| 19 - 23 June 2008 | ||
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Operation Overlord, the WW2 D-Day Invasion of Mainland Europe on the 6th June 1944, was carried out by the mightiest armada in history. Its aim was to open up a Second Front to liberate Europe and was launched against Hitler's supposedly impregnable Atlantic Wall.
With Lt. Col. Howard Holroyd we examine the planning for this huge world war two Operation Overlord undertaking, the discussions, disagreements, deception plans and the enormous logistic effort involved. On this D Day tour we will concentrate on the British and Canadian participation. We will visit the British 6th Airborne landing zones and stand on the beaches of Sword, Juno and Gold and examine the artificial port at Arromanches. Following on from the successes of the actual D-Day landings we will examine the subsequent operations to evict the Germans from Normandy culminating in the virtual destruction of the German 7th Army in the Falaise Pocket. |
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| General Montgomery's strategy was to draw in the German Armoured Forces to the Caen area, thus weakening resistance to an American breakout from the West. Operation Epsom was launched at the end of June 1944 involving 15th Scottish and the 43rd Wessex Divisions in savage fighting to free the River Odon and capture Hill 112 to the South West of Caen. In early July came Operation Charnwood to clear Caen itself, then the great armoured charge of Operation Goodwood to sieze the Bourquebus Ridge. This was followed by the Canadian Operation Totalize and Operation Tractable to clear the Caen-Falaise road and link up with the US Forces at Chambois, thus closing the Falaise Pocket and sealing the fate of the German Army in Normandy. | ||
| Day 1 | (Thursday): Depart Victoria Coach Station London 0845. Dover-Calais ferry. Drive to Caen, setting the scene. Check into our hotel in Caen for 4 nights. Dinner in the hotel. | |
| Day 2 | D-Day briefing. The British Airborne Forces at Pegasus Bridge (and Merville Battery). The British and Canadian beaches of Sword, Juno and Gold, Mulberry Harbour at Arromanches and visit the Arromanches Museum, Montgomery's HQ at Cruelly, Hillman and Douvres Radar Station. Own dinner arrangements. | |
| Day 3 | Battle Briefing. Operation Epsom and Jupiter, the Odon Valley, Hill 112, Michael Wittman and Operation Perch. Lunch break in Villers-Bocage. We then move east to the area of Operation Goodwood and the Bourquebus Ridge. Own dinner arrangements. | |
| Day 4 | Battle Briefing. Operations Totalize and Tractable. Lunch break in Falaise. St. Lambert sur Dives, Chambois, the Polish Memorial at Mt. Ormel and the Museum. Tiger Tank at Vimoutiers, St. Montgomery de Foy. Group dinner. | |
| Day 5 | Depart Hotel. Drive east to the Seine. Operation Neptune, the crossing of the Seine at Vernon. Lunch break enroute to Calais. Calais-Dover ferry. Arrive approx 1845 Dover and 2030 London. |
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