Organisation of the German defences
Maps, photographs and commentary outline German units, command posts and artillery positions around Vierville and the wider Omaha Beach area.
The Yves Cordelle collection · 69 documents
Understanding the events.
From the Occupation to the landings: defences, preparations, assault waves and the advance inland.
6 June 1944 and its context
Follow the events.
These pages follow the preparations and events of 6 June 1944 at Omaha Beach, mainly at Vierville. They cover the German defences, the preparations, the crossing and landings, then the advance inland and the end of the day.
The places, the eyewitness accounts and the maps and archives complement this account. After D-Day covers the continuing operations, the artificial harbour and the post-war years.
German defences
The German defences at Omaha Beach
This dossier explains the beach obstacles, mines and cliff-top positions that formed the German defensive system in the Omaha Beach area in 1944.
The beach obstacles at Vierville
Plans and photographs document the successive rows of gates, timber obstacles and steel hedgehogs placed on the tidal beach in front of Vierville.
Preparations
Preparations for the landings
The landing plans set out the intended combination of air attacks, naval gunfire, armour, engineers and infantry for the assault on Vierville.
Air bombardment planned for Vierville
This page sets out the intended air attacks on German strongpoints around Vierville and explains the targets, aircraft and timing assigned before D-Day.
Naval forces and the planned bombardment of Omaha Beach
Ships, fire-support groups and firing schedules illustrate the naval bombardment planned to support the assault on Omaha Beach and the Vierville sector.
The Coast Guard rescue flotilla
Accounts and photographs describe the Coast Guard patrol boats assigned to rescue survivors from damaged or sinking craft during the Omaha Beach landings.
Plans for the assault landings
The assault programme sets out the intended order of tanks, engineers, infantry and Rangers landing in Vierville’s Charlie, Dog Green and Dog White sectors.
The landings planned off Vierville
A colour-coded timetable details the units, landing craft and beach sectors assigned to the first four hours of the planned assault on Vierville.
The Ascain commando at Saint-Laurent
Yves Cordelle brings together scattered evidence about a reported Allied commando action at Saint-Laurent during the night of 5–6 June 1944.
The crossing and the landings
The landings actually carried out at Vierville
A diagram compares the men and landing craft that reached Vierville with the planned programme, recording diversions, delays and substantial material losses.
Crossing the English Channel
Weather forecasts, convoy photographs and commentary explain the Channel crossing and the decision to postpone the landings from 5 to 6 June 1944.
Transport anchorages and the approach to the beach
The offshore anchorages, weather conditions and route towards Omaha Beach are described through transport arrangements, landing-craft movements and contemporary illustrations.
LSI assault transports
Ship lists, loading information and plans show how assault troops were carried towards Omaha Beach aboard transports and transferred into smaller landing craft.
The current carried small landing craft eastwards
This account explains how rough water and coastal currents affected the small assault craft, often carrying them east of their intended landing sectors.
The air bombardment on 6 June
The morning air attack is examined through its targets, cloud conditions and the decision to delay bomb release to protect the approaching assault craft.
A report on the air bombardment
An account from the air base at Bungay follows preparations by the 446th Bomb Group for its early-morning mission against the Vierville defences.
The preliminary naval bombardment at Vierville
Photographs and commentary examine the naval gunfire preceding the Vierville landings and the continued resistance encountered as assault craft approached the shore.
The first assault wave
An overview of the first assault wave at Vierville identifies the tanks, engineers, infantry and Rangers intended to arrive around 06:30 on 6 June.
Amphibious Sherman tanks on Vierville beach
Plans and dated photographs trace the Sherman DD tanks and other armoured vehicles that reached the beaches around Vierville on the morning of D-Day.
Lieutenant Rockwell and his tank-carrying LCTs
Lieutenant Dean L. Rockwell’s group of landing craft carried amphibious tanks towards Omaha Beach, illustrated here by craft plans and Martin Waarvick’s photographs.
The Special Engineer Task Force at Vierville
The Special Engineer Task Force’s assignment was to open gaps through Vierville’s beach obstacles so landing craft could reach the shore as the tide rose.
Special Engineer Task Force Gap Team No. 1
An account of Gap Team No. 1 follows engineers and Navy demolition personnel assigned to clear an obstacle passage in front of the Vierville beach exit.
Organisation of the assault craft teams
A detailed description sets out the personnel, weapons and landing order of the assault and support teams carried aboard the first-wave LCA and LCVP craft.
Company C, 2nd Ranger Battalion
The landing of Company C, 2nd Ranger Battalion, is examined through its intended route, arrival near WN73 and the severe losses suffered below the Gambier house.
Company A, 116th Infantry Regiment: the landing
The first landing of Company A, 116th Infantry Regiment, is described through its LCA transport arrangements and the intense fire encountered off Vierville.
The second infantry assault wave
The second group of infantry and Ranger landings at Vierville is described against the scattered forces and surviving equipment already on the beach.
Company B, 116th Infantry Regiment
Company B/116’s landing became dispersed across the Vierville beachfront as its craft approached the intended Dog Green sector and encountered the first wave’s losses.
Company C, 116th Infantry Regiment
Company C/116’s landing on Dog White is examined through photographs and commentary describing its arrival east of the intended Dog Green sector on D-Day.
Company D/116: the landing
The heavy-weapons company of the 116th Infantry’s 1st Battalion is followed through scattered landings, lost equipment and substantial casualties on Dog Green and Dog White.
Companies A and B, 2nd Ranger Battalion: the landing
Companies A and B of the 2nd Ranger Battalion are followed from their offshore wait for news of Pointe du Hoc to their landing near Dog Green and Dog White.
The landing of the 5th Ranger Battalion
The 5th Ranger Battalion’s arrival on Dog White is described after its offshore wait for a signal to reinforce the assault at Pointe du Hoc.
Headquarters of the 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry
The 1st Battalion headquarters’ landing west of Vierville is examined alongside the losses, separation and naval fire encountered near the cliffs below La Percée.
Headquarters, artillery and engineers land from 07:40
This overview follows the headquarters, artillery and engineer units intended to land after the first infantry waves, as fire, current and submerged obstacles disrupted arrivals.
General Cota and Colonel Canham
The landing of General Norman Cota, Colonel Canham and the 116th Infantry command group is described through LCVP 71’s approach to Dog White under fire.
The 116th RCT command group
An operational account follows the 116th Regimental Combat Team’s command group from USS Charles Carroll into LCVP 71 and towards Dog White on 6 June.
The engineers’ landings
The engineer battalions assigned to Vierville are followed as their craft became dispersed between Dog White and Le Ruquet during the morning landings.
LCI 91 is destroyed on Dog White at 07:45
The loss of LCI 91 is documented through its engineer and headquarters passengers, its attempt to reach Dog White and photographs of the wreck in later years.
Company B, 147th Engineers: the landing
Officers of Company B, 147th Engineer Battalion, describe its Dog White beach assignment, transport arrangements and the disrupted arrival of personnel and equipment.
LCI 92 at Vierville on 6 June
The destruction of LCI 92 is traced through its arrival near the Dog White–Dog Red boundary, the fire aboard and later photographs of its wreck.
LCI 84 abandons its Dog White landing attempt at 09:00
The account of LCI 84 follows a landing attempt on Dog White and the decision to pull away, with recollections by Coast Guard mechanic Charles Jarreau.
Artillery landings at Vierville on 6 June
Photographs and commentary examine artillery intended for Vierville, including tracked M7 howitzers, anti-aircraft weapons, short 105 mm guns and anti-tank guns.
The advance inland
The cliff assault, capture of Vierville and collapse of coastal defence, 07:30–13:00
A synthesis follows the routes up the cliffs, the entry into Vierville and the reduction of German coastal positions during the morning of 6 June.
The morning situation at Vierville from the German side
The German view of the morning fighting is assembled from unit positions, remembered staff sketches and commentary on command arrangements around Vierville and Omaha Beach.
US Navy support during the assault on Vierville
Naval support during the fighting for Vierville is examined through the participating ships, close-support craft and the practical difficulty of identifying targets ashore.
Navy shore fire-control parties
The organisation and assignments of Navy Shore Fire Control Parties are explained, including the teams linking units at Vierville with their supporting warships.
The situation seen from USS Ancon and USS Augusta
The opening hours of the assault are considered from the offshore headquarters aboard USS Ancon and USS Augusta, where reliable information from the beach was scarce.
Views from the sea around midday on 6 June
Photographs taken from offshore show landing craft, DUKWs, waiting ships, troop transfers and rescue activity around Omaha Beach during the morning and around midday.
Company C, 2nd Rangers, overcomes WN73 at the Gambier house
The action around WN73 follows Company C of the 2nd Ranger Battalion from the beach to the cliff-top positions around the Gambier house on 6 June.
Lieutenant Taylor of Company B/116
Lieutenant Taylor’s section is followed from its landing between WN70 and WN71 through Vierville towards L’Ormel, with a proposed route and local photographs.
The attack on WN70 above the Hardelay villa
The attack on WN70 is described through the movements of Companies A and B, 2nd Rangers, together with a section of Company D/116 after landing.
From Dog White to Vierville
An overview traces several routes taken by infantry, Rangers and small groups from Dog White up the slopes and into Vierville during the morning of 6 June.
Company C/116’s advance to Vierville
Company C/116’s movement from Dog White to Vierville is examined alongside the Rangers, engineers and command personnel gathered near the shingle bank after landing.
The 5th Rangers bypass Vierville, then cross the village westwards around 17:00
The 5th Ranger Battalion’s inland movements are followed from Dog White through an attempted route around Vierville and a later passage westwards through the village.
Parker’s 5th Ranger platoon heads towards Pointe du Hoc via L’Ormel
The account follows Parker’s platoon of the 5th Rangers as it leaves the beach and heads towards Pointe du Hoc, passing near L’Ormel around 09:00.
Lieutenant Williams and Sergeant Price of Company B/116
The movements of Lieutenant Williams and a small Company B/116 group are traced from eastern Dog White towards the defences above the Saint-Laurent exit.
The 116th Infantry headquarters at Vierville
The establishment of the 116th Infantry headquarters in Vierville around 13:00 is followed through the command group’s ascent and its effort to reassemble inland.
Engineers on Vierville beach during the morning and early afternoon
Photographs and commentary examine engineer activity on Vierville beach during the morning and early afternoon, alongside vehicles, wrecks and troops still at the shoreline.
The 121st Engineers regroup and demolish Vierville’s anti-tank wall
The 121st Engineer Battalion’s effort to gather scattered men and explosives is followed through the demolition of the anti-tank wall blocking the Vierville road.
The 147th Engineer Battalion on the beach
The 147th Engineer Battalion’s work at Vierville is examined after heavy losses in the LCI 91 and LCI 92 fires and the dispersal of equipment landings.
The afternoon and evening of 6 June
Vierville on the afternoon and evening of 6 June: the day's outcome
An account of Vierville at the end of 6 June 1944, covering the limited advance, wounded soldiers, disrupted communications and losses on the beach.
The 116th Regiment's command group on the afternoon of 6 June
Follow Colonel Canham's command group in Vierville on 6 June, as the dossier examines its move to Les Isles and its increasing isolation that afternoon.
The destruction of Vierville church tower on 6 June
Photographs and an account of the destruction of Vierville church tower on 6 June 1944, placed in the context of naval messages and isolated troops.
Infantry and Rangers in Vierville on the afternoon of 6 June
Accounts and a sketch describe the infantry and Rangers in Vierville on the afternoon of 6 June, including positions near the church and cemetery.
Engineers on the beach and in Vierville on the afternoon of 6 June
A dossier on engineers at Vierville links the work on the beach with photographs of wrecks and casualties, many of which are probably dated 7 June.
William Marshall of the 336th Engineer Battalion
William Marshall recalls an approach to Omaha Beach with the 336th Engineer Battalion, including shellfire, a damaged craft and a supporting warship nearby.
The 29th Division's command post in Vierville quarry
The establishment of the 29th Division's forward command post in Vierville quarry on 6 June is documented through photographs and an account of its setting.
The German side on the afternoon and evening of 6 June
The dossier considers German positions around Vierville on the afternoon and evening of 6 June, including disorganisation, isolated resistance and withdrawals.