Words in bold are explained in the D-Day Glossary.
Utah Beach
Utah saw the first beach landings of D-Day, by American infantrymen. A strong current swept the first wave of men over 2,000 yards south of their target into the most lightly defended sector of the entire Normandy front. At 6.30am they came under light fire, but all except four of its 32 amphibious “DD” tanks successfully reached the beach. The US 101st Airborne Division had successfully secured the causeways across the flooded low-lying land behind the beach and the tanks and infantry were able to move inland.
Omaha Beach
The broad beach code-named Omaha was the most heavily defended of all the invasion beaches. Massive Allied air and sea bombardments were largely ineffective here and the American troops faced stiff resistance from experienced German forces training in the area. Casualties of over 50% were suffered by many of the American infantry companies landing at Omaha, but by the evening American soldiers were firmly ashore.
Gold Beach
Gold Beach was not heavily defended by German forces because the air and sea bombardments had successfully damaged German strongholds. This was fortunate for the British troops approaching Gold Beach, because the high winds of the previous night’s storm created an unusually high tide which rapidly submerged beach obstacles before they could be destroyed. Those landing on Gold Beach had advanced ten kilometres inland by the evening of D-Day, and although they had not cut the Caen-Bayeux highway or linked up with Americans from Omaha Beach as planned, they had joined up with Canadians from Juno Beach to the east.
Juno Beach
Juno Beach was assaulted by the Canadian 3rd Division. It was heavily defended with gun emplacements and formidable beach obstacles. Rough seas delayed the landings and the first wave of Canadian infantry suffered heavy casualties. More tanks had been allocated to Juno Beach than others because of the terrain although many of them never made it ashore. There were more "Funnies" designed to help the infantry over the seawall, through the barbed wire and across the minefields. Beyond the villages lay flat, open country with almost no opposition. At the end of the day the Canadians had penetrated deeper into France than any other division.
Sword Beach
Off-shore shoals and heavy defences around Ouistreham port considerably reduced the width of the landing area on Sword Beach. The British landing troops’ main D-Day objective was to capture the city of Caen ten miles (fifteen kilometres) inland, but high tides resulting from the bad weather, and stiff German resistance, delayed their advance and prevented much of the supporting armour getting ashore in time to help. Congestion on the narrow beach as the tide advanced and gunfire from strong German defences inland increased the number of casualties.
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