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woodfaceSo I should be studying for my exam on thursday and somehow ended up watching The Longest Day and part of the memorial ceremony in Normandy.
I think it must be about 10 years ago when I went to Normandy with my parents. We had rented a house that was under 2km from Utah Beach and visited most of the beaches and ruins left from WWII. The whole coast there is scarred, scorched bunkers still lie in the sand overlooking the beaches and fields. Most of them are burned completely inside from grenades and flame-throwers. When the water is low at some places you can still see some of the vessels in which the allies embarked lie at the seabottom. Sometimes even those iron constructions the germans used to protect the beaches. What stays in my mind most is Pointe du Hoc. This was a cliff that stood close to the beach with on the top a network of bunkers. The allies had trouble trying to get that point. The topside is like a moon landscape with craters everywhere but the bunkers are still there as well. To the right of the point was a field that was completely surrounded by barbe wire with warnings for landmines that still remain there.
It's hard not to think of the lives that were lost on those beaches. Especially when you go to the cemeteries you can find in abundence. The ones for the allies are overpowering. Most of the times there is not much more than either a cross (or David star) or just a plate on the ground. Rows after rows of white marmer crosses as far as the eye can see. And you feel humbled.
Still, it's a german cemetery that I remember most. It's a german memorial plate at one of the beaches that comes to my mind and the careful question to remember soldiers who were following orders. The german cemetery was different from the allied one. There is nothing awe inspiring, nothing humbling and asking for your respect. The crosses aren't in white but in a grey, rough earthstone. Still, row after row and in the middle a large, cloacked statue from the same stone as the tombs. A grey figure, arms spread and head bowed in grief. And you feel death is close by, as if he has free reign there because the ones lying here are "guilty". They won't get recognised for their sacrifice as they pay the penance even in their graves.
ETA: Strange, I looked up some stuff and the germane cemetery I seem to find most about online is La Cambe. Only in the center it doesn't have one statue but two clocked figures standing at each side of a cross. I'm guessing my memory played tricks on me there, but it was a long time ago. Unless we went to a different cemetery but I can't remember the name.
I think it must be about 10 years ago when I went to Normandy with my parents. We had rented a house that was under 2km from Utah Beach and visited most of the beaches and ruins left from WWII. The whole coast there is scarred, scorched bunkers still lie in the sand overlooking the beaches and fields. Most of them are burned completely inside from grenades and flame-throwers. When the water is low at some places you can still see some of the vessels in which the allies embarked lie at the seabottom. Sometimes even those iron constructions the germans used to protect the beaches. What stays in my mind most is Pointe du Hoc. This was a cliff that stood close to the beach with on the top a network of bunkers. The allies had trouble trying to get that point. The topside is like a moon landscape with craters everywhere but the bunkers are still there as well. To the right of the point was a field that was completely surrounded by barbe wire with warnings for landmines that still remain there.
It's hard not to think of the lives that were lost on those beaches. Especially when you go to the cemeteries you can find in abundence. The ones for the allies are overpowering. Most of the times there is not much more than either a cross (or David star) or just a plate on the ground. Rows after rows of white marmer crosses as far as the eye can see. And you feel humbled.
Still, it's a german cemetery that I remember most. It's a german memorial plate at one of the beaches that comes to my mind and the careful question to remember soldiers who were following orders. The german cemetery was different from the allied one. There is nothing awe inspiring, nothing humbling and asking for your respect. The crosses aren't in white but in a grey, rough earthstone. Still, row after row and in the middle a large, cloacked statue from the same stone as the tombs. A grey figure, arms spread and head bowed in grief. And you feel death is close by, as if he has free reign there because the ones lying here are "guilty". They won't get recognised for their sacrifice as they pay the penance even in their graves.
ETA: Strange, I looked up some stuff and the germane cemetery I seem to find most about online is La Cambe. Only in the center it doesn't have one statue but two clocked figures standing at each side of a cross. I'm guessing my memory played tricks on me there, but it was a long time ago. Unless we went to a different cemetery but I can't remember the name.
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no subject
Date: 2004-06-06 04:39 pm (UTC)Was listening to NPR today and they said that many of the men and women who were at the memorial ceremony today - this will prob. be the last "big" one. We are slowly losing the generation that went through it all.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-06 05:57 pm (UTC)They said something similar here on television too. When I was in my first year at uni, the prof wanted us to interview 10 people about WWII. Our subject was the reaction of people during the war about the jewish deportations etc. He kept stressing how important it was to tap this source of information which will be gone in a few decades.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-06 05:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-06 05:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-06 05:05 pm (UTC)The whole city has been alight this week preparing for the commemoration.
I too have seen Route 'D'embarkement in Normandy. and have stood on those beaches. Its an amazing feeling being there.
I am still upset that we could not get J a passport in time for her to join the choir singing on the beach on the landing beaches in normandy this weekend.
I have a friend who was part of the landings. He wrote a piece for our paper recently and it is one of the most moving things i have ever read.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-06 05:53 pm (UTC)I'm sorry about J's passport =o( *knuffels to you all*
no subject
Date: 2004-06-06 05:54 pm (UTC)*hugs*
no subject
Date: 2004-06-06 05:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-06 05:39 pm (UTC)MEH, HOW can they not know *twitch*
BTW, an incredibly well made point about the German graves. I can remember that the teachers aim when she was teaching us about Nazism, was to get across to us that these were not faceless soldiers, but people who had real lives. They deserve the same respect being given to the 'winners'.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-06 05:50 pm (UTC)I think it is very important to see both sides and when you stand in a german graveyard that opens your mind to it.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-06 06:27 pm (UTC)As I watched just a little of the Normandy ceremony this morning, the person I was in awe of the most was Queen Elizabeth. Most of the other leaders there are relative newcomers compared to her.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-06 06:29 pm (UTC)Well our own king was there too. He turned 70 today so not that new either ;o)
no subject
Date: 2004-06-06 09:12 pm (UTC)Although I have not been to the Normandy beaches, I did visit the "Punch Bowl" (Pearl Harbor cemetery) and Arizona Memorial in Hawaii and had many of the same feelings.
I was also in the UK the day before the 50th anniversary of VE day and in Germany ON the 50th anniversary. The UK was celebrating, Germany was silent. I found it fitting and thought provoking.
My father fought in WWII. Last weekend, I spent time with him and he showed me a book of collected letters from WWII veterans from my home county in Illinois. I am glad he got that book and I am proud he fought in the war. May we all never forget what that generation did.
I'm gonna have to do the teal'c thing and say;
Date: 2004-06-06 11:45 pm (UTC)