Omaha Beach by Caren Freund



This photo was taken on Omaha Beach in Normandy. Omaha Beach is one of the beaches that the American troops used to storm the Nazis on June 6, 1944: D-Day. There were a total of five beaches that the Allies attacked: Omaha, Utah, Gold, Sword and Juno. The United States attacked Omaha and Utah, England attacked Gold and Sword, and Canada attacked Juno. Omaha was the first attack, it was a surprise for the Nazis. Gold Beach was the bloodiest of the attacks because the attack occurred hours after the initial attack and the Nazis had time to prepare.
            In the photo, the craters are from American cannons. The remains of the bunkers can be seen in the top left of the photo. It is astounding that the level of destruction still exists today. The land is uninhabitable, there are too many craters, ruins and shrapnel along the beach. People reside inland where the land is untouched by the cannons.
            Omaha Beach really affected me. To see where so many men lost their lives fighting for others freedoms and rights. To see the impact that war has on the land. This land is forever marked and changed. However, nature is overcoming the destruction. It is covering the shrapnel and the cement from the bunkers.



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