Omaha Beach

Omaha Beach, Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, Normandy, France, Europe

Omaha, commonly known as Omaha Beach, was the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944, during World War II. 'Omaha' refers to a section of the coast of Normandy, France, facing the English Channel 8 kilometers (5 mi) long, from east of Sainte-Honorine-des-Pertes to west of Vierville-sur-Mer on the right bank of the Douve River estuary and an estimated 150-foot (45 m) tall cliffs. Landings here were necessary to link the British landings to the east at Gold with the American landing to the west at Utah, thus providing a continuous lodgement on the Normandy coast of the Bay of the Seine. Taking Omaha was to be the responsibility of United States Army troops, with sea transport, mine sweeping, and a naval bombardment force provided predominantly by the United States Navy and Coast Guard, with contributions from the British, Canadian, and Free French navies.
The primary objective at Omaha was to secure a beachhead of eight kilometres (4.97 miles) depth, between Port-en-Bessin and the Vire River, linking with the British landings at Gold to the east, and reaching the area of Isigny to the west to link up with VII Corps landing at Utah. Opposing the landings was the German 352nd Infantry Division. Of the 12,020 men of the division, 6,800 were experienced combat troops, detailed to defend a 53-kilometer (33 mi) front. The German strategy was based on defeating any seaborne assault at the water line, and the defences were mainly deployed in strongpoints along the coast. The untested American 29th Infantry Division, along with nine companies of U.S. Army Rangers redirected from Pointe du Hoc, assaulted the western half of the beach. The battle-hardened 1st Infantry Division was given the eastern half. The initial assault waves, consisting of tanks, infantry, and combat engineer forces, were carefully planned to reduce the coastal defenses and allow the larger ships of the follow-up waves to land. Very little went as planned during the landing at Omaha. Difficulties in navigation caused the majority of landing craft to miss their targets throughout the day. The defenses were unexpectedly strong, and inflicted heavy casualties on landing U.S. troops. Under heavy fire, the engineers struggled to clear the beach obstacles; later landings bunched up around the few channels that were cleared. Weakened by the casualties taken just in landing, the surviving assault troops could not clear the heavily defended exits off the beach. This caused further problems and consequent delays for later landings. Small penetrations were eventually achieved by groups of survivors making improvised assaults, scaling the bluffs between the most heavily defended points. By the end of the day, two small isolated footholds had been won, which were subsequently exploited against weaker defenses further inland, thus achieving the original D-Day objectives over the following days.

Saint - Laurent - Sur - Mer (Normandie - France)

Saint Laurent sur mer è un comune francese di 244 abitanti, situato nel dipartimento di Calvados nella regione della Bassa Normandia.
Saint Laurent Sur Mer con Colleville Sur Mer e Vierville sur Mer è uno dei tre comuni che si affacciano sulla spiaggia di Omaha Beach , luoghi dello sbarco in Normandia del 6 giugno 1944
(D-Day) . Il comune è decorato con la croce di guerra 1939-1945 per decreto dell'11 novembre 1948.

Saint Laurent Sur Mer is a commune of 244 inhabitants, located in the department of Calvados in the lower Normandy.
Saint Laurent Sur Mer with Colleville Sur Mer and Vierville sur Mer is one of three towns that overlook the beach at Omaha Beach, places of the Normandy landings of June 6, 1944 (D-Day). The town is decorated with the Military Cross in 1939 - 1945 by decree of 11 November 1948.

Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer - Omaha Beach - 06/06/1944 - DDay-Overlord

Date : 6 juin 1944 - June 6th, 1944

Sujet | Subject:
- Reportage sur le débarquement à Omaha Beach le Jour-J et dans les jours suivants dans le secteur de Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, avec l'assaut sur les plages avec l'appui de l'armada alliée et la prise en compte de blessés américains et des civils normands.
- Report on the landing at Omaha Beach on D-Day and in the days following in the area of Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, with the assault on the beaches with the support of the allied armada. The wounded soldiers and the Norman civilians are cared by the medic teams.

Lieu | Location: Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer - Omaha Beach, Calvados, Normandie

Personnalité(s) | Person(s): --

Unité(s) | Unit(s): --

Source: US National Archives

N°:
- INV 60
- INV 61
- INV 62

American Cemetery Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer Normandy

Filmed on occasion of my visit to Normandy, France, on June 5th, 2004, for the Sixty Aniversary of the US & Allied Forces landing in Omaha and other beaches, with honor and thanks to the fallen soldiers.

Frankreich,France - Normandie - Saint Laurent sur Mer

Normandy St Laurent-s-Mer in France

f000224 La Cambe / Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer / Calvados

Référence: f000224
Support: Bobine
Taille: 234 Mo
Durée: 8:00 min
Cameraman: Muth
Unités: 29th Infantry Division
Date: 29-juil.-44
Localisations: La Cambe / Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer / Calvados
Personnages: (inconnus)
Thèmes: Cimetière provisoire / GRS / Sépulture / Cadavre / Medic / Afro-américain / Panneau 29th ID

Dji Mavic Pro - Omaha Beach (Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer) - Normandia - FR

f000045 Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer / Calvados

Référence: f000045
Support: Bobine
Taille: 122 Mo
Durée: 4:03 min
Cameraman: Shannon
Unités: 1st US Army / 1st Infantry Division / 137th ECB
Date: 12 juillet 1944 / 17 juillet 1944
Localisations: Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer / Calvados
Personnages: Bradley / Henry L. Stimson / Huebner / Patton
Thèmes: Repas / Cimetière / Tombe / Cérémonie / Engineer / Aumônier / Chaplain

f000097 Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer / Omaha Beach / Saint-Marcouf (îles) / Pointe du Hoc

Référence: f000097
Support: Bobine
Taille: 200 Mo
Durée: 6:49 min
Cameraman: Davolt
Unités: 9th Air Force / USAAF
Date: (inconnue)
Localisations: Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer / Omaha Beach / Saint-Marcouf (îles) / Pointe du Hoc
Personnages: (inconnus)
Thèmes: C-47 / Medic / Aérodrome / Evacuation / Blessé / Repas / Atterrissage / P-47 / Spitfire

4:43 - Le Major General Elwood Richard Quesada

6:20 - Le Major General Ralph Royce, en juin 44 il est commandant en second (Deputy Commander) de la IX USAAF du général Brereton. A ce titre il est l'officier de l'USAAF dans le grade le plus élevé présent en Normandie. cf. p012167

Omaha Beach - Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer - Normandie - 12/07/1944 - DDay-Overlord

Date : 12 juillet 1944 - July 12th, 1944

Sujet | Subject:
- Reportage sur les installations défensives allemandes dans le secteur de Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer (Omaha Beach), notamment des positions pour obusiers et observateurs d'artillerie.
- Report on the German defensive installations in the area of Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer (Omaha Beach), including positions for howitzers and artillery observers.

Lieu | Location: Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, Calvados, Normandie

Personnalité(s) | Person(s): --

Unité(s) | Unit(s): --

Source: US National Archives

N°: INV 460

Beach - Luc sur Mer - France (Normandy)

DJI Phantom Flying above Luc sur Mer beach. On a beautyfull day, showing the nice shore of France in Normandy.

Phantom 2 with H3-3D zenmuse gimbal, carrying a goPro Hero 3+.

Pilot: Rinus Havenaar

Omaha Beach, US Memorial, Arromanches, France Dancejill's photos around Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer

Preview of Dancejill's blog at TravelPod. Read the full blog here:

This blog preview was made by TravelPod using the TripAdvisor™ TripWow slideshow creator.

Entry from: Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, France
Entry Title: Omaha Beach, US Memorial, Arromanches, France

Entry:

June 28, Sunday

We go through the centre of the village. We are looking for some bread for breakfast. We find a bakery and have warm chocolate filled square croissants. They were delicious. There is a market along the street so we also have some fresh strawberries, samples of cheese from rounds. We buy a small piece that is 12+ Euros! So we ask for it to be cut in half. Then we find a booth that is roasting chickens so we buy a small chicken and potatoes for one -- he gives us enough for 3 big men I am sure. After strolling along the booths we head back to the car to put the stuff in the back and then cross the c**** and climb the hill and have a look out over the sea.

We are back to the car and now to find a picnic area for our chicken and bread. I guess we are having brunch, but it is already 12:30. The chicken and potatoes were very good.

Now back down the road to find Omaha Beach. For it being the 65th anniversary and I am sure lots of tourists were here we thought there might have been more signage, but I guess it is as it is. We did find the beach and went and walked along the sands. We could see bunkers up on the hill.

Then we went to the cemetery, first stop was the visitor centre that depicts the significance and meaning of Operation OVERLORD and honours the values and sacrifices of the World War II generation; a film and then looking at all the information on the preparation for and D-day itself. Sad that so many young men from all the countries lost their lives. Incredible feats that were performed, inventions created and timing to make it all happen. We enjoyed all of the visitor's centre and then we went out on the hill overlooking Omaha Beach where they landed, then on to the cemetery with rows and rows of marked white crosses or Stars of David. There were some graves for the unknown soldiers amongst them. There are over 9,387 headstones and a garden area of 1,557 names of those missing in action. It all was very moving.

From here we went back towards Port-en-Bessin and then onto Arromanches where there is a very large museum. We had thought about going through it, but it was mostly uniforms, guns and the like. We went for a walk along the beach wall. The tide is now partly in and we can still see some of the Mulberry harbour pieces in the water forming half a circle for kilometers. It was a huge floating harbour that was constructed for the supply ships to dock at and unload all the supplies on these floating roads. There was one of the road sections that we could get close too. Hard to figure out (for me) how this huge piece of metal floated!

We went for a train ride through the town and up to a hill overlooking the beach, then back down to town. It was a hot day and it took a long time to get going and then stopped at the top for a long time.

We then went to find a camp ground for the night. We drove to Courseulles sur Mer where Juno Beach is. This is where the Canadians landed. The campground was at the end of the town and quite nice. The woman working the reception was not a happy camper and told us she only spoke French, but when I didn't understand something she said and shrugged my shoulders, she said it in English.
Read and see more at:

Photos from this trip:
1. Expanding Table
2. Our Flag
3. The town of Port-en-Bessin-Huppain
4. Shells
5. Our Picnic
6. The town by Omaha Beach
7. V for Victory
8. Omaha Beach
9. Outside the Visitor Centre
10. The family the movie is based on
11. The story
12. Pretty Flower
13. Looking down at Omaha Beach Landing
14. The cemetery
15. Omaha Beach Cemetary
16. US Military
17. It is very big
18. How Sad
19. Memorial area for those Missing in Action
20. Memorial
21. Arromanche
22. Mulberry Harbour pieces
23. Arromanche Beach
24. The roadway

See this TripWow and more at

f000059 Utah/Omaha/Colleville-s-Mer/Hiesville/Ste-Mère-Eglise/Ste-Marie-du-Mont/Manche/Calvados

Référence: f000059
Support: Bobine
Taille: 337 Mo
Durée: 11:36 min
Cameraman: (inconnu)
Unités: 101st Airborne Division / 327th GIR
Date: 06-juin-44
Localisations: Utah Beach / Omaha Beach / Colleville-sur-Mer / Hiesville / Sainte-Mère-Eglise / Sainte-Marie-du-Mont / Manche / Calvados
Personnages: Bradley / Capa
Thèmes: Débarquement / LCVP / LCT / LST / USN / Engineer / Afro-américain / Cadavre / Planeur Horsa / Aérodrome / P-38 / Prisonnier / Medic / WAAC / Cimetière / Cérémonie / Parachutiste / Enfant / Char / DUKW

CEREMONIES DEBARQUEMENT ALLIES - 6 JUIN 2013 - OMAHA BEACH - SAINT LAURENT SUR MER - LE RUQUET

Normandie Mémoire - Lettres humaines sur la Plage de St Laurent-sur-mer

Exploring France: Normandy D-Day Beach Landings (April 22, 2018)

April 22, 2018
Paying respects to the soldiers who died on the Normandy beaches on D-Day has been a long-time dream of mine. A lot of the photos were taken on Gold Beach in a pretty little village called Arromanches-les-Bains, and on Omaha Beach in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer. To get to the Normandy beaches, we passed many country villages, yellow fields of rapeseed flowers (which are used to make canola oil), and small churches. Of course, the beaches now are tourist destinations which offer lots of lodging and places to eat and shop. Our final stop was the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, which is located on the bluffs above Omaha Beach, one of five landing beaches of the Normandy Invasion. Buried at the cemetery are 9,387 dead and a little over 1,557 memorialized soldiers. Included are graves of Army Air Corps crews shot down over France as early as 1942 and three American women.

The St Laurent Cemetery in St Laurent Sur Mere, France. HD Stock Footage

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The St Laurent Cemetery in St Laurent Sur Mere, France.

View of crosses on the graves and Star of David on one plot in St Laurent Cemetery at St Laurent Sur Mere, France. Men walk amidst the cemetery. A flag in the cemetery. Location: Saint Laurent Sur Mere France. Date: July 29, 1944.

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Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer: un mémorial pour les soldats amérindiens d'Omaha

Une stèle a été inaugurée ce lundi en hommage aux soldats amérindiens ayant participé aux Débarquement. Ce mémorial porte le nom de Charles Norman Shay.Toujours vivant, l'homme âgé de 92 ans était présent pour honorer l'engagement d'un peuple tout entier.


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f000171 Courseulles sur Mer / Omaha Beach / Port en Bessin / Calvados

Référence: f000171
Support: Bobine
Taille: 199 Mo
Durée: 6:49 min
Cameraman: (inconnu)
Unités: 9th Air Force / 29th Infantry Division
Date: juin-44
Localisations: Courseulles sur Mer / Omaha Beach / Port en Bessin / Calvados
Personnages: (inconnus)
Thèmes: B-26 Marauder / Bombardement / Armada / Bateau / Navy / USN / Cadavre / Cimetière provisoire / P-47 / Enfant / Civil / Prisonnier / Engineer