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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.
