D-Day: On the 6th June 1944 was one of the biggest military operations ever carried out in the history of man.
This operation was known as “Operation Overlord” and it allowed Allied troops to open up a new front in Western Europe. The operation was overseen by the American General Eisenhower, assisted by the English General Montgomery.
Utah Beach in Cotentin was the code name given by the Allies to “Plage de la Madeleine”, in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont. It was the only beach in the whole department of La Manche chosen for the landing of 25,000 men, 1,700 military vehicles and more than 1,500 tonnes of equipment.
To provide support for those landing from the sea, American airborne troops were dropped into the nearby marshland. Their mission was to prevent the German counter-attacks heading towards the beaches. The regiments of the 82nd Airborne division led by General Ridgway and the 101st Airborne division led by General Taylor were dropped one after another between Sainte-Mère-Eglise and Carentan.
Meanwhile, the town of Cherbourg was experiencing traffic worthy of the great ports of the world. It was in fact the only deepwater port able to receive all the supplies needed for the troops fighting in the area.
Throughout Cotentin there are countless remembrance sites that are open to visitors: museums, historic sites, ruins of the Second World War, festivities, etc.
