The D Day Series. The Overlord Museum, a great collection of dioramas and fascinating exhibits in a museum which is just a three minute drive from the American Cemetery at Colleville.
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The Overlord Museum is particularly good when combined with the American Military Cemetery at Colleville and an excursion onto Omaha Beach. It has loads of fascinating exhibits from the Omaha landings and has some particularly impressive large dioramas. People of all ages will enjoy this museum, including children although people who have studied this period of history in depth may require a little extra information on some of the smaller exhibits.
The opening displays explain the background to the Omaha landings and here is a landing boat from the Dieppe Raid in August 1942. Although 6,086 men landed and the actual port of Dieppe was captured for a short period, some experts have called it a disaster with 3,623 men, mainly Canadians, killed, injured or taken prisoner of war. However, despite quite a loss life and of equipment, it has been argued that lots of lessons were learned and put into the planning of D Day.
Above; all kinds of treasures are in this museum including this document which is classed as “Top Secret” and is the list of where everyone should land.
Below; one of the many dioramas in this museum. This one depicts a scene from the Omaha landings with its centrepiece, Sherman Tank.
Below; on the left of this photo ia a landing craft. Have a good look at it and imagine what it must have been like to go through stormy waters and then ending up trying to get out whilst being shot at by thousands of bullets.
Above; part of a scene soon after landing. Note in the background various beech obstacles. The metal contraption was called a “Czech Hedgehop” and was designed to sit below the water and rip a big hole in any landing craft passing overhead. The wooden stake hammered into the ground had a mine attached to its top to cause maximum damage. One wonders how on earth anyone got onto the beach?
Above and below; two photos of DUKWs. These were amphibious vehicles that received large amounts of supplies from the larger ships offshore and carried all of this vital ammunition etc to the shore to be unloaded. This all took place before the Mulberry Harbours were ready for action to ensure that the invaders did not run out of anything. Such detailed planning to ensure supplies arrived was a key reason for the success of the landings. As demand grew, they not only brought across two harbours for the efficient unloading of ships, they also ran a pipe line named PLUTO, Pipe Line Under The Ocean, to guarantee supplies of fuel!
Above: a grappling hook, found by an 18 year old Frenchman and his father who farmed the Pointe Du Hoc before the war. The amazing capture of Pointe Du Hoc features as one of the most “daredevil” actions of the war. Firing a grappling hook, attached to a long rope, to the top of the cliffs and then climbing up the rope whilst under fire from German machine guns, was incredibly brave.
Above; the green tube above is called a “Bangalore Torpedo” and was full of explosives. It would be pushed under a mesh of barbed wire and set off. As the tube fragmented, the slivers of metal would scythe through the wire, efficiently clearing a 10 foot space.
Above; an exhibition of various bits of explosive kit used by the American forces
Above and below; dioramas of german forces.
Above and below; two large German tanks.
Above; dealing with casualties and note, that horse drawn carts were used.
Above and below; two dioramas depicting Street scenes with German soldiers.The Germans had been at home here since the French surrender on 22nd June 1940. To many soldiers it was a nice sleepy backwater whilst most of the fighting was on the tough Eastern Front against the Russians.
Above; a diorama showing a French lady handing some flowers to the successful Allied soldiers. What relief they must have experienced?
Essential information.
Getting there:
Getting there is easy and parking is quite good if you go soon after it opens.
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