Omaha Beach

Omaha Beach is one of the five landing sites used during the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, during World War II, commonly known as D-Day. Located on the northern coast of France, Omaha Beach was the code name for a stretch of coastline approximately 6 miles (10 kilometers) long. It was heavily fortified by German forces and presented one of the most difficult challenges for the Allied troops. The beach was primarily assaulted by American troops, specifically the U.S. 1st Infantry Division ("The Big Red One") and the U.S. 29th Infantry Division, supported by elements of the 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions. Omaha Beach was heavily defended by German forces, who occupied concrete bunkers, machine-gun nests, and artillery positions. The beach was also protected with obstacles such as barbed wire, mines, and anti-tank barriers. Poor weather, strong tides, and navigational errors caused many landing craft to drift off course. The initial waves of troops faced intense German fire and suffered heavy casualties.