Bayeux, twice liberated by the Allied forces
In the evening of 6 June 1944, the 56th Infantry brigade lands in Normandy on Gold Beach, and stops in front of Magny-en-Bessin. The 2nd Gloster patrols advance a few kilometers toward Bayeux, and enter the city by the northern outskirts; the British soldiers distribute some cigarettes to the Bayeusains and promise to come back the following day. The next morning, the city is liberated without any fighting. On 14 June, General de Gaulle returns in France and gives a speech in Bayeux; he celebrates the true fighting France and restores the national authority.
BAYEUX (Calvados)
 

British cemetery : 4 648 graves
Bayeux is the largest British cemetery of the Second World War in France; 4 648 Allied and German soldiers are buried there : 3 935 British, 17 Australians, 8 New Zealander, 1 South-African, 25 Poles, 3 French, 2 Czechs, 2 Italians, 7 Russians, 466 Germans and 1 unknown. On a memorial are registered the names of 2 808 missing soldiers : 1 537 British, 270 Canadians and 1 South-African.
Situation: near the southern ring road of Bayeux (follow road-sign)

 
Normandy Battle museum
This museum presents chronologically the Battle of Normandy. A slides projection reports the final episode of the Falaise Pocket. Two rooms, Overlord and Eisenhower, show weapons, uniforms and equipments. Outside, several tanks of the two sides are exposed.
Address and telephone : Fabian Ware boulevard 14400 Bayeux
Tel : 02 31 92 93 41
 

British Churchill tank
Slow and heavily armoured, this tank was outdated but its many versions made it the second most manufactured British tank of the Second World War.
Situation : near Memorial museum

German Hetzer tank
This small tank destroyer of less than 15 tons weight was manufactured in great number in 1944 and 1945; its crew was of four men.
Situation : near the Memorial museum
American tank Sherman M4
American tank Sherman M4 made up main equipment of allied armoured divisions; armed with a 75 mm gun, it was steered by a four men team.
Situation : near the Memorial museum
American M10 tank
This M10 tank Destroyer was armed with a 76,2 mm gun, it could pierce 100 mm shielding at 900 meters range.
Situation : near the Memorial museum
  Sherwood Rangers stele
This stele is in memory of the Sherwood Rangers soldiers who were killed for freedom in Normandy.
Situation : near the Memorial museum
  Military Police corps stele
This stele is dedicated to the men of the Military police corps, who died during 6 June 1944 D-Day and the Battle of Normandy.
Situation : near the Memorial museum
General de Gaulle monument
This monument commemorates special relationship between General de Gaulle and city of Bayeux.
Situation : at the western exit of Bayeux
  Essex regiment stele
This stele is in memory of the soldiers of the 2nd Essex regiment battalion, "the Pompadours", who were killed in France, Belgium and Holland from 6 June 1944 to 8 may 1945.
Situation : near the Memorial museum
General Eisenhower monument
At the day of Normandy Landing, Dwight David Eisenhower was 54 years old; he was an experienced soldier since he commanded the Landing in North Africa in 1942. In 1943 he was named Allied Europe Forces Commander, and was assigned the huge task to manage the Landing in Normandy; "the right man in the right place", he successfully carried out this vast operation.
Situation : on the southern ring road of D572 toward Saint-Lô
General de Gaulle Memorial
The memorial is situated in the XVth and XVIIth century Governor hotel, it was the first headquarters of the republican authority of liberated France. One finds there reported the "meetings" of General de Gaulle with the city of Bayeux, and especially the 16 June 1944 speech. Photographs, memories, texts and archives films illustrate the events.
Address and telephone : 10, Bourbesner street - 14400 Bayeux - Tel.: 02 31 92 45 55
50th Northumbrian division plate
This plate is dedicated to all soldiers of the 50th Northumbrian division, who gave their life for freedom and the liberation of France on the beaches of La Rivière, Le Hamel and Arromanches on 6 June 1944 during the Battle of Normandy. Bayeux was the first French city liberated by the Allied troops, and this division entered the city on 7 June 1944.
Situation : on a wall, right of Notre-Dame cathedral
56th Brigade plate (4)
In Notre-Dame cathedral one can see a plate, in memory of the 56th British Infantry brigade.
Situation : in Notre-Dame cathedral, on the left side when entering
A13 aerodrome stele
From this advanced ground A13, built by the 846th Air Engineers battalion of the 9th US Air Force, took off the 373rd Combat group from 19 July to 19 August 1944, the 406th Combat group from 30 July to 17 August 1944, and the 394th Bombardment group from 25 August to 18 September 1944.
Situation : on the N13 road, at the exit of Vaucelles, on the right side going toward Cherbourg
 
   
Interesting websites

Link to : the 6 June 1944 Ouest-France website
Link to : the German panzers of 2nd World War website (in English)
Link to : the Battle of Normandy Encyclopædia Britannica website (in English)
Link to : the Bayeux museum tourism board website
Link to : the D-Day personal website of Patrick Elie