Normandy Beaches

[Hopper]

During the summer months (the joys of the teaching profession) I spent a few weeks in Normandy. Amidst all the wine, cheese, wine, sun, wine, and wine, I managed to visit the 'beaches' - starting with the embarkation beach at Dunkirk, and then the full gamut of Sword, Juno, Omaha, Gold and Utah.

I have to say, it was a really moving and amazing trip.
I grew up reading Battle, Warlord, Victor, as well as watching the classic movies (The Longest Day, etc.) and so the names are so familiar, and the general story of what occurred there also, but to see and touch the real thing was incredible.

Dunkirk beach was particularly moving. It's huge, and there is absolutely no cover. The idea of 250,000 men just sitting there waiting... and hoping, for a lift back to Blighty. God, it made me shudder.

The others were similarly moving. I swam in the water at Omaha, which, when you consider the opening segment of Saving Private Ryan - is slightly sobering. It's a beautiful beach, as they all are - and I believe they need to be used as a leisure facility in order to celebrate the personal sacrifice that so many made... but it does feel odd.

On the other side, I wandered around a few German bunkers, and the overwhelming feeling was horror. It is horrific to imagine just sitting there, behind all that concrete, whilst the Allies bombed the hell out of the complex. Enemy or no, I did feel pity.

The whole area is teeming with history, and to cross Pegasus Bridge... wow.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share. It's well worth the visit. I can recommend a few campsites in the area.

To finish, here is a photo of me in a freaking huge shell crater at one of the German artillery batteries overlooking the coast. It's about 20ft deep, and although this one didn't hit, it would have made a big bang! And note too the 100s of others around it.

[SteveD]

That looks a great, and thought provoking tour there Mr Hopper!!

And that crater us chuffing huge!!!!

[Chopper]

Awesome, I'd love to go for a look. Its an incredible thing to think what went on there. Although, for Kiwi's the big push was Italy, I'd still love to see the home of my ancestors.

[Red Baron]

Thanks for sharing. I agree with your comments. I've been on tours of Normandy three times now and planning a return for the 70th next year.

The first couple of times, we found Pegasus Bridge languishing in a field next to an industrial complex; tucked away where not many tourists would see it. Just me and my two friends spent a good hour or so there - amazing feeling. That was a number of years before it was moved to the new museum.

Those bunkers are strange places. I think it's the cool darkness and quiet, which is haunting, particularly if you go off the beaten track and go into one alone. A shiver down the spine.

I was always amazed how few people were at most of the sites, other some obvious ones.

[meertoh]

Back in 1986 I swam in the sea at Ballinesker Strand, County Wexford, I had my Z Force ATC by my side, chock full of figures, Firefly took a dive and tried to escape but was grabbed back by my chubby mitt before the sandy undertow got him. I also frung the ATC down the sides of dunes, imagining Desert Strike.

About 10 years later, one of Mr. Spielberg's pals decided that Ballinesker Strand would make a good "Omaha Beach" for the new army film.

Cheeky f*ckers!

[Red Laser]

Steve we all know your ass makes bigger craters Sounds like a great trip Hopper anymore pics?

[Hopper]

Only just noticed the responses to this post - will get on it with the photographs. Not too many, but some interesting ones.

[Quickfire]

Missed this thread too - what an excellent vacation. Craters might even be from naval shelling, battleships had some serious kit back then ...

Paul Virilio spent thirty years surveying or thinking about the Atlantikwall, became obsessed with bunkers in every way possible, leading to his book 'Bunker Archaelogy' churned out over thirty years or so. Probably why, during his brief architectural career, he then built his commissions in the form of bunkers. Including a chapel. That might explain why his career ultimately took another path.

http://www.themorningnews.org/gallery/t ... of-bunkers

[Chopper]

I spent the day down at Point Nepean with the kids 2 weeks ago. Old Bunkers at the heads of the bay. Quite eerie. They were built in the late 19th century and expanded with bigger guns and radio equipment up till the end of WWII in preparation for an invasion. Quite an eye opener. I recall my Dad taking me around a similar set of Bunkers in Auckland. Luckily they never got used, although Point Nepean fired the first Aussie shot of WWI and WWII. Potentially even the first Allied shots.

[Hopper]

Point Nepean fired the first Aussie shot of WWI and WWII. Potentially even the first Allied shots.

Interesting Chopper. I have to admit to knowing nothing of the home front in the Antipodes. The massive sacrifice you guys made in both wars is rightly remembered, and your men are both celebrated and commemorated.
But it never occurred to me that you guys are so very close to the Pacific theatre and to Japan, and as a vital part of the Empire, would have been a clear target for Hitler. I shall do some more homework to atone for my lack of knowledge!

Missed this thread too - what an excellent vacation. Craters might even be from naval shelling, battleships had some serious kit back then ...

I think these were naval - they had spent a long time trying to knock out the bunker complex at Pointe du Hoc where that photo was taken

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointe_du_Hoc

Check it out on google maps satellite
(type in this in the search bar - loc: 49.395833,-0.988889 - and it will take you there)

Paul Virilio spent thirty years surveying or thinking about the Atlantikwall, became obsessed with bunkers in every way possible, leading to his book 'Bunker Archaelogy'

An amazing book. Battlefield archaeology is a bit of a hobby of mine anyway, but this book really touched upon things in a wider archaeological sense. in particular things I was trying to get across in the my PhD at the time I read it - especially the memorialisation of time and space. What struck me was how these things fix, permanently, a particular time period, they are symbols of that 4 years, and the space around them is forever altered by their presence. As Virilio says "organization of space would now go hand in hand with the manifestations of time".
I was applying this to tombs in the bronze age, but it works wherever.
And he has some amazing photographs as the link shows

http://www.themorningnews.org/gallery/t ... of-bunkers


Right, enough ivory tower intellectualism - back to my usual round of drinking and whoring.

Actually, if it ever stops raining, I'm going to wander down to a Victorian militia rifle range I recently discovered on old maps, not 1 mile from where I'm sitting. With a bit of further research, I also discovered references to Commando training there in WWII - grenades and live firing. Soooooo, I'm going to "pack up my metal detector in my old kit bag, and smile smile smile"

PS. I'll post some more pics when I get chance.