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The Americans in Normandy

At 6.35am on 6th June 1944, 'D-Day' troops of the American 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions approached a beach in Normandy for what they thought was to be a walkover. By the end of that fateful day this beach would be forever known as 'Bloody Omaha'. Meanwhile, further to the West, American Airborne troops had landed, during the hours of darkness, on the Cotentin Peninsular to pave the way for the American 4th Infantry Division, who were to land on 'Utah Beach'. Two totally different stories, but, each equally important in the success of the Allied liberation of Europe. This tour concentrates on the American input into the Normandy landings and some of the following actions which would result in the retreat of the German Armies through the 'Falaise Gap'.

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Click on the thumbnails above to view the full size photos.

Holiday Itinerary

5-Day Break

• Day 1 – We travel to our hotel in Caen in Normandy.
• Day 2 – Omaha Sector (included). On this day we concentrate on the 'Omaha' sector, visiting the beach area itself, where you will see for yourself some of the difficulties that had to be overcome by the assaulting troops. We then visit the American Military Cemetery overlooking the beach, to pay our respects to the American troops. After lunch, in the small fishing port of Port-en-Bessin, we visit the famous German gun battery at Longues-sur-Mer, forever immortalised in the film 'The Longest Day'. From there we move along the coast to the German gun battery at Pointe du Hoc, taken, and held, at considerable cost by American Rangers. We end the day at the German War Cemetery, formerly an American Cemetery, which now holds some 29,000 fallen German troops from the battle for Normandy. B
• Day 3 – Utah Beach (included). This day takes us to the westernmost sector of the landings, the Cotentin Peninsular. We start by visiting the seaborne landing area known as 'Utah Beach', followed by visits to German gun positions which could have had a detrimental affect on the landings. We then move inland to look at the exploits of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. On the success of these two Divisions depended the success of the 'Utah' landings. We visit the town of Ste.Mère-Église and some of the surrounding villages, so important to the success of the landings. Ending the day at Carentan, as featured in 'Band of Brothers'. B
• Day 4 – Operation Cobra and Falaise Gap (included). Takes us inland, to follow the advance down the Cotentin Peninsular. The battles for St. Lô and 'Operation Cobra', Montgomery’s famed 'American Break Out in the West', which resulted in the battle for the 'Falaise Gap'. We travel down to Avranches, see the start of the Battle for Brittany and the start of the Battle for the Falaise Gap. Taking time to visit the American Cemetery at St. James (Brittany) before returning to our hotel via the American advance to Mortain. B
• Day 5 – Return to UK. B

B=Breakfast