The allied landings in Normandy, June 1944
- Examine the terrain and topography of one of the most courageous and decisive episodes in the history of warfare.
- Study both the broader picture – strategic, political, diplomatic as well as military – and the human detail, following the fortunes, or tragedies, of particular individuals.
- Ferry from Portsmouth, returning overnight.
: sleep to gather strength for the morning. For the morning will come.’ Churchill’s words broadcast to the French people in October 1940 gave hope to all the peoples of German occupied nations in continental Europe.
On the morning of the 6th of June 1944 at H-hour on D-day, dawn broke on the Normandy coastline to reveal the greatest armada ever assembled. The critical timing of moon, tide and weather saw the 5th–7th June as the optimum time for invasion. A 24-hour delay due to inclement weather created the greatest risk to German awareness and postponement. With the sea running Force 4 to 5, landing craft might easily be swamped. But the man at the Met Office forecast a lull for a few hours after midnight and Admiral Ramsay agreed to go. Operation Neptune became Operation Overlord and the invasion of Normandy began.
Visits are included to four of the invasion beaches (Sword, Gold, Juno and Omaha) and to the scene of the British airborne operations on the eastern flank. The military historian, Andrew Spooner, devised and leads the tour. Without losing sight of the broad picture, his speciality is the human detail, focusing on particular individuals and following their fortunes, or tragedies, through the Longest Day.