Omaha Beach

Omaha Beach is one of the five beaches of the unloading of the June 6th 1944 in Normandy (Second world war). The heavy losses which the American troops will undergo there the D-day will leave the memory of Bloody Omaha , " Omaha the sanglante".

The ground

This beach extends in front of the communes from Vierville-on-Sea, Saint-Laurent-on-Sea and Colleville-sur-Mer.

The beach available for an unloading has a 8 km length. It is framed rock cliffs at each end. Coming from the sea, the beach includes/understands:

on the Estran: a band of 300 m fine sand with uneven of 5,4 m;
a shingle-spit stiffer inclined driving in the west with a dam of sea with a small road and villas and in the east with a Dune;
a marshy band of 200 m more or less horizontal by places;
a grassy slope of more than 30 m in height dominating all that precedes;
the plate of the back-country.

Five small steepsided valleys are the only exits carrying out of the beach towards the back-country. The first leads to Vierville (US code: D.1 Draw). The second, close to the hamlet of the Mills (US code: D.3 Draw), and the third, with the Locality called Ruquet (US code: E.1 Draw), lead to the St. Lawrence. The two last are dirt tracks leading to Colleville (US code: E.3 Draw) and in Cabourg Hamlet (US code: F.1 Draw).

Diagrammatic chart

Legend

CHARLIE, DOG GREEN…: sectors of the beach of Omaha (according to the US plans).

D1, D3, E1…: US denominations of the axes of penetration (small steepsided valleys).

red Circles with number: German classification of the defensive positions called Widerstandnester (WN).

German positions

The Germans prepared their defenses perfectly. The beach was " aménagée". The five driving accesses towards the interior of the grounds are strongly prohibited by obstacles and are, of course, under the fire of the defensive positions.

the obstacles

On the Estran, the Germans installed a whole series of obstacles. While coming from the sea, they follow one another as follows:

of the Belgian doors: high metallic barriers coming from the Belgian line of defense of 1940;
of the slopes: long oblique tree trunks covered with a steel blade, sometimes mined, supported each one by two smaller. Their goal is to raise, to see to break before barges.
of the piles: surmounted slightly oblique simple trunks of a mine;
of the Czech hedgehog S: metal whole of 3 beams crossed in their medium and anchored in Concrete.

Higher, certain parts of the beach, were undermined and on various accesses, of the ditches or the anti-tank walls were created. Kilometers of barbed wire were unrolled. Villas in edge of beach were shaven to release the field of fire. In the extreme west, it is one, on the other hand, which was strengthened and integrated into the defensive position.

the defensive positions

Fifteen defensive positions were installed, of which twelve dominate the beach. The Germans call them Widerstandnester (WN) and numbered them from 60 to 74. These positions all are not finished and their equipment is variable. In each Widerstandnest , one generally finds one or two guns from 50 to 88 mm, sometimes a turret of tank (6 on the whole), 4 machine-guns, 2 to 3 mortars. It is often about armament recovered in the overcome nations. There is not a large artillery casemate, but with Long-on-Sea (6 km in the east), there exists a battery of 4 guns of 152 mm able to intervene in front of Omaha. The device is frightening because it holds all the beach under crossfires and the possibilities of access towards the interior are extremely well dominated.

the troops

The German units which defend the sector of Omaha have a manpower of 31 men. They belong to two divisions of infantry: the 352 E in the west and the 716e in the east. There is however an overlap between certain units because a recovery is in hand.

The 352e division of infantry, ordered by the general Kraiss (PC with Saint-Lo), started to give an opinion in March. This division is organized around cores of veterans of the face of the east. It includes/understands three pomegranate regiments (914, 915 and 916) having each one two battalions with four companies, a regiment of artillery and units of support.

the 914 is in the west of Omaha beach.
the 915, ordered by colonel Meyer, is in reserve in the south of Bayeux.
the 916 (colonel Goth, PC with Trévières) is deployed as follows:

battalion I: in the east (towards Arromanches);
battalion II: between the St. Lawrence and Colleville.

the regiment of artillery, camouflaged perfectly, is deployed to be able to cover the beach of Omaha.

The 716e division of infantry is of quality less. It is ordered by the Richter general whose HQ is in Caen (at the place where current the museum memorial for peace was built). It is on the coast Norman since March 1942. It includes/understands two regiments of infantry (726 and 736) to three battalions each one, an artillery regiment and a battalion of tank destroyers.

the 726 is deployed as follows:

battalion I: two companies with Colleville and two others 3 km in the east;
battalion II: in Arromanches (Gold Beach);
battalion III: in Vierville.

the 736 is in the east of Arromanches.
the artillery regiment includes/understands 24 parts whose fires can intervene on the 8 km of beach.

American units

Forces of unloading

General information

The beach of Omaha was allotted to Ve US body (general lieutenant Gerow) which includes/understands three divisions of infantry (1st, 2nd and 29e), an armor-plated division (2nd Tk Div), two battalions of rangers, units of the genius and various units of support. The 2nd division of infantry and the 2nd armor-plated division will unload in the days which follow on June 6th.

Divisions indicated to unload at the head are:

in the west, the 29 {{E}} division (general major Gehrardt) of which it will be the first engagement;
in the east, the 1 {{Re}} division (general major Huebner) made up veterans (Africa, Sicily).

They are reinforced each one by two battalions tank, of the anti-aircraft units and other means of support.

divisions of infantry

Without reinforcement, each division of infantry counts 14.000 men and includes/understands:

a HQ;
a company of recognition;
three regiments of infantry, including/understanding each one:

three battalions of infantry with each one:

three companies of infantry (the nine companies of the regiment are " numérotées" of has to I; each one counts 190 men,
four companies of support (HQ, howitzers 105 mm, anti-tank guns 57 mm, services);

four artillery battalions;
a battalion of genius;
of the transmissions and services.

The 29e division includes/understands the 115,116 and 175e regiments of infantry. The 1st division includes/understands the 26,16 and 18th regiments of infantry.

the battalions tank Among the battalions tank reinforcing divisions of head, the 743e with the 29e division and the 741e with 1st are equipped with amphibious tanks. They include/understand each one:

a command;
three companies of 18 average tanks Sherman M4 numbered has, B, C including/understanding each one:

a command (3 tanks),
three groups of each one 5 tanks;

the company has is equipped with standard tanks; the companies B and C have each one 16 tanks DD (amphibious)

a numbered company of light tanks D;
a company HQ (groups recognition, mortars, tank of attack);
a company service.

the battalions rangers

Each battalion of rangers has a manpower of 500 men divided into six small companies of 68 men numbered of has to F. Each company includes/understands 3 officers and 65 men, is a command and two groups. They are units of elite having received a training of commando.

The two battalions of rangers (2nd and 5th) have, in fact, an isolated mission: to seize the point of Hoc (5 km in the west of Omaha) with initially three companies 2nd. The company C of this battalion must unload with the first wave in the extreme west of Omaha to establish the connection. With the signal of the attackers, the other units must join the point of Hoc directly if not, they will unload in west of Omaha and will join the point of Hoc by the ground. This action is the subject of a separate article entitled Pointe of Hoc.

the genius

The units of the genius include/understand the organic units of divisions but also of the reinforcements of which, inter alia, of the units specialized in the demolition belonging to Navy.

The fleet

Commandemant fleet is ensured by the admiral Hall who works in close cooperation with the Gerow general. For the unloading, they are besides both on the Ancon which fulfills the function of ship HQ. ships of escort, support WORN fire and services

Texas (shootings assigned firstly to the Point of Hoc)

WORN Arkansas

HMS Glasgow

FS Montcalm

FS '' Georges Leygues ''

12 destroyers

For that, it is necessary to add 33 minesweepers and some 600 ships moreover small size.

ships of transport

More than 280 ships of the various types, barges of unloading of infantry not included/understood, ensure the transport of 34.000 men and 3.300 vehicles.

the average amphibians

Multiple amphibious means were built for the unloading of which amphibious tanks and barges of various types.

The amphibious tanks known as tanks DD, official abbreviation of Duplex Drive (double control), were called Donald Duck by the tank crew members. They are tanks Sherman provided with a skirt with fabric which, drawn up vertically, enables them to float. Two propellers ensure the propulsion. The setting with water is envisaged to some 4 km of the coast. As of the arrival on the beach, the skirt is lowered and the tank can open fire and be driven. This material, imagined by the British British general Hobart, remained secret until June 6th.

The principal barges were called:

Landing Kraft Assault (LCA): older and slower (8 nodes), can transport 30 men, length 12 m;
Landing Vehicle Kraft & Personnel (LCVP): speed max 12 nodes; can transport 36 men or of the vehicles to wheels, length 12 m;

the LCA and LCVP will transport initially the companies of infantry.

Landing Kraft Mechanized (LCM): can transport 60 men or a tank, length 13 m;

the LCM will transport initially the units of the genius with their tankdozers.

Landing Kraft Tank (LCT): can transport 3 or 4 average tanks, length 60 m;

the LCT will tranporteront the Sherman tanks until the beach except the tanks DD which will be " lâchés" 4 km at sea.

Landing Kraft Infantry (LCI): exist in two models; capacity either 100, or 200 men.

There are also special ships:

Landing Ship Infantry (LSI): transport men, LCA, LCM which it launches;
Landing Ship Tank (LST): provided with cranes and a floating slope to discharge from the tanks and other vehicles.

Planning of the unloading

In the framework of the plane Neptune (plane of installation of the Overlord operation), the beach of Omaha and the point of Hoc are allotted to the force of attack called " force O" who will be followed by the " force B". The " force O" includes/understands two regiments of the 29e division (116 and 115), two regiments of the 1st division (16 and 18), two battalions of rangers (2 and 5) and means of support. It represents a total of 34.000 men and 3.600 vehicles placed under the command of the commander of the 1st division (general - major Huebner) assisted of the assistant general of the 29e division (general sergeant Cota). The purpose of this organization is to ensure the unit of command in the initial phase and to facilitate the passage to two divisions as soon as possible. The other elements of two divisions constitute the " temporarily; force B" who will unload in the tread and who is placed under the command of the commander of the 29e division.

Two regiments will unload at the head, each one on a face from 3 to 4 km:

in the west, 116e RCT (of the 29e division), reinforced, inter alia, by the 743e battalion tank;
in the east, the 16 RCT of the 1st division with, under its command, the 741e battalion tank.

These regiments are called Regiment Fights TEAM (RCT) because they are made up mainly of infantry but also of tanks, of units of the genius, anti-aircraft means, artillery and logistic and medical support.

For the grounding of a RCT (3 500 men and 300 vehicles), are planned approximately: 80 LCVP, 20 LCA, (?) LCM and 50 LCT (making rotations between the beach and the ships of transport).

The beach of Omaha is divided into sectors of widths different carrying from the names such Charlie, Dog Green, Dog White… in order to coordinate the arrival of the units towards their objectives.

The order of succession of the units is the subject beginning again of tables in a very precise way, according to time and by sector, the personnel and the vehicles to be unloaded with the related means of transport naval. The barges of unloading will have to carry out rotations between the beach and the ships of transport and a certain rate of loss was estimated. Missions of rescue of shipwrecked men are also envisaged. It goes without saying the authorities know that these essential tables could not be followed to the letter and that they constitute only one guide.

The first elements which will have to arrive on the beach are the tanks DD which one counts on the effect of surprise. There are of them 64 for the totality of the beach. They will be immediately followed by companies of infantry (four by RCT) and of units of the genius.

The units of the genius are articulated into sixteen Gap Assault Teams (8 by RCT) made up each one of forty men coming from the genius but also from the demolition units from Navy. Each TEAM has Tankdozer. They will be brought on the beach by LCM. Their mission is to destroy the obstacles to create 16 45 m broad breaches. This work is essential because the tide will be rising and it is necessary to allow the arrival of the barges which will follow.

As illustration, the table below gives a synthesis of the tables of unloading for the first thirty minutes.

Then will arrive, between H + 40 min with H + 120 min, a wave every ten minutes. On the assumption that the 5th battalion of rangers and the two last companies of the 2nd battalion would not be sent directly on the point of Hoc, it is envisaged to make them arrive on Dog Green between H+60 and H+70.

In the four hours space, the two RCT of head must have unloaded. Then will follow the two other regiments of infantry of each division and the various elements of support.

Execution

The setting with water

Starting from 3:30, the transshipment of the units of infantry of the boats of transport starts towards the barges of unloading.

A little before 6:00, aviation bombards the positions of the coast but the clouds are low, much of bombs cannot be released and the WN are intact. To 5:58, the day rises and the naval artillery takes over. The visibility is bad and the shootings fall inside the grounds, 2 to 3 km behind the principal line of German defense.

As of 5:40, LCT start with " lâcher" tanks DD of the 741 battalion to 5 km of the coast (further at sea, according to some; underwater excavations carried out in the Eighties established that tanks with raised skirt and chimney of chief-tank in position ran with good more than 5 km; their device shows that they ran out of their LCT, therefore well on the open sea. It seems probable that the sailors frightened by the strength of enemy fire released " leurs" tanks too quickly, therefore too far.) Covered by the strong swell (hollow of 1,5 m), 16 tanks DD of the company C run rather quickly. At the company B, 13 tanks are launched but 2 only will manage to reach the beach; the 3 last could be unloaded on the estran by their LCT. The 741e battalion tank will begin the combat with only the third of its tanks. The 743e battalion tank has more chance. Informed of the problems of the 741e, the commander decides to take the risk to make bring all his tanks on the beach by the LCT.

The first wave

As of 6:25, the first wave reaches the beach. They are teams of the genius which arrive in first, immediately followed then exceeded by the eight companies of infantry. The tanks brought by LCT arrive a few minutes later. The 2 Sherman DD survivors are also on the beach. The unit counts 1450 men, an about sixty tanks and various machines of the genius. The majority of the units arrive however more at the east that envisaged (sometimes more than one km); the marine current made derive the barges. Following the shootings of German artillery, several barges are run and nearly 150 men manage to gain the beach with the stroke.

In accordance with the orders, the Germans do not reveal their positions remained intact. They wait until the troops unload to open fire. The first eight American companies of the 116e RCT (E, F, G, A) and of the 16th RCT (L, I, E, F) are decimated. The infantrymen shelter, as they can, behind the obstacles of the beaches or the shingle-spit. Like points out it an American officer, there is not even a shell hole to safeguard itself. The men of the genious who must open breaches through the obstacles before the tide does not go up also undergo important losses.

The photographer of war Robert Capa, which unloaded with the company E of 116e RCT in Easy Red, takes the first photographs of the unloading. The situation is catastrophic. The only positive point is at the extreme west of the beach where the company C of the 2nd battalion of rangers succeeded in reaching the foot of cliff. At the same moment, to 5 km from there, three other companies of this battalion must seize the Pointe of Hoc. The company C is charged to unload in Omaha to carry out the junction with them. She will manage to pass just to the west of the WN 73 to attack it with reverse. Others rangers, always at sea, await point of Hoc the signal to join, if not they will also unload in Omaha.

The second wave

Starting from 7:00, the barges arrive which bring the second wave. New companies of infantry and the rangers unload. The general sergeant Dimensioned, associates with the commander of the 29e division arrives at Dog White. He stimulates the men. The 5th battalion of rangers, with some companies of infantry, manages to reach the plate between the WN 70 and 68.

Towards 8:15, the helped rangers of the infantrymen make a first breakthrough in direction of Vierville. To the east, colonel Taylor, ordering of the 16 RCT, manages to make pass a group of men between the WN 64 and besides 62.On will retain a maxim launched by Taylor on the beach: " There are nothing any more but two kinds of soldiers on this beach; those which died and those which will die! Then we from there move! "

With 9:00, to the extreme is beach, the WN60 goes after being overflowed.

With 10:00, three openings succeeded but the situation remains desperate. Two destroyers approach up to 1 km the coast and carry out a shooting of precision on defenses. The access road of Ruquet (E1) can be open.

After 10 a.m.

With 10:30, the tide is high. The 18 and 115 RCT start to unload. With the assistance of naval artillery, the WN fall the ones after the others except the WN 66 and 68 which will hold until the evening. Meanwhile, the Germans counter-attack but are pushed back. The German artillery starts to weaken, it starts to miss ammunition. Among Americans, the naval support is made more effective and reduced certain WN. The LCI can approach in front of Ruquet (E1). The engineers arrange a driving access to the St. Lawrence and allowing the routing of the vehicles and the material. At the beginning of afternoon, the GI occupy the top of Vierville. The evening, the penetration is however only from 2 to 3 km. There is always in Colleville of the Germans who try exfiltrer; the majority will be captured.

Assessment of the first day

The objectives envisaged (8 km inside the grounds) are not achieved. The junction with the point of Hoc is not even carried out but the released perimeter is sufficient to be able to feed the head of bridge.
34.000 men and 2.800 vehicles unloaded but only 100 T of freight instead of 2.400 T envisaged. The losses in material are important. The human losses almost 1.000 are killed and 2.000 wounded and disappeared (fifteen times more than at Utah Beach). It is estimated that a quarter of the losses are due to drownings.

Following days

The head of bridge increases and lost time is made up for. The June 7th and 8th, the 2nd division of infantry unloads, followed the 10 by the 2nd armor-plated division. An airfield is built as of the 8; it will allow the evacuation of many casualties. An artificial harbor Mulberry is assembled off the St. Lawrence. Contrary to his twin brother of Arromanches, it will not resist the storm from June 19th to 22nd. The infrastructure however will be adapted to facilitate transshipments towards the beach.

Conclusions

Omaha Beach was certainly, among the five beaches, that which had the most unfavourable relief for an unloading.

Many imponderable factors harmed the operation:

the bad visibility prevented the neutralization of defense by the bombers and naval artillery;
the state of the sea and a marine current more extremely than envisaged caused the capsizing of many barges and 27 tanks DD out of 29. That also caused chaos in the order and the places of unloading;
the installation of the 352 E German division is posterior in the plans.

The naval artillery does not seem to have been with the height. The visibility was certainly not ideal but the ships probably remained too far away from the coast. Only, the approach of two destroyers after 10 a.m. could resolve the situation.

The lack of tanks to support the first wave was cruelly felt. Twenty-nine tanks DD, of which 27 ran, were probably released too much far at sea (more than 5 km). They had not been conceived to face hollows of more than 1 m 50. On the other beaches, it was held by it account and the tanks were launched much more close and could fulfill their mission. The current also probably led the tanks not to remain perpendicular to the waves in order to keep the course. The sides, less protected than the prow, were more easily submerged by the sea. The lack of dispersion of other tanks DD brought directly in LCT until the beach in made easier targets. Nevertheless, the tanks which “survived” are proven decisive. They saved the day , will say a commander of battalion of infantry.

The rangers were shown particularly effective; what proves the utility of well trained troops of elite.

The openings between the German positions proved to be beneficial because they made it possible to attack the WN at their weak point, i.e. by behind.

No counter-attack of scale could be carried out by the Germans.

The fulgurating opening carried out in the days which followed by the Americans made forget tramplings of the D-day on Omaha but will never make forget the losses in human lives. The beach will remain for the history “Omaha the bloody one”.

See too

Internal bonds

External bonds

Normandy memory, historical space: '' Omaha Beach ''
DDay-Overlord.com - Omaha Beach: history and photographs of the beach of unloading.
Specialized site Omaha Beach reports complete Site with many very varied documents, the charts are very precise (some in Flash) - Descriptive detailed of the operations - the Councils for the visit of the site.
Specialized site on German with Omaha Beach
D-Day - inventory of fixtures: Omaha Beach Course of operation of June 6th, 1944 on Omaha Beach.
http://www.oti-omaha.fr/: Official site of the tourist bureau of Omaha Beach - Infos general over on June 6th, 1944 with Omaha Beach.
Site of the commune of Saint Laurent on Mer- Saint Laurent is located in the middle of the beach of Omaha Beach: official site of the commune with many very varied documents,
Sito italiano sullo sbarco in Normandia

References

Overlord conceived by Georges Bernage, Heimdal Editions, ISBN 2.84048.019.0
Henri Bernard, professor at the military royal School, the war and its evolution through the centuries .
R.W. Thompson, the D-day , editions Marabout.

Duty to remember

This beach is an important place of memory of the Second world war, with the American cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer which overhangs the beach.

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