May 26 Dunkirk

Another new port with a distinct WW2 heritage. Here Britain successfully evacuated 350,000 troops surrounded by Germans. We entered the harbor through a lock which keeps the harbor water level constant.

First stop was a coastal defense fort, Fort des Dunes.

When later fortified by the Germans this bunker immortalized the love of Robert for his girl friend Maria.

The fort was not modern and couldn't withstand WW2 artillery. But it did house big guns and fought dthe advancing Germans.

Internal galleries that overlook the moat protecting the fort.

The beach at Dunkirk. Many men escaped over these beaches using small, civilian operated boats that ferried them to larger Navy ships offshore. 

Memorial

Dunkirk Town Hall

Church of Saint-Eloi

Town hall seen edge on

Bell tower of the church

Dunkirk Museum 1949 Dynamo Operation

Diorama showing men queuing up for extracting from the beah

In the parking lot a Bugatti type 35 racing car.

To the right the actual mole used to evacuate most of the men onto Navy ships.

Entrance to the Dunkirk harbor, recently named the "Most Beautiful Lighthouse"

Cemetery for those who didn't get evacuated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 25 Cherbourg

A new port and one we've been looking forward to. We've been to Omaha beach and Pointe du Hoc, but never to Utah beach and the area the US paratroopers landed to defend the beaches from attack from the west.

The first stop was at Batterie de Crisbecq with two naval 210mm (8") in fortified bunkers as well as other heavy weapons. These guns fired on the invasion beaches on D-Day and were eventually destroyed by the battleship Nevada and other Navy ships.

The gun in the foreground is a German 88mm antiaircraft flak gun.

We next traveled to Utah beach where a number of monuments and artifacts were displayed. This is an M4 Sherman tank, of which the US built thousands.

Statues depicting soldiers assaulting the beach from their Higgins boat.

Depiction of a Higgins boat

Utah beach itself. Here the tide is low, just as it was on the morning of June 6, 1944. Soldiers had to cross hundreds of yards of beach while under fire.

Monument to the Navy and particularly the men piloting the landing craft. There is a similar monument to the Underwater Demolition Teams that overnight prepared the beaches for the landing craft. The UDT is the precursor to the Navy SEALS.

Utah Beach Memorial

On to the area where US paratroopers landed and the most famous town of that area, St. Mere Eglise. A paratrooper, John Steele, found himself hung up on the steeple of the town church. A depiction of his predicament is on display at the church.

John survived, was captured by the Germans and escaped two hours later.

A stained glass window in the church showing the Virgin Mary surrounded by descending paratroopers.

Statue atop the Airborne Museum across from the church.

 

 

 

 

May 24 Le Havre

Le Havre is the port for Paris, and this was a changeover day. We weren't interested in a LONG excursion to either Paris or the WW2 landing beaches, so we just shuttled into town and walked around. It was a Sunday and pretty empty in the morning.

Monument aux Morts for those who died in WW1, the War to End All Wars. 

Le Volcan, which is a performance space inside.

At the Cathedral of Notre Dame (Le Havre version) they were preparing for something that required timpani.

The cathedral

The Cantene de Containers, two interlocked arches of colorful containers right at the port.

 

 

 

 

 

May 23 Guernsey

First time visit to Guernsey, and of course we selected the WW2 tour -- the occupation of Guernsey. Although Guernsey is not really a strategic location, countries have  fought to hold it, France and Britain usually.  Guernsey has been independent, but British aligned since 1066 -- as our guide said, "We chose to be British."

St Peter Port as we enter. 

Fort Hommett. The brick parts are fortifications from the Napoleonic wars, while the concrete is Nazi WW2 extensions. As we traveled through the Atlantic and Channel ports Nazi bunkers always look the same -- dark grey concrete.

Fort Hommett is protecting the bay from invasion.

Guernsey is a beautiful island.

12" naval guns at the southwestern end of the island.

St Peter Port public pool

Our guide says this church/pub combination is in the Guinness Book of World Records for the shortest distance between a church and pub -- 2ft6in from gargoyle to pub.  

Downtown St Peter Port. There was a Marks and Spencers so the British crew members flocked there for food and clothing.

The obelisk marking the end of occupation on May 9, 1945.