Omaha Beach is one of the most visited WWII Battlefields in Europe. In the past 76 years Omaha Beach became a term that for many people is inseparable with the seaborne landings on D-Day June 6, 1944. On this day, Americans, British, Canadian and French forces conducted seaborne and airborne landings on the Normandy coast which marked the start of the Liberation of Europe. In total, five beaches were selected for the seaborne landings. Two of those belonged to US forces. Omaha Beach was one of the two. The Three small villages of Vierville-sur-Mer, St Laurent sur Mer and Colleville-sur-Mer lay just behind the Omaha Beach Sector. They played a major role in the Operation Overlord and especially the logistic apparatus of the US Army. All the troops that made it off Omaha Beach on and after D-Day must have passed through one of these towns. In this video we visit the sites of the 1st, 2nd and 29th Infantry Division. These Then & Now photographs are a truly fascinating and interactive way to learn about history. For as you know, a picture is worth a thousand words. By taking these Then & Now photographs we hope to form a direct link with the past as we explain the differences between 1944 and 2020. May we never forget.
All of the Omaha Beach Then and Now Photographs:
Then and Now: German Concrete Bunker at WN72, today serving as the National Guard Monument
Then and Now: German Pillboxes part of WN73
Then and Now: The destroyed church of Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer
Then and Now: Crossroads at Saint Laurent sur Mer in 1944
Then and Now: Civilians in Colleville-sur-Mer stand around the body of a dead German soldier.
Then and Now: View over Omaha Beach from WN73
Then and Now: Troops of the 2nd Infantry Division move through Colleville-sur-Mer after landing on Omaha Beach
Then and Now: German Concrete Bunker at WN72, today serving as the National Guard Monument
Then and Now: Troops of teh 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division pass the church of Colleville-sur-Mer. June, 1944.
Then and Now: Crossroads at Saint Laurent sur Mer in 1944