USA – Paris, France

We will take a morning flight from our various U.S.A. homes. Upon arrival, we will be met and transferred to Normandy and have a group Dinner at the hotel.

Normandy, France

This morning we will meet our LRE Foundation WWII historian/guide. First visit will be to the landing area of the 6th British Airborne Division near Ranville. We also visit the British cemetery where 323 Germans, 5 French, a Pole and a Belgian are buried. We travel further and visit the Pegasus Bridge in Bénouville. The bridge is named after the flying horse Pegasus. This is also the sleeve emblem of all British Airborne units. The 6th British Airborne Division had to capture both bridges over the river and the canal of the Orne in order to break through to the north. Afterwards we will visit the Memorial Pegasus. This museum is dedicated to the brave and heroic actions of the 6th British Airborne Division. We walk along the river Orne and take a look at the landing site of three gliders whose crews captured the Pegasus bridge. Right on the river is the cafe of the Gondrée family, this was the first house to be liberated in 1944. We have a joint lunch here (included) while we admire the historic interior of the café Gondrée. After lunch we drive to English and Canadian beaches: Sword Beach with the Casino at Quistreham and the beach at La Brèche, Juno Beach with the Norman House at Bernières and the town of Courseulles-sur Mer and Gold Beach at Asnelles. Then to Arromanches to visit the Musee de Débarquement. This landing museum explains the artificial harbor built off the coast of Normandy. After some free time in Arromanches, for example to eat a crepe, drink a cup of coffee or buy souvenirs, we end the day with a visit to the German gun battery in Longues sur Mer. This is one of many German batteries along the European coast to withstand Allied landings. Overnight in Bayeux.

Bayeux, Omaha Beach en Pointe du Hoc

After breakfast at the hotel, start your day in Bayeux, this medieval city that was saved during the Second World War. In Bayeux we will have free time to visit the beautiful Bayeux Cathedral, or Musee de la Tapisserie de Bayeux, a museum that houses the famous Bayeux Tapestry, or the Memorial de la Bataille de Normandie, a museum about the Battle of Normandy (entrances not included). Continue to the Ardenne Abbey. There we visit the garden of the Abbey where 20 Canadian prisoners of war were executed by the Germans. The church was destroyed by bombing in 1944 and finally restored in 1966. After lunch (on our own) in Caen, we visit the American beach Omaha Beach. We visit the American cemetery at Colleville sur Mer, where almost 10,000 American soldiers are buried. We then go to the D-day monument, to see the landing beaches up close. We drive on to Pointe du Hoc, a cliff about 30 meters high that the American rangers had to climb to take out the Germans. Many have given their lives here for freedom. At the end of the afternoon, we drive back to Bayeux via the German cemetery at La Cambe. 21,200 German soldiers are buried there. On the way we pass the Statue of World Peace at Grandcamp-Maisy made by the Chinese artist Yoa Yuan.

Utah Beach, Sainte-Mere-Eglise, La Fiere

After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to the American Utah Beach, this was a code name assigned to the westernmost beach during the Normandy landings. The men of the 101st US Airborne Division (also known as Screaming Eagles) were deployed to capture the roads through the submerged hinterland. On the way we visit the town of St Marie du Mont. After our visit to Utah Beach we drive to Sainte Mère Eglise. During the night of June 5-6, paratroopers of the 82nd US Airborne Division landed in and around this place. John Steele of the 82nd Airborne Division became famous. He remained hanging from the church tower with his parachute but survived the war. In Sainte Mère Eglise, we visit the Airborne Museum, where we are explained the events of the American paratroopers around D-day. Time for lunch (on your own) in this picturesque village. We conclude the day with a visit to the Iron Mike monument at La Fière. The memorial depicts an American paratrooper and is named after St Michael, the patron saint of the Airborne. Here you will learn about the battles for the bridge over the Merderet and in the area north of St Mère Eglise. After a stop in the village of Graignes where 32 civilians and 50 American paratroopers were killed by the Germans, we return to our hotel in Bayeux for dinner. Overnight in Bayeux.

The Battle for Cotentin Peninsula

After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the Cotentin Peninsula and Cherbourg. The deep-water port of Cherbourg was absolutely vital to the success of the Allied troops on the continent. General Montgomery’s order of June 18, 1944 reminded General Bradley that this immediate duty was to take Cherbourg. During the summer of 1944 Cherbourg was the most important harbour in the world. Despite fierce German resistance, U.S. troops seized the city on 26 June 1944. During this tour we go via Sainte-Mère-Eglise to Cherbourg via Montebourg and Valognes which were completely destroyed as one can see by the new buildings and houses which were rebuilt in the years 1950/60. A visit of Fort-du-Roule overlooking the town and the harbor of Cherbourg will alow you to understand why the American advance was but a series of jumps forward from one bastion to the next. The museum of Fort-du-Roule is worth visiting and benefits the majesty of the place. At the exit of the town towards La-Haye-du-Puits a monument tells the visitor that the Cotentin Peninsula was sealed off in that place by the 7th Corps on June 18. In the afternoon there is time to visit Cherbourg.

The Battle of the Hedgerows and the Capture of St Lô

We drive towards the surroundings of Saint Lô. In the area north of Saint-Lô in early July 1944 the Hedgerow War was to acquire its full meaning. There the lines of defense were perfectly organized behind the earth banks covered with bushes forming ramparts that the soldiers of the 29th Infantry Division and 35th Infantry Division had to negotiate, a progress constantly repeated. Misery and despair were sometimes the lot of the men who had either to rush towards the enemy, or stop and get hit, or sometimes turn round and get killed with more certainly. The middle of the field was the point of no return, one could only rush to the hedge ahead. As one said: at the rate we are going this blessed war could well last 10 years! During this guided tour we visit places around the Hedgerow battles and we will visit the monument to Major Howie in Saint-Lô, commemorating the sacrifice of 8,000 GIs. On the return trip to the hotel we visit the Victory Museum in Catz. Overnight in Bayeux.

The Breakthrough and The Falaise Pocket

We drive towards the surroundings of Falaise. After 4 weeks of static war the 1st American Army had now an excellent base large enough to accommodate its four Army Corps which would soon be reinforced by three more Corps forming the 3rd Army of General Patton. The break-out during operation Cobra was a stupendous success. Cobra opened the breach in Normandy and led the Americans into Coutances on July 28, 1944, then Granville and Avranches on July 31, 1944. Finally, after 55 days of fighting, the western flank of the German defenses collapsed. The last major battle of the Normandy campaign was fought in August 1944 in the so called Falaise- Argentan pocket, where the Allies encircled and destroyed a substantial part of the German forces. Nevertheless, tens of thousands of German soldiers managed to escape. We will visit various locations that were central during the fighting in 1944 and conclude with a visit to the memorial of Montormel.

Continue to Paris. Through coach service ends at the hotel in Paris Overnight in Paris at Mercure Montmartre Hotel or similar.

Paris

Breakfast at the hotel In the morning, enjoy a half day city tour of Paris. Paris has all but exhausted the superlatives that can reasonably be applied to any city. Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower – at sunrise, at sunset, at night – have been described countless times, as have the Seine and the subtle (and not-so-subtle) differences between the Left and Right Banks. But what writers have been unable to capture is the grandness and even the magic. You will discover some of the most important sights like the Arc de Triumph and the Champs-Elysées, Montmartre, the Latin quarter and St Germain des Pres and the Marias district. Our guide will tell you interesting stories and everything you would like to know about the history of this beautiful city. Your tour also includes a river cruise. Embark on a Seine cruise and see Paris from a different perspective. Enjoy panoramic views the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, and more iconic sights. City tour ends at your hotel. Afternoon is free until dinner. Overnight in Paris.

Return to USA

This morning we head back to the Paris airport for our return flights home, with memories to last a lifetime.