Phil&Jill

This memorial gave a very good representation of the various stages of World War 2. The audio was excellent in explaining the attitude Europe held after the conclusion of World War 1 and the reasons for the tensions and the rise of Hitler and Nazi Germany. You passed by the fluttering flags of all nations involved in the war to enter the memorial. Your first image was a Typhoon - a high performance fighter plane hanging from the ceiling. You descend via a spiral ramp with pictorial exhibits on the walls showing war images and civilian life.

Each section of the war is then covered by small cubicles showing footage of the particular part of the war it was illustrating. The lights were low, the bombing was loud and every form of artillery, guns and equipment were staged. The French really know how to exhibit their war time history in a sobering, informative and emotional way. Lots of personal accounts through letters and photos.

Then Caen itself is shown and you are left in no doubt of the damage inflicted the hardships of the civilians but their strength in rebuilding again.

A memorial we will long remember and coupled with Pegasus from yesterday really taught us a lot.

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A 30 minute was shown to explain what the fighting on the beaches was like. You will see from a couple of photos the course chosen for the invasions of Sword, Gold, Juno, Utah and Otama beaches. Although the troops met with fierce German soldier opposition these areas were not as heavily guarded as the area near Calais where the Germans thought the attack would be made. However the Allies' casualties were heavy and the conditions very hard going from entering the water, to scaling the beach fronts.

The final part of the memorial is to take the lift down to General Richter's bunker. They have built the war memorial directly over the original bunker where the German officer in charge took refuge. Most of the planning for the German counter attack took place in this Bunker. Heavy fighting continued for 9 days after D-day before Caen was finally liberated. It took 3 months before the troops moved forward enough to enter Paris and liberate it.