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Before storm at Omaha Beach


Before storm at Omaha Beach
Photo Information
Copyright: Kristof Szekely (szekelykristof) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 217 W: 63 N: 211] (1137)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-07-25
Categories: Nature
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-06-16 0:42
Viewed: 222
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Omaha Beach 61 years later... (photo: July, 2005) Taken from the American National Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, as my previous post.

A bit of hisory of the place, if you are interested:

Omaha Beach was the code name for one of the principal landing points of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944, during World War II. The beach was located on the northern coast of France, facing the English Channel, and was 5 miles (8 km) long, from east of Sainte-Honorine-des-Pertes to west of Vierville-sur-Mer. Landings here were necessary in order to link up the British landings to the east with the American landing to the west, thus providing a continuous lodgement on the Normandy coast. Taking Omaha was to be the responsibility of United States Army troops, with sea transport provided by the U.S. Navy and elements of the Royal Navy.

On D-Day, the untested 29th Infantry Division, joined by eight companies of U.S. Rangers redirected from Pointe du Hoc, were to assault the western half of the beach. The battle-hardened 1st Infantry Division was given the eastern half. The initial assault waves, consisting of tanks, infantry and combat engineer forces, were carefully planned to reduce the coastal defences and allow the larger ships of the follow-up waves to land. The primary objective at Omaha was to secure a beachhead of some five miles (eight kilometers) depth, between Port-en-Bessin and the Vire River, linking with the British landings at Gold Beach to the east, and reaching the area of Isigny to the west to link up with VII Corps landing at Utah Beach. Opposing the landings was the experienced 352nd Infantry Division, largely deployed in strongpoints along the coast — the German strategy was based on defeating any seaborne assault at the water line.

Very little went as planned during the landing at Omaha. Difficulties in navigation caused the majority of landing craft to miss their targets throughout the day. The defenses were unexpectedly strong, and inflicted heavy casualties on landing US troops. Under heavy fire, the engineers struggled to clear the beach obstacles; later landings bunched up around the few channels that were cleared. Weakened by the casualties taken just in landing, the surviving assault troops could not clear the heavily defended exits off the beach. This caused further problems and consequent delays for later landings. Small penetrations were eventually achieved by groups of survivors making improvised assaults, scaling the bluffs between the most heavily defended points. By the end of the day, two small isolated footholds had been won which were subsequently exploited against weaker defenses further inland, achieving the original D-Day objectives over the following days.
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Critiques [Translate]

Nice write up, great beach. Pleasing to see. Great work Kristof.
Dennis

Hi Kristof,
Wonderful landscape....
Nice colours and excellent depyhining...
Well done my friend.tfs.
Dr.Seyfettin Güner

Hi Kristof,
Beautiful composition and wonderful colours,
Very nice landscape.A bit of history...great
Best regards,
Guylaine

Hi Kristof,
Wonderful landscape....
Nice colours and composition.
Regards.
A.

Good job
Good note
Thanks
Burak28

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