and 50.000 prisoners, two thirds of their manpower still engaged in Normandy (August 21st 1944).

See also: Counter-attack of Mortain, Pocket of Cliff

Chronology

  • Night of the 5 to the June 6th, four sticks of 4th French SAS is the first parachuted in Brittany. The 82e American airborne division (Operation Boston), the 101e American airborne division (Operation Albany) and the the 6th airborne division British (Operation Tonga) are parachuted behind beaches of the unloading.
  • June 6th - D-day, unloading of the troops on the beaches Normans
  • June 7th - Heads of bridge established on the 5 beaches but, contrary to the plan, they are not connected between them and Caen is not taken
  • June 9th - Startup of the first aerodromes combined on the continent
  • June 11th - the 1st American army releases Carentan
  • June 14th - the De Gaulle general unloads with Courseulles, the heads of bridge are consolidated (beaches connected between them and controls ground on approximately 20 km of depth)
  • June 15th - Operation of diversion of the Royal Air Force which bombards the wearing of Boulogne-sur-mer in the North of France with 300 bombers.
  • June 16th - Beginning of operation of the American artificial harbor Mulberry with Saint-Laurent-on-Sea in front of Omaha Beach.
  • June 17th - the Americans reach the west coast of Cotentin with Barneville-Carteret, isolating the German troops from Cotentin North of the remainder of the German face.
  • 19 - June 21st - Storm on the English Channel which destroys the American artificial harbor with Saint-Laurent-on-Sea and damages the British port with Arromanches
  • 25 with the June 29th - Opération Epsom, offensive in the west of Caen, pushed back by German defense.
  • June 26th - Catch of the port of Cherbourg, strongly damaged after several days of combat and intense allied bombardments.

  • July 2nd - the marshal Von Rundstedt is raised of his functions of chief of staff of the Western face. He is replaced by the marshal Von Kluge.

  • July 8th - Operation Charmwood, the Second army British attacks Caen after an intense air raid.
  • July 10th - Caen is released
  • July 17th - the marshal Rommel severely wounded in a corrosion of its car by a allied plane. The Americans penetrate in Saint-Lo, in ruins. The attack cost 6.000 men the American army since July 11th.
  • 18 with the July 20th - Operation Goodwood. Armor-plated Anglo-Canadian in the east of Caen without signification advance but making it possible to fix the German troops at the east of the face to support the American attack in the west
  • July 20th - Assassination attempt against Hitler attacks.
  • July 21st - the wearing of Cherbourg starts again to function
  • 21 - July 24th - torrential Rains on Normandy
  • 25 - July 27th - Opération Spring around Caen. Bloody failure with more than 5.000 dead combined, primarily of the Canadians.
  • July 25th - Beginning of the Operation Cobra launched by the Americans in the south of Cotentin with a massive bombardment of the German lines (tactic of the " carpet of bombes")
  • July 27th - the German face crumbles in the south Cotentin - Opening of Avranches
  • July 30th - Wearing of Cherbourg given in activity - launching by the British of the Opération Bluecoat

  • - 2nd dB of the Leclerc general unloads in Utah Beach. The 3rd American army of Patton is operational and breaks on Brittany the following day

  • August 2nd - Rising of the Breton maquis which lead a guerilla to the German troops, helped by SAS British and French.
  • August 3rd - In 3 days, 7 American divisions passed by the opening of Avranches in direction of Brittany and the Loire.
  • 3 with the August 9th - Operation Totalize, in the south of Caen to try to encircle the troops armor-plated German parts on the counter-offensive of Mortain.
  • August 4th - progressive Fold of the Germans in Brittany on the strengthened ports of Saint-Malo, Brest, Lorient and Saint-Nazaire.
  • August 6th - the Americans reach Brest and Nantes.
  • August 7th - Launching of the Counter-attack of Mortain by the Germans in order to cut the Allied face.
  • August 8th - the counter-attack is contained by the Americans
  • August 9th - Catch of Mans by the Americans
  • 12 - August 21st - Escape of the Germans towards the East by the narrow corridor of Chambois and under the continuous bombardment of Allied the
  • August 15th - Opération Anvil Dragoon, the unloading combined in Provence.
  • August 16th - Cliff Catch by the Canadians and the Poles on the northern side
  • August 21st - Closing of the Pocket of Cliff
  • August 22nd - Release of the Eagle
  • August 25th - Release of Paris and Lisieux.

Political considerations

The unloadings in Normandy are preceded by a considerable quantity political operations among the Allies. There are many dissensions on the spot where the unloading must take place and on the course of the catch of the objectives. The opening of a second face to relieve the Soviets is envisaged since 1942. The Allies initially preferred to attack the soft belly which constituted the North Africa and the Italy. Churchill privileges this approach and wishes to launch new attacks in the Mediterranean and in the Balkans in order to take out of clipper large German armies but also to contain the Soviet projection which it fears. But it must yield to the preference Roosevelt and of Stalin for an unloading in the North-West of Europe, nearer to the industrial heart of Germany, the Ruhr.

Of Montgomery certain Americans do not like the choice who preferred the general Alexander to order the terrestrial forces. Montgomery itself has doubts in connection with the nomination of Eisenhower because this last has very little experiment on the ground. In this operation, however, Montgomery and Eisenhower cooperate well. Their well-known arguments come later, in particular during the Opération Market Garden.

Strategic estimate

In 1944, the German material and the armament were excellent. But the Allies profited from an inexhaustible production, a fabulous logistics and standardization of the ammunition. Without the Liberty ship S, cargo liners at duration of short construction on simple levels, never the Allies could not have gained the decisive battle.

The unloading in Normandy is expensive in terms of men and material for the Allies, although successful in the first time of the operation (establishment of a head of bridge), thanks to the experience gained in the former unloadings, Dieppe (August 1942), North Africa (November 1942), Sicily (July 1943), Anzio (January 1944)), and especially, thanks to the enormous material and technical capacities and with the perfect coordination of the actions. The failure of the 3rd division to take Caen, a too ambitious objective for the first day of the operation, will block the action for one month. The fortuitous catch of Villers-Scrap-metal followed by the failure of its reinforcement, and its recovery by the German brigade of Michael Wittmann, breaks the offensive of the British.

The Allies are confronted with the problem of the ground. They will have to progress in the Western part, in the Bocage, where they had underestimated the difficulties of progression, and where they are constrained to fight intensely by the blocking of the offensive in the East and the not-catch of Caen. This scrap-metal obstructs the progression of the allied mechanized troops considerably and supports the German defensive positions. The Allies thus only will trample several weeks in what will be called the Bataille of the Hedges , progressing very slowly and at the price of important losses. At the end of July, they then will use their air domination with the large-scale use of bombers on a restricted territory, applying the tactics of the carpet of bombs , used in particular before the bored of Avranches, to release a corridor of attack.

The battle of Normandy was not the greatest battle of the summer 1944. This title returns to the battles of Bielorussia, where the Red Army destroys 30 German divisions. It should be recalled that two thirds of Wehrmacht were then engaged on the face of the East.

But, if the western powers had not opened a second face in the West, the war would have continued even longer and the the USSR would have controlled a part even more significant of Europe after the war.

After-effects

Normandy was the French area, with the Alsace, tested hard by the Second world war. Caen, Cherbourg, Saint-Lo, Le Havre, are fields of ruins. Many villages were shaven. The roughness and the duration of the engagements, the massive use of the air raids by the Allies to dislodge the German troops their cut off positions and to cut the transportation routes will make more: 50000 civilian victims Normans, of which: 20000 in the Apple-brandy: 9890 in Seine-maritime: 14800 in the English Channel: 4200 in the Flowering ash and a little less: 3000 in the Eure. Hundreds of thousands of homeless person will not be rehoused before several years and the majority of the infrastructures is destroyed. Henri Amouroux in his work the great history of French under the occupation , brings his vision on the after-effects of the battle of Normandy:

For much of French, today, deaths of the Release perished in the maquis, in the German prisons, the camps, the row of the 2nd D.B or those of the army of Lattre. The French, those of Normandy especially, a long time under fire, when they were not taken between two fires, occupy only one modest place in the history of the Second world war. Their sufferings were erased by the joys of the Release and the horrors of the camps. And the image of fatty, of laughing Normandy, always carried it on the reality of assassinated Normandy.
Dietrich von Choltitz, ordering 84e German body in Normandy, qualified the battle of immense blood bath .

The memory of the battle is present everywhere in Normandy, in particular with the many ones and vast military cemeteries, monuments, steles or other panels of information disseminated on the many spot of battle, the many museums, all sizes of which large the Mémorial of Caen, of the streets which bear the name of the allied actors or the regiments having taken part in the release of the area. One finds on the coast, traces engagements with Blockhaus marked by the shells but which defy the time which passes. It is also still possible to see some concrete boxes which composed the dams of the artificial harbor with broad of Arromanches.

If the fiftieth birthday of the battle of Normandy (1994) had been the occasion to point out the hardness of the engagements and the military losses on the 2 sides, the sixtieth birthday (2004) also made it possible to evoke the suffering of the civil populations, overlooked these last decades, and to give a less heroic image of the allied armies. Thus, of the recent studies of historians showed that certain American soldiers devoted themselves to exactions. Like very armed in shift, there were plunderings and rapes, which are however the fact of isolated individuals, and who neither were organized, nor encouraged by the command, which considered severely besides those brought to his attention (several death sentences soldiers pronounced by the allied military tribunals). The long one and testing battles in the scrap-metal also caused turbid of post-traumatic stress and refusal to fight in American conscripts of which it was, for the majority of them, the baptism of fire. Reality was thus rather far away from the image of the young men idealistic (or pragmatic, according to the cases) fighting for the democracy conveyed by the productions of Hollywood or besides post-war period.

For the losses during the engagements, it is still necessary to add the 1.800 prisoners of war who perished at the time of the mineclearing operations of the beaches.

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