D-Day landing Tour

Sainte Mère-Église, the first Cotentin commune liberated by American paratroopers in 1944, is strategically located on Route Nationale 13, linking Cherbourg to Paris, and at the crossroads of five departmental roads.

On the night of June 5-6, 1944, the 82nd Airborne Division struggled to blow up bridges and establish the defense line. Flooded marshes were a major obstacle. Sainte Mère-Église was a crucial crossroads to seize and hold to cut off Cotentin and prevent German reinforcements from reaching Cherbourg. Cherbourg was essential as the only deep-water port for the Battle of Normandy.

The American sectors were Utah Beach and Omaha Beach. The British beaches were Gold and Sword. Juno was the Canadian beach.

Utah Beach was the first beach stormed by the Allies on the morning of June 6, 1944. Consequently, it was chosen to establish a beachhead in the Cotentin region to capture Cherbourg and its deepwater port. By the end of the day, over 23,000 American soldiers had landed to fight and liberate France. Today, the Utah Beach Landing Museum preserves their memory.

Captured on the morning of the 6th of June 1944 by Colonel Rudder’s Rangers, the site was also one of key features of the German defensive fortifications. The site reminds us of what an artillery battery was like, with its firing command post, casemates and shelters. Information panels.