POINTE DU HOC Calvados - 14 km north-east of Isigny-sur-Mer
The impossible mission assigned to the Rangers
La Pointe du Hoc on the Norman coast was a strategic objective in the sector of Omaha Beach. The Germans had built there a major coastal battery that could threaten the Landing beaches. On 6 June 1944 at 5:45 a. m., Colonel Rudder’s 2nd Rangers Battalion transfered in the landing ships, three assault crafts out of twelve transporting the men sank before reaching the coast. With fitted ladders and grabs the Rangers climbed the cliff under German machine-guns fire. At the top they discovered a lunar landscape and they noted the absence of the guns in their hollows. The next day the Rangers found the guns in a path beyond the coast road and attempted to destroy them. In the evening of 7 June, after a mercyless fighting 90 men out of 225 Colonel Rudder’s battalion were still able to fight. On 8 June the 29th Infantry Division arrived from the east and relieved the Rangers after two days beleaguering.
   
 
 
 
 
2nd Rangers Battalion monument
Monument in memory of the 2nd Rangers Battalion. Commanded by Colonel James E. Rudder of the 1st American Infantry Division, they assaulted and captured La Pointe du Hoc battery; the memorial is built on a control firing casemate where bodies of the soldiers still lie under the ruins.
Situation : access from the D514 road (follow the road-sign)
 
   
ROAD MAP
 
INTERESTING WEB SITES

Web page about the naval forces of D-day
http://www.naval-history.net/WW2194406.htm
Association website about the 29th US Infantry Division (en anglais)
http://www.geocities.com/pentagon/bunker/2629/index1.html
US Army official web site about technical units of D-day
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/reference/Normandy/TS/index.htm
Page of US Army official web site about units of D-day
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/reference/normandy/UnitList.htm

 
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