Utah Beach was the codename for one of the Allied landing beaches during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, as part of Operation Overlord on 6 June 1944.
It is the first sector of the two American landing zones.
This sector is about 3 miles (5 km) long and was the westernmost of the five landing beaches.
It was wanted to establish a bridgehead directly in the Cotentin, in order to capture CHERBOURG and its deep water harbor.
Just North of Utah Beach, the Varreville Dunes were ideally located to afford a link to the highway which facilliate the unloading of men and material after the beach landing.
The beach and the highway are threatened by a german heavy gun battery installed at "la Croix aux Bertots".
On the night of 28-29 may 1944, with remarkable precision, the R.A.F. dropped 1800 tons of bombs which anhilated this battery.
On 6 june, with 75 U.S. paratroopers, Lt Colonel Robert G.Cole of the 101st Abn.Div. reached this battery and controlled beach exits N°3 and N°4.
At dawn on 6 june, the 342nd Sqn. of the "Free French Aerial Group LORRAINE", commanded by Lt. Colonel FOURQUET, participated in the beach landings by creating a smoke screen to shield the naval forces from the German Coast Artillery Batteries. At the extreme Easter end of the Normandy Beach Landings, in the Departement of Calvados, Captain KIEFFERS's Commando, made up of 171 French Marines,landed at 8h45 and took over the fortified position at Riva Bella.
On 1st August 1944, General LECLERC's 2nd French Armored Division landed on this shore and immediately set out for la HAYE DU PUITS and ST JAMES in the souther part of the Departement of MANCHE.
This division was attached to the XXth corps of the U.S Third Army under the command of General Georges S. PATTON.
On 8 August, it reaches the outskirts of LE MANS and continues on toward ALENCON. On 22 august, General LECLERC is ordered to march on PARIS and, after the liberation of this city on 25 august, the French 2nd Armored Division continues its advance on STRASBOURG and, from there, reaches BERCHTESGADEN.
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