Omaha Beach
About Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach is a 6-kilometer stretch of Normandy coastline where American forces landed on June 6, 1944, during the largest seaborne invasion in history. The beach witnessed the bloodiest fighting of all five D-Day sectors, with approximately 2,400 casualties as troops from the 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions faced heavily fortified German positions on 30-meter bluffs. Today the beach remains a public shore with several memorials including Les Braves, a striking steel sculpture unveiled in 2004, and the Liberation Monument shaped like a ship's prow. The nearby Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer contains 9,387 graves and offers free guided tours. Visitors can walk the beach year-round at any hour, though checking tide schedules is advisable. Allow at least two hours to explore the beach monuments; a full visit including the cemetery and nearby Pointe du Hoc requires most of a day.
Interesting Facts
Allied bombers missed their targets on June 6, 1944, due to fog and low clouds, dropping 13,000 bombs inland instead of on German beach defenses. This catastrophic error left the fortifications intact and contributed significantly to the high casualty rate that morning.
The beach was originally designated 'X-Ray' in military planning, following the phonetic alphabet. It was renamed 'Omaha' on March 3, 1944, along with the other beaches receiving their now-famous code names: Utah, Gold, Juno, and Sword.
In the first five minutes of the assault, approximately 90% of the first wave of soldiers was killed or wounded. The situation became so desperate that General Omar Bradley briefly considered evacuating the beach entirely and redirecting forces to other sectors.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
Avenue de la Libération, 14710 Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, France
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