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A brief visual record of my trip in September 2007 with SAASS class XVII to
France and Belgium to visit historic sites from WWI and WWII. The photos
don't come close to the experience itself nor the luxury of having several
faculty historians along to fill in the details. A sobering trip.
Fort De Douaumont
Ossuary
The bones in the third pic are some of about 150,000 men that were buried here
from both sides of the war in a mass, nameless grave. No speaking is
allowed inside the ossuary.
Maginot Line
This underground railway carried us over a kilometer to one of several gun
batteries within this single defensive fort. The artillery was sited by
observers outside the fort.
Eben Emael
This is one amazing story you'll have to read at the link above, but essentially
about 70 German paratroopers took over a fort holding 1200 Belgians by landing
gliders on top of the fort and using shaped charges to destroy the gun
turrets. Talk about guts!
La Coupole &
V-Weapons
This was one of several V2 sites the Germans used. Now it's more of a
holocaust museum, but they did have several V2 (3rd pic) and V1 (last) rockets
on display.
Atlantic Wall Museum
This museum is located on the Atlantic wall, part of Germany's defenses against
invasion from the U.K. The rail gun in the first two pics is one of only 2
in existence. It could hit the U.K. more than 20 miles away from its
present location.
Pegasus Bridge
Like the guts of Eben Emael, here allied troops landed gliders to secure a
bridge for troops coming inland from the Normandy invasion. Again, a small
number accomplished a great deal.
Longues
Battery
Coming up from the cliffs of the Atlantic coast, we met corn fields and gun
batteries. Many had been hit by artillery from the Navy.
Mulberry Museum
This museum demonstrated the ingenuity of the Allies, in getting vast amounts of
supplies ashore without deep sea ports. The mulberries extended far out
into the ocean, and Navy ships lined up bow to stern to create an artificial sea
wall.
Point Du Hoc
Some rangers with real balls drove up to this small peninsula from the sea and
climbed these steep cliffs to take out German heavy guns. Germans cut the
ropes as they climbed and the fight was merciless for those that reached the
top. The guns weren't where they were supposed to be, but they did find them and
destroy them. This one's really worth looking at Wikipedia.
Utah Beach
One of the two U.S. beaches in the Normandy invasion.
Stock WWII Photos
St Mere Eglise
Seen in the movie The Longest Day, they still have a paratrooper on the
chapel based on the real occurrence during the 82nd and 101st airborne drop here
to liberate the city. This was the first city in France to be liberated in
WWII. The guy that got stuck on the chapel lived by the way, but I hear he
was a real prick.
Omaha Beach
The much bloodier U.S. beach during the Normandy invasion. There were only
a few beaches with such topography to allow heavy armor to get off the beaches
and move inland.
American Military Cemetery
Not much to say here - very sobering. Very beautiful. I've never
seen any grounds so well kept, anytime, anywhere, and with such meticulous care.
Invalides Military
Museum & Napoleon's Tomb
The third pic is Napoleon's coat. Fifth pic is his tomb. Last row is
as follows:
Brits and French at
Dunkirk, Hitler taking in Paris, the
Enigma machine, French
railways during the allied transportation bombing plan, (uh, I don't remember
#5), the Russians at the Reichstag, and finally a parting shot of the museum.
Paris
