The firstly day drove we with the car naaar Cap-Gris-Nez what does not lie far from Calais. There everywhere bunkers stood from which appear also that the Germans expected invasion approximately at Calais. On Cap-Gris-Nez were there a beautiful view concerning the sea and the landscape. After this for seeing we drove to a camp-site at Hardelot and our first day was already.

 

We drove as from Hardelot to Vierville Sur Mer where the next camp-site was. When we were on the camp-site it started hard rain and has we rapidly the tents on put and is we will hide. We have driven then still just as to Bayeux eat and this day unfortunately further nothing have done by the much rain.

We as from the camp-site with small road direction Omaha Beach have in the morning run. On the range I it found very strange. I try myself think in how it looked forward to there on 6 June 1944 but it does not succeed me. I cannot present it me. Even if I stand on the spot where it happened all. The sea lay quietly and the range saw innocently. It was a beautiful place where I could reflect just as quietly concerning what kind of terrible there have taken place on that spot. We its even direction water run but had increasingly further because it tide became. I look at the complete time me and cannot it but realise. Finally we walk back to the camp-site. When we to Musée D-day Omaha in has gone Vierville sur Mer. This museum was near the camp-site but did not find I myself real nicely because everything were put in one hall tickets by the things and  ready. I found eventual the also worst museum which I have seen in Normandy. Afterwards we have gone to Arromanches and there the vestiges of the Malburry examined port. Unfortunately it was on the time that we were tide there, thus we could not to the large concrete block-systems which lie there gone run. We then but to museum 6 Juin d Day has been. This museum was very beautiful. In the museum everything were explained concerning the former port which was in the war there. What and well was clearly explained by photograph and marquetten. After this museum to have examined we with treintje the hillock on have gone. Here you had a beautiful view concerning Arromanches and were there 360 degrees cinema. That implies that you stand in a room and around your gone there are all baffles true you get see a film gets. And it seems as if you stand in the middle of that spot. This was very beautiful and this cinema is also certainly a must for if you go also to Normandy. After we had examined everything on the hillock and is made have photograph we with the train has down gone. Run below its we quietly to the car. And with the car we went to the camp-site and day 3 was clear.

The road as from the camp-site to Omaha Beach

 

Omaha Beach

 

The see on Omaha Beach

 

Omaha Beach

 

Omaha Beach from the road to the camp-site

 

Gun that beside the parking of museum at Omaha beach stood. (Stood nothing at where the gun of was.)

 

The same museum.

 

American flag at the museum

 

Vestiges of Mulberry port at Arromanches (photograph: Bert)

Museum at Arromaches

 

Marquette at museum of Arromanches (foto: Bert)

 

Once again marquette in the museum of Arromanches (foto:bert)

 

The 360 degrees cinema

 

View on Arromanches (photograph: Bert)

 

Once again vestiges of Mulberry port.

We decide in the morning firstly to Point Du Hoc go. I about that on Internet had read and it in the film ' The Longest Day ' had seen therefore I knew what happens there were. But was larger than I had thought also was it very terrible impressive on Point Du Hoc sitting the craters of the grenade - bomb screens still in the ground. Also the bunkers are still the same. They are almost all and everywhere layers scrap pieces of the bunkers. In many bunkers you could take a look at also still but much more than scrap pieces was not see there. If you take a look at the abyss see you what the soldiers then have must climb. There also a monument stands but that does not say the so much complete area there is a much more beautiful monument. You see there also well how is fought there. You see to the spots still where the German guns stood up and I try it think me in how it looked forward to there then. But that does not succeed me here also it did not succeed me on Omaha Beach. I have already so much photograph and other things of then seen but I cannot it me imagine how it must be if you stood there at the found oneself time. We ran concerning the paths and I made from time to time photograph or dove into just as rapidly a bunker. Then we came at a bunker where you could with a staircase on and hence a beautiful view concerning the area had (to see photograph). Point du Hoc were very impressive because all bunkers and craters of the fighting of then still intact are. I could have looked at hours to the craters and the bunkers but we had by. We decided direction the American cemetery in Colleville Sur Mer go. Underway we came still the German cemetery at La Cambe against where we have stopped also just as. This cemetery was much less great if the allied cemeteries. These was dark with no ' sepulchre toes which put small stones on the ground among which 2 German soldiers layers in air ' but. It, however, a beautiful cemetery nevertheless was. And where I turn also really have stood still that this also but young boys were who in service were put. We ran concerning the cemetery and I looked at to the names and how old they had become. And most around the 20 years of age had reached. Young boys who had still a complete life for itself. We went up the large mount in the middle of the cemetery and we have there a beautiful view concerning the cemetery. He seemed as from above larger than as from downstairs. And I saw 2 soldiers as from above those thousands of stones and under a 1 such stone layers. What in fact complete strange was and actual I find that every soldier an own stone deserved. Thus the cemetery hears be still larger. After this cemetery we will the American visit cemetery to Colleville Sur Mer. There was a large parking place and a large monument. Also of it a large card was when what had been conquered by the Allies. then I looked round and saw the 9387 sepulchres I became quiet. I think of Saving private Ryan what has been here also taken. But that a film was. And those Miller lie here not real that had been invented. But these sepulchres have not been invented all ifs if the sepulchres of the Brothers Niland where Saving private Ryan on based were.. I run in front to the sepulchres and I at the numbers of sepulchre toes one one and I look at up and see all those stones and think: Behind every stone a tale sits. A tale which you rather yourself do not experience. And behind the most tales we never came behind. Because also already we know much of the war, never we everything will know because every tale of a soldier is differently. I look at quietly to the sepulchres: the names, age, date that they have died, where they came from and which division they sat. And sometimes to see I that there do not stand up but there only stand: There rest in honored glory. A comrade in arm. Know but to god. This soldier is never identify and his name at its stone will be never called. At some sepulchres or lie flowers with a note resist flags. That note comes of people who have known this man. What the notion also more gives to that it real people such as you and I was. In the meantime I hear the sea. The sea with the range where much of these boys have perished. Quietly I walk further concerning the cemetery and see I people who this memorable territory keeps beautiful, in the meantime I looks to the stones. And I cannot understand it but. Why?  I make what photograph and we run direction the car. But I continue look round always behind me. I think: Here I do not come commemorate provisionally no longer but also already am I here I your all will continue. Then the last sepulchre toe behind the trees disappears and looks at I for me.

The next destination is Longues Sur Mer. Here stand still a number of German bunkers with the guns still. The bunkers sit full ball breaches and the guns have entirely rusted. We examine the guns and the bunkers where you can entirely in. And from the bunkers look at you on sea where in 1944 thousands allied ships sails. After a number of bunkers to have examined comes we at a bunker from where no gun able. This bunker was the commando bunker and in this bunker also prerecording have been for the film ' The Longest Day ' I run down but then I of the trap expired I came that the bunker a half meter stood under water by the rain of last night and the day therefore. Thus I have been disappointed go up. When I was outside I met again that you could climb also up and I that but have done. With you provided a beautiful view with you everywhere sea and Right still met again you the vestiges of the Mulberry port at Arromanches. And I try proposal itself what you see ' in the film ' The Longest Day that to that to the horizon thousands of ships come sail. After this bunker we walk back to the car and were also day 4 in order.

POINT DU HOC                  

 

GERMAN CEMETERY IN LA CAMBE

In the morning we walk just as to Omaha Beach. And it did not succeed me to proposal it how it met again then. It is this way strange. Especially if you the film ' Saving has private Ryan ' seen and I try pictures also those concerning the pictures which I do not try now but place you try it but it succeed simply and it is complete appart. This time finds I still a German gun which hid sitting in a bunker. On this bunker stands a monument with: ' National Guards or the States '. If we are on the camp-site we let us drive back to Saint Mere Eglise where I had also already much concerning read. There the first has arrived what is notable the headstock with parachute which hangs to the church tower. This headstock must present John Steele which had ended up in the war also during the dropping in the church tower in Saint Mere Eglise. After a time for looking at we went just as the church in where we bought candle and still what made photograph of among other things the glass in lead mozaik in the church. After the complete church to have examined we to the Airborne museum in the same village have gone. Here beautiful things stood among which also Sherman tank. In the museum complete beautiful things were present. The museum had been divided in halls and in one hall Waco Glider stood where you can walk also by and within you saw also that these gliders not arranged products to land a second time. Above the Glider Rupert hung which I knew still of ' The Longest Day ' this was headstocks which were dropped off as a diversion and by the ultrasound of landing also really will shoot as a result of which affected the Germans in the war. Somewhere else the real para's were then let down. In another hall C-47 Dakota stood. By means of a staircase we could look at also on the dakota what very beautiful was see a time. The museum himself had further also still much more photograph and other things but dez solicit which I called were notable it most and found I also most beautiful. After in shop souvenier for buying we have continued to Utah Beach.

Range also this was impressively and still cannot I it me present what had happened there. We have looked at in the bunkers and to Vierville Sur Mer and we gladly wanted visit gone where still a museum was what. The museum was called: ' Musée Memorial D'Omaha Beach '. This was a beautiful museum with many things and also interesting. There was for example Sherman tank, LCVP ship. After this museum we returned to the camp-site. And the holiday was in fact beyond.

Omaha Beach with on top of the mount the camp-site.

 

Omaha Beach with on the context a bunker.

 

Monument on Omaha Beach. behind bars downstairs on the photograph stands still a gun (to see below)

 

The gun that under the monument on Omaha Beach stands.

 

View from the monument concerning Omaha Beach.

 

Board at Omaha Beach..

 

A number of Tetrahydra's which the Germans had put as an obstacle on the range

 

The church of St. Mere Eglise.

 

Headstock (John steel) to the church church tower (photograph: Bert)

 

Glass in lead in the church (photograph: Bert)

 

Course of Sherman tank, church and hangs out the flag in the Airbornemuseum in Saint Mere Eglise.

 

The WACO glider in museum of St. Mere Eglise.

 

Inside of the tail of the WACO glider. On this photograph is well see that these planes for 2nd a mission products not built.

 

Cockpit of the same WACO glider.

 

Rupert. (For more information see the story of day 5)

 

Dakota C-47 in Museum of St. Mere Eglise. (photograph: Bert)

 

Upper part of the tail of the same Dakota C-47

 

 

Utah Beach.

 

American and French flag at Utah Beach.

 

A Bunker at Utah Beach.

 

Sherman tank and hedgehog at the museum Omaha D'Memorial in Vierville Sur Mer.

 

The same considered as on the previous photograph but this time as from the they side.

 

Broken hedgehogs which stood in former days on the range of Omaha Beach as maintaining of the Germans and a broken tailboard of LCVP from the war.

 

A LCVP ship in museum Omaha D'Memorial.

We leave in the morning asked and drive back to the Netherlands after a small turning concerning the pegasus bridge to have made. That I certainly in the next travel to Normandy will will visit. It was a very beautiful travel but in fact too short because there is in Normandie so much see that in fact in 3 days it to see is not. We are actual but 3 days therefore in Normandy are and the rest were travel, what was, however, jammer. It was quite beautiful and impressive and I had in avance selected the most beautiful things and if I that did not have was done it thinks I a piece less nice is. If you go to Normandy must you select everything quietly simply even and examine there is all what to see. Because there is in fact too much.

I want certainly again but or longer will return because Omaha Beach and want see the American cemetery I still certainly a time and are there still a number of things in Normandie which I want see but where we this holiday had enough time too little for and I have therefore aside slid those. The holiday which I have was made a beetje of everything what. Strand, landing area of the para's, Point du hoc and the Mulberry port. That is the large things of Normandie but there its makes much more things where also a personal tale sits behind what on me frequently much more impression but that is all for the next time.

Omaha Beach.

 

The pegasus bridge which in former days by at had be conquered.

Martin Veggelers