Travel can be one of the most immersive and meaningful ways to learn history. Information that can seem so unrelatable in books magically comes alive when you experience it in the context in which it unfolded.
One of the most dramatic examples of this that I have experienced is visiting the Normandy area of France.
Normandy is an idyllic countryside area northwest of Paris stretching to the northern coastline of France. It is dotted with centuries-old stone farmhouses, lush green pastures filled with magnificent dairy cows, and long, wind-swept sandy beaches. It is also the homeland of great Impressionist painters, including Claude Monet, who masterfully captured the natural beauty and magical light that fills the land and sky.
But perhaps the Normandy area is most famous for being the site of the Alliance forces' massive invasion of German-occupied France during WWII.
At the height of the German occupation, the Germans controlled approximately 2,000 miles of European coastline known as the Atlantic Wall. The invasion was crucial in the war to open a path into Western Europe. The operation required years of intensive planning and targeted about 50 miles of the Normandy Coastline. Though the invasion was successful in accomplishing its mission, over 4,000 Allied forces died that day, with thousands more wounded or captured.
Given the vast size of the area and the scope of the mission, I chose to hire a tour guide to take us through the events of “D-Day.” We used Normandy Discovery Tours, and our guide, Thomas, a local who was born and raised in the area, not only had a deep understanding of the history but also shared personal insights from his childhood, making us feel more connected to the place and its history.
As we bumped along dirt roads, weaving through the farmlands in an original WWII Jeep, Thomas vividly described the events of the day. Small monuments throughout the farmlands commemorate individual battle sights, but our guide's stories of the battles and original pictures of the men filled them with meaning.
We started our tour in Sainte-Mère-Église, a small village famous for the paratrooper John Steele, who was caught on the church steeple on his descent. The Germans captured him, but later that day, he escaped and returned to his unit. Saint Mère-Église was also the home of the temporary gravesites of about 3,000 Allied forces until they were relocated after the war.
Our tour also included Omaha and Utah beaches. Standing on those beaches, visualizing the waves of thousands of soldiers coming ashore on the wide-open sands while standing next to the concrete bunkers that shielded the Germans, you are filled with an immense sense of appreciation for the bravery the men exhibited that day.
We also visited Pointe du Hoc, another beach landing site on D-Day. Unlike the relatively flat beach open countryside at Utah Beach, the beach at Point du Hoc was surrounded by 100-foot-high cliffs that Army Rangers had to scale while under intense German fire. It's hard to imagine the dedication and strength required to successfully complete the mission as you gaze at the massive cliffs.
Our final stop on the tour was the Normandy American Cemetery, located on the bluffs overlooking Omaha Beach. The pristine cemetery is the final resting place for over 9,000 American Soldiers. The tombstones, made of white Carrara marble, are meticulously maintained and stand out in sharp constant against the manicured soft green grass. It is a serene and solemn place, perfect to honor the soldiers' service and a place for visitors to reflect.
A quote from Dwight D. Eisenhower, inscribed on a memorial as you enter the cemetery, struck me as exceptionally thought-provoking. “These men came here to storm these beaches for one purpose only, not to gain anything for ourselves, not to fulfill any ambition that America had for conquest, but to just preserve freedom, systems of self-government in the world.”
I found myself pondering how the United States' shift toward Nationalism in recent years might affect our actions in future conflicts. What would the men who so valiantly gave their lives that day to preserve our freedom in the world have to say about that sentiment?
Estimates suggest that fewer than 100 American D-Day veterans are still alive today. Soon, only these memorials will remain to tell the stories of this historic day. This has been one of the most memorable travel experiences of my life, filled with fascinating facts, but, more importantly, I am forever touched by the emotions I have experienced.
I hope that every American can have the opportunity to visit this historically significant area.
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