15 juin 2009

La falaise, à l'ouest de la Pointe du Hoc: Jour J+2/ D-Day+2


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Quand cette photo a été prise, on pouvait encore revenir à Grandcamp depuis la Pointe du Hoc en suivant la falaise. Le chemin du littoral offrait cette vue, que les U.S. Army Rangers n'ont pas eu le plaisir d'apprécier dans les jours qui suivirent le Débarquement.
Voilà quelques années, un pan de falaise s'est effondré, un enfant a été blessé, les autorités ont fermé l'accès au chemin.
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Les 3 compagnies du 2e bataillon de Rangers qui ont debarqué au pied des falaises de la Pointe du Hoc à l'aube du 6 Juin 1944 dûrent faire face seules aux contre-attaques du 914e Régiment d'Infanterie allemand pendant plus de deux jours. Le soir du 6 juin, 25 Rangers du 5e Bataillon qui avait débarqué à Omaha Beach réussirent à s'infiltrer dans le périmètre de la Pointe.

Quand ils furent relevés par les troupes du 116e regiment de la 29e Division, le 8 juin, il ne restait plus que 90 soldats en état de combattre, sur les 225 qui avaient pris d'assaut la falaise.

Ils n'avaient plus de nourriture, plus de munitions, plus de médicaments, mais les Rangers avaient accompli l'un des premiers , et l'un des plus importants, exploits du Jour-J.

Et la guerre ne faisait que commencer quand ils s'acheminèrent sur la route de Grandcamp.

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When this photo was taken, it was still possible to follow the cliff all the way to Grandcamp from the Pointe du Hoc. At the beginning of the trail, you discover this view, which the US Army Rangers did not get the chance to admire in the days following D-Day.
Some years ago, part of the cliff collapsed, wounding a young child. Since then, the trail has been closed by the local authorities.
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The 3 companies of the 2nd Ranger Battalion who landed here at Pointe-du-Hoc in the early dawn of D-Day weren’t relieved until June 8, after 2 1/2 days of mounting a continual defense against fierce counterattacks by elements of the German 914th Infantry Regiment. On the evening of June 6, 25 Rangers from the 5th Ranger Battalion who had landed at Omaha Beach had managed to join the men at the Pointe after fighting their way along the coastal road.

After two days, only 90 of the original 225 Rangers who had led the assault were still able to man their positions when troops of the 116th Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, finally broke through the German positions to relieve them.

They were running out of food, out of ammunition, of medical supplies, but the Rangers had accomplished one of the first and most critical missions of D-Day, at a terrible cost.

And the war was just beginning, as they marched away toward Grandcamp.

5 commentaires:

pietro a dit…

impressing view, and interesting place, breath of the history :)

Cath a dit…

Belle profondeur pour cette photo!

Laurie a dit…

Amazing view. It is so beautiful that it is hard to imagine all that went on at that time.

gavin hart a dit…

What a terrible history this coastline has seen. Thankfully, it looks so peaceful now in your photo.

Gerd a dit…

I remember my holidays 2006 when I visited this beautiful coast. And I remember this special point. The green, hilly meadows look so peaceful now but tell you a terrible story. I can't imagine what all who fought there had to endure and I hope no-one will ever has to....