The church of Sainte-Mère-Église in the Cotentin peninsula, dates from the 12th-14th century. On D-Day the town was to be captured by US paratroopers to defend the west flank of the landing beaches. In the night of June 5-6 one section was mistakenly dropped over the town while a fire was raging, becoming easy targets for the German defenders. The parachute of John Steele clung to the church tower. Injured, he was unable to free himself until he was taken prisoner. Sainte-Mère-Église was later on the day taken by American troops.
The largest German military cemetery in Normandy, at La Cambe, the final resting place for 21,200 servicemen.
A gun emplacement at Longues-sur-Mer battery, part of the German Atlantik Wall. Built between September 1943 and April 1944, this coastal battery consisted of four 15 cm naval guns and was located situated between the landing beaches Omaha and Gold. While active on D-Day, the guns inflicted no serious damage on the Allied landings. The battery was captured by British troops on June 7, 1944.
