HOC HIGHLIGHT
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Steep cliffs, the scene of fierce battles during the Normandy Landings, offer a landscape that has been preserved since 1944.
Just a stone’s throw from Grandcamp, the rocky promontory of Pointe du Hoc is one of nature’s whims. Between sea and sky, more than 30m above a deep cove, rises the imposing mass of a now-famous cliff. The Germans built an impregnable artillery battery here. The Allies understood its strategic importance and resolved to annihilate the position at dawn on D-Day. The mission was entrusted to the 2nd Ranger Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel James E. Rudder. Despite the bombardment of enemy positions, the battalion had to storm the cliff in high winds and torrential rain. Armed with simple ropes and ladders, the Rangers climbed the cliff in a matter of minutes. At the top, they discovered a landscape dotted with cracks and disfigured by bombardment. Facing the enemy alone, they engaged in a battle that proved terribly deadly. Out of 225, 90 remained alive. Ironically, the Rangers, whose mission was to disable the German guns, discovered that the artillery had been removed from Pointe du Hoc long before they arrived.
The tour is enhanced by panels and a smartphone app. The Visitor Center is now equipped with a projection room. At the initiative of the American Battle Monuments Commission, a flock of Brittany Heath sheep is grazing the site, helping to preserve its natural beauty.
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