Day 11: Normandy and Area WIth Pictures

Day 11 - Sept 7, 2017:  Normandy and Area

Abbey d'Ardenne
The first stop of the day was a tough one  - we visited the Abbey d'Ardenne - the site where 20 Canadian soldiers captured in the Normandy invasion were murdered by German SS. We stood in a tranquil churchyard garden under the same chestnut tree where the bodies of two of the soldiers were discovered. 



One by one our boys were led to the garden, got on their knees and shot in the back of the neck by German SS. You could count on one hand those of the 20 men that were older than 24 years of age. Once word of the executions got out very few German SS soldiers were taken as POW's by the Allies. Kurt Meyer, the leader of the SS unit, was tried for war crimes in Canada after the war, found guilty and sentenced to death however that sentenced was reduced to life in prison. In true Canadian fashion he was released after eight years. These 20 men never came home.



Normandy American Cemetery
The American's landed on two beaches on 6 June 1944 - we visited Omaha Beach. Near there is the Normandy American Cemetery which is the cemetery on the opening and closing scenes of "Saving Private Ryan". It s a vast cemetery containing the graves of over 9,000 American servicemen who died fighting in the Normandy campaign. 



Standing at the end of a row you cannot see the other end. All of the crosses are precisely aligned so looking at the rows from several different angles they line up perfectly. I have to admit the American's know how to honour their war dead for their sacrifice and make sure Americans never forget. 



Musee du Debarquement - Ardonnes
The Musee du Debarquenment in Ardonnes is on Gold beach - one of two beaches that the British forces landed on the morning of 6 June 1944. It contains many exhibits and artifacts form the Normandy invasion.



It is also the site of which the British built the Mulberry Harbour. This was a floating harbour that was built in sections in the UK and floated across the English Channel. Once connected the large ships could dock to it, unload the payload of vehicles, tanks, equipment and supplies for the Allies the drive on it to shore the to the supply depots, It reamined intact for five months. By that time Antwerp was captured and opened to supplying the Allied forces. Remnants of Mulberry harbour have been washed ashore or still remain at sea.


Batterie de Longues-sur-Mer
A few kilometres west of Ardonnes lies the Batterie de Longues-sur-Mer. Four Concrete Gemran bunkers were located here as part of the Atlantic wall that housed massive guns. Bill figures the bore of the gun was easily 6" wide.



Today two bunkers remain in tact without any damage othe than the effects of time. The other two were destroyed by the Devonshire Regiment on 7 June 1944.









Comments

  1. Unknown10 September 2017 at 10:17

    I bet it was such an experience to be standing in places like that church garden. Seeing it now, and how beautiful it is, it is hard to imagine what it was like when war was all around you.

    ReplyDelete

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