POINTE DU HOC

This portion of the Normandy beach was difficult to take from the Germans because of the steep cliffs.  Of the 225 men who embarked on this stage of the advance, only 90 survived.  They found that the Germans had moved their real guns inland and replaced the gun turrets with large timber beams.  As the American forces moved inland, they destroyed the German guns they found.
 

Much of this area remains as it was in June 1944, pockmarked with craters that look like the lunar surface, concrete bunkers and many large gun turrets.  The popular memorial dedicated to the Second Ranger Battalion is now fenced off from the publicc because it is dangerously close to the edge of the sea and authorities fear that people will fall off.  Nearby is the museum which documents the events of the  day.


The movie The Longest Day features scenes that take place at the Pointe du Hoc.  The Pointe du Hoc is located just between Utah Beach and Omaha Beach.