The LuLac Edition #2926, June 6th, 2015

D DAY @ 71 

Today marks the 71st anniversary of D-Day, the turning point in the second World War. From the website battleofnormandyDDay.Overlord.com a minute by minute recap of the day. 

Tuesday June 6, 1944 : minute per minute

This web excerpt presents 207 events (this is to say one event every 8 minutes during 24 hours) which marked the D-Day. It allows you to understand hour per hour, minute per minute, the Operation Overlord on the ground, in the air and over the sea.

Airborne operations . The mission of the bombardments and the allied parachutists: to disorganize the German forces by destroying axes of communication and by capturing strategic points.

00:10
- The first american pathfinders jump over the Cotentin, in order to mark out the drop zones for the C-47 pilots who arrive in the minutes which follow.

00:16
- The first of the 3 british sailplanes reaches the bridge of Bénouville, Pegasus Bridge, 50 meters away from it.

- The Merville German battery is attacked by 5 bombers Avro Lancasters of the 7th Squadron, Royal Air Force.

00:35
- Capture of the Pegasus Bridge in Bénouville by the English parachutists led by Major John Howard.

- 2 British sailplanes reach the bridge of Ranville, Horsa Bridge. The 3rd sailplane planned for the operation is missing.

00:45
- German reports sent by the 3rd battalion of the 919th infantry regiment led by Lieutenant Colonel Hoffmann indicate the presence of enemy parachutists.

01:00
- Radars of the German Navy (or German Kriegsmarine) announce an important fleet opposite to the Pas-de-Calais.

- Sergeant Ludwig Förster discovers the allied fleet from his Wn 62 strongpoint, Omaha Beach sector.

01:10
- 36 Free France parachutists, within 4 teams, jump over Brittany, in the Duault forest close to Plumelec.

- Setting in alert of all the German troops belonging to the 84th corps, from the Orne river to Saint-Malo.

01:11
- The 716th german infantry regiment warns the general Marcks of the 84th army corps located in Saint-Lô of the presence of enemy airborne units in the Cotentin peninsula.

01:21
- Pathfinders of the 82nd Airborne division jump over the Cotentin peninsula to mark out 3 drop zones for the rest of the division (Drop Zones N, O and T).

01:30
- Corporal Emile Bouëtard, parachutists of the 4th battalion, Free France airborne, is killed at the Moulin de Plumelec, in Brittany.

- General Dollman orders the general alert of the 7th german army.

- The sirens of the battery of the Pointe du Hoc are in action to announce the appearance of allied bombers.

01:45
- General Marcks of the 84th army corps receives new information concerning the enemy parachutists, located between the villages of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont and Sainte-Mère-Eglise.

01:50
- At Paris, close to the Bois de Boulogne, the Western Naval Group chief of operations, Admiral Hoffman, convened the HQ to status the accumulation from the alarming reports.He sends the following message to Germany: “Announce to the Führer HQ that it is the invasion”.

01:55
- Takeoff in England of the 8th US Air Force bombers. 1,198 aircrafts are deployed on the whole.

02:00
- Marshal von Rundstedt is informed of the settings of alerts following the discovery of parachutists.

02:15
- The 352nd German infantry division signals the end of the alert for all its units.

02:29
- The ships of the U Force arrive at broad from Utah Beach and drop the anchors 24 kilometers away from the shore.

02:30
- Serious combat start in the locality of Ranville between the airborne troops of the 6th british Airborne and the 716th infantry and 21st Panzer divisions.

02:35
- Two aircrafts towing gliders are identified by the Feldpostamt of the 352nd ID.

02:40
- Marshal von Rundstedt transmits to the 7th german army that he does not believe in a great scale landing.

02:45
- The 914th regiment of grenadiers (352nd infantry division) reports that 50 to 60 parachutists were dropped south of the Carentan Grand Canal.

- Transmitters “Bag Pipe” and “Chatter” in England enter in action and scramble the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe (german air force) communications.

02:51
- The ships of the O Force arrive at broad from Omaha Beach and drop the anchors 23 kilometers away from the shore.

03:00
- Some S-Boote of the german Kriegsmarine start patrolling in the English Channel, following the arrival of allied parachutists. But the first patrols do not meet any target.

- American soldiers of the O Force (Omaha) start embarking in the landing crafts.

- The American soldiers of the U Force (Utah) start embarking in the landing crafts.

- Sergeant Ludwig Förster fires three white rockets from the Wn 62 strongpoint located close to Colleville-sur-Mer (Omaha Beach) to ask the ships to identified themselves. The other defense points in the area do the same. No response from the ships.

- The Royal Air Force bombards objectives at Caen.

- The 914th regiment of grenadiers (352nd ID) said that new groups of paratroopers were spotted south of Brevands. Other parachuted units are located near Cardonville.

03:10
- Report sent from the Pointe du Hoc to the HQ of the 352nd division of the German infantry: “Landing of enemy parachutists on both sides of the Vire river”.

03:13
- The 84th German army corps HQ ss informed that all sectors are quiet except south of Brévands where the equivalent of a battalion was dropped and near Cardonville where isolated units are identified.

03:14
- The commander of the troops on the coast wis informed that naval units were located at 11 km off Grandcamp.

03:25
- The lieutenant-colonel Terence Otway, who could gather only 170 British parachutists out of the 635 envisaged, passes to the attack of the battery of Merville.

03:35
- 55 Waco sailplanes containing the reinforcements of the 6th British Airborne Division land in the area of Ranville.

- Report sent to the headquarters of the 352nd Infantry Division in Germany: "Very heavy bombings on Le Guay, Pointe du Hoc and Grandcamp".

- Paratroopers are reported at Amfraville, Herouvillette and Gonneville.

03:54
- 52 Horsa American gliders containing intended reinforcements for the 101st airborne division land within the framework of the Operation Strait, North of Hiesville.

03:55
- The 914th regiment of grenadiers of the 352nd ID reported that two paratroopers were trapped near Cardonville while about 70 paratroopers had jumped near Isigny.

04:00
- Liberation of Sainte-Mère-Eglise by the American soldiers of the 3rd Battalion of the 505th Regiment of Infantry Parachutist. The spangled banner is hoisted at the toWn hall.

- 52 American Horsa gliders land within the framework of the Operation Strait in the North-West of Sainte-Mère-Eglise.

- Marshal von Rundstedt asks the supreme command in Berlin the authorization to send two divisions towards the coast.

- Violent air raid on the Wn strongpoints 44, 47 and 48.

04:08
- Death of General Pratt, second in command of the 101st Airborne Division, in the brutal landing of its glider close to Hiesville.

04:13
- The HQ of the 352nd ID order the departure of the 915th regiment of grenadiers spearheaded by Lieutenant Meyer towards Montmartin-Deville, through the bridge to the west of Neuilly, moving in columns and small groups.

04:25
- The HQ of the 352nd ID order the 914th regiment of grenadiers to attack the paratroopers south of Carentan.

04:30
- 132 American soldiers belonging to the 2nd and 4th Cavalry squadrons, lieutenant-colonel led by Dunn, land on the (mined) beaches of the Saint-Marcouf islands.

04:35
- The 916th German Pomegranates regiment captures an American officer who confirms the existence of the fake parachutists with explosives.

- Air raids on Le Guay, the Pointe du Hoc, Grandcamp and Maisy.

04:45
- Pocket submarines (X20 and X 23) charged to mark out the allied road of Armada arrive at nearly one kilometer of the shore.

- Lieutenant-colonel Terence Otway fires a yellow rocket towards the sky, located by the cruiser Arethusa. It is the signal that the paratroopers control the German battery of Merville. 70 British officers, warrant officers and soldiers were killed during the attack.

04:53
- The 352nd ID points to the 84th army corps that it is no longer able to locate the warships.

05:01
- Several bombers towing gliders over Houlgate and Cabourg are reported, so are air drops at Morsalines, Saint-Côme and Sainte-Mere-l'Eglise. Three paratroopers with maps of the Vire river have been captured.

05:07
- The 716th German infantry division reports that the number of gliders in the area of the Orne river is increasing.



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The landing. The allied ships and bombers bombard coastal defenses, and the landing of the allied troops begins.
05:10
- First shootings of the naval artillery guns against the German coastal positions by the Orion cruiser with broad of Gold Beach, then by the cruisers Ajax, Argonaut, Emerald, by the dutch warship Flora and 13 destroyers.

- 18 Marauder bombers of the Royal Air Force attack the German battery of the Canisy Mount.

- The Free France warships Montcalm and Georges-Leygues bombard the German battery of Longues-sur-Mer, which opens fire on the U.S. Arkansas.

05:20
- Report sent by the 352nd artillery regiment to the HQ of the 352nd German infantry division: “Forward observers of the 2nd and 4th artillery groups report noises, probably from naval units moving in direction of the estuary of the Vire river. Moreover, near Le Guay-Pointe du Hoc, 29 ships are observed including 4 important warships (destroyers or cruisers), at a distance from 6 to 10 km. 3 or 4 aircrafts have crushed at Formigny, 1 (Polish) pilot is made captive. The number of landing craft in front of Port-en-Bessin reaches approximately 50”.

05:30
- The Norwegian destroyer Svenner is sunk at Sword Beach by a German fast patrol boat S-Boote, causing the death of 30 sailors and soldiers. 18 torpedes were shot by 3 S-Boote from the 5th flotilla, based in Le Havre.

- The soldiers of the first assault wafe of the S Force (Sword Beach) embark in landing crafts.

- For the first time of the day an allied fighter attacks ground targets close to Falaise.

05:31
- The ships of Naval Eastern Task force, according the orders of the Rear-admiral Phillip Vian, open fire on the British and Canadian beaches of Gold, Juno and Sword.

05:32
- The ships of the type LSI intended to unload men on Juno Beach drop anchor.

05:34
- The HQ of the 352nd ID receives the information that no ship is in sight off Carentan.

05:35
- The 32 American amphibious tanks of the 741st Tank Battalion are launched 6 km off Omaha Beach.

05:37
- The guns of the German battery of Longue-sur-Mer open fire in direction of the destroyer USS Emmons and the cruiser USS Arkansas.

05:45
- Bombardment by the naval artillery of the Houlgate, Mount Canisy and Villerville batteries.

05:50
- the USS Texas opens fire for the first time (on the American sector of Omaha).

05:52
- USS Arkansas opens fire.

05:55
- 329 British Liberator bombard the German coastal installations.

- A ship charged to guide the landing crafts towards the beach of Utah, the PC 1261, enters a zone polluted by mines and is hit by one of them. Other ships sink a few minutes after the PC 1261 for the same reason.

05:58
- Sun rise. The weather is gray, the swell is very important, the clouds cover the sky and the rain falls sometimes. The wind is of force 3 to 4.

06:00
- 270 American Marauder bombers drop 4,404 bombs of 110 kg each.

06:02
- The 352nd ID reports that a first group of ships together with four smaller convoys start moving, and small ships gather in front of Grandcamp.

06:06
- Important air raids are reported on the Arromanches, Sainte-Honorine and Colleville strongpoints.

- The 726th regiment of grenadiers informs its headquarters that the crew of a shot bomber was located north of Sully.

06:15
- The landing crafts in front of the Anglo-Canadian beaches, located at approximately 7 km of the shore, start to move in direction of the beaches.

- The 709th Infantry Division reported that Saint-Mère-l'Eglise is occupied by paratroopers.

06:20
- The 352nd Infantry Division reports that between 6 to 10 kilometers off Le Guay-Pointe du Hoc, 29 warships are located, including 4 large units. Off Port-en-Bessin, that number rises to 50.

- 4 allied aircrafts are destroyed near Formigny, a Polish pilote is prisoner.

06:25
- Omaha Beach, Dog Green and Dog White sectors: landing of 32 amphibious tanks (C and B companies of the 743rd Cavalry Battalion).

- The 726th regiment of grenadiers reports that 30 ships move at slow speed 10 kilometers off the coast of Port-en-Bessin. The German Longues-sur-Mer battery is able to destroy them.

06:27
- Omaha Beach: end of the bombardment of the coast (except Satterlee and Talybont warships).

06:30
- Omaha Beach: the American warships (of which the USS Texas) open fire on the German battery of the Pointe du Hoc.

- General Feuchtinger, chief of 21st Panzer German Division, gives the order to attack the beachhead of the soldiers of the 6th British Airborne Division beyond the Orne river.

06:31
- Utah Beach, sector Uncle Red: landing of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Regiment of the 4th US Infantry Division.

06:35
- Omaha Beach: landing of the first assault wave of the 116th Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division.

- The 84th German Army Corps reports that 12 enemy soldiers were captured while three warships are getting closer to the coastline, surrounded by many landing crafts.

06:36
- Omaha Beach: landing of the second assault wave of the 116th Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division.

06:40
- General Dwight Eisenhower awakes after a short nap. He receives an optimistic call of the Admiral Ramsey who reassures him.

06:42
- American Admiral Kirk, chief of the Western naval formation, announces that “all is held in accordance with the plan”.

06:45
- Utah Beach: landing of the 32 amphibious tanks of the 70th Armoured Battalion. 28 reach the shore.

- Omaha Beach: landing of the second assault wave.

- The B-25 bombers of 8th and 342nd Squadrons of the Royal Air Force (of which the French group “Lorraine”) drop a smoke screen which protects the allied armada.

- German Speidel places 21st Panzerdivision at the orders of VIIth German army.

06:52
- The 352nd artillery regiment reports that between 60 and 80 landing crafts are approaching in front of Colleville-sur-Mer. The regiment can not counter the entire enemy units. Maisy and Saint-Marcouf are under fire from the naval artillery.

06:56
- The 914th regiment of grenadiers reports that three warships bombard the Maisy sector in particular.

07:00
- Pointe du Hoc: a white lighting rocket is located by the allied armada.

- Omaha Beach: landing of the second assault wave.

07:04
- The 916th regiment of grenadiers reports that the fortifications on the beach are under a continuous barrage of the naval artillery.

07:10
- Omaha Beach: the 88 mm gun of the Wn 61 strongpoint out of fight, having been destroyed either by a naval artillery shell or by a Sherman tank shell fired by Sergeant Turner Sheppard.

07:11
- Omaha Beach: the 225 Rangers of colonel Rudder, delayed by errors of navigations and a strong current, land with 41 minutes of delay at the Pointe du Hoc.

07:15
- Pointe du Hoc: Rangers of the Task force C move towards Dog Green (Omaha Beach), since they did not received the call for reinforcements from the Pointe du Hoc.

- Omaha Beach: the 726th regiment of grenadiers reports that the Wn 60 is severely bombed and that 20 landing crafts, identified by the Wn 37, are approaching.

- Gold Beach: landing crafts provided with rocket launcher of 127 mm open fire on the coastal defenses.

07:20
- Omaha Beach: The 916th regiment of grenadiers reports that amphibious tanks were identified in the Vierville Bay.

07:25
- End of the bombardment of the naval artillery on Gold, Juno and Sword.

- Gold, Juno and Sword Beach: the special tanks of mine and obstacles clearance land.

- Gold Beach: landing of the 50th British infantry divison, led by major general Graham.

07:30
- The parachutists of the 3rd battalion of 502nd PIR (101st Airborne Division) control the #3 causeway in the West of Utah Beach, near Audouville-la-Hubert.

- Omaha Beach: Rangers survivors of the C company reach the top of the beach, East of the D-1 exit (Vierville-sur-Mer).

- Sword Beach: landing of the 3rd British infantry division led by general Rennie.

07:37
- Omaha Beach: German report sent by the 726th regiment of grenadiers: "The first landing crafts have landed in front of the Wn 65 and Wn 69 with amphibious tanks".

07:40
- Omaha Beach: the LCI (Landing Craft Infantry) number 91 is hit by a mine and by the German artillery, causing the death of 73 soldiers.

07:45
- Pointe du Hoc: the Rangers establish a provisional HQ in a crater in front of the anti-aircraft L409 A bunker (37 mm gun), West of the German battery.

- Omaha Beach: the German soldiers of the strongpoint Wn 70 announce the breakthrough of six American tanks including 3 in front of the Wn 66.

- Omaha Beach: Task force C, made up of A and B companies of the 2nd battalion of Rangers, are about to land in the extremity of Dog Green and Dog White sectors. All the 5th Rangers battalion moves towards Dog Green.

- Juno Beach: landing of the 3rd Canadian Infantry division led by the general Keller.

08:00
- Utah Beach: four battalions from now on have landed.

- One of the two 210 mm Skoda K52 guns (from Czechoslovakian origin) of the Azeville battery is destroyed by the shootings of the allied ships.

- Omaha Beach: American soldiers arrive at the top of the dune in front of the Wn 60 strongpoint.

- Omaha Beach: landing of the men of the 5th Rangers Battalion, who were initially to land at the Pointe du Hoc.

08:05
- Juno Beach: the log book of the 3rd Canadian infantry division reports the explosion of approximately sixteen shells every minute on the Mike Green beach sector.

- Report of the 916th regiment of Pomegranates sent to the 352nd German infantry division HQ: “Enemy rather weak infiltrated the Pointe du Hoc. The 1st platoon of the 726th infantry regiment is engaged for an immediate counter-attack”.

08:06
- Omaha Beach: the 726th regiment of pomegranate reports that the Wn 60 is under fire and that 40 soldiers with an amphibious tank have landed in front of this strongpoint.

08:09
- Omaha Beach: all the amphibious tanks intended to land on Fox Green sunk between their starting point and the beach.

08:10
- Omaha Beach, sector Dog White: the LCI (Landing Craft Infantry) number 91 is hit by a mine and sinks.

08:19
- Pointe du Hoc: the 916th regiment of Pomegranates reports to the 352nd German infantry division HQ: “Close to the Pointe du Hoc, the enemy climbed the cliff (with ladders and ropes launched by projectiles)”.

08:20
- Omaha Beach: The 726th regiment of grenadiers reports that the 88 mm gun of the Wn 61 is inoperable and that landing crafts prepare to land in front of the Wn 37 and 37a strongpoint (the Wn 37a being bombarded by the naval artillery).

- Gold Beach: landing of the 7th Battalion of Green Howards.

- Sword Beach: landing of the N°4 Commando.
08:24
- Omaha Beach: the landed troops announce that they are under the fire of the Maisy batteries.

08:25
- Gold Beach: landing of Royal Marines Commando N°47 Commando.

08:30
- Omaha Beach: temporary interruption of the landing because of the lack of place on the beach. The Germans believe during a few minutes in the victory.

- Omaha Beach: general Cota establishes his headquarters on the beach.

- Omaha Beach: attack against the Wn 60 strongpoint defended by the 915th regiment of grenadiers.

- The German pilots Priller and Wodarczyk carry out a passage above the beaches on board their Focke Wulf 190 and return at their base of Bondues, North of Lille, without troubles.

08:33
- Omaha Beach: The LCT 538 reports it was unable to land its transport because of a 88 mm gun which has wounded 5 Americans.

08:35
- Omaha Beach: The Americans make their first four prisoners, from the 8th company of the 916th Regiment (352nd German infantry division).

- Omaha Beach: The 352nd infantry division reports to the 84th army corps that between 100 and 200 soldiers have entered the defense perimeter and that a battalion just strengthen the German positions at Colleville ("Meyer" battalion).

08:45
- Omaha Beach: the 916th regiment of grenadiers reports that the Wn 70 strongpoint has felt into the hands of the enemy. 3 tanks have gone through the defenses of the Wn 66 strongpoint and the upper bunker of the Wn 62 is destroyed.

- Sword Beach landing of the Royal Marines Commando N ° 41.

08:49
- Omaha Beach: The 1st Battalion of the 116th Infantry Regiment reports that it is stopped by the firing of heavy machine guns and asks for the support of the naval artillery.

08:55
- Omaha Beach: the 352nd artillery regiment faces difficulties to maintain radio contact with the Wn 60 strongpoint.

08:57
- Omaha Beach: the 726th regiment of grenadiers reports that 30 enemy tanks were landed between the Wn 35 and 36 strongpoints.

09:00
- The second 210 mm gun of the Azeville battery is destroyed by the Allied ships.

- Pointe du Hoc: the Rangers counter and attack led by the first company of the 916th Infantry Regiment.

- Omaha Beach: the Wn 60 strongpoint (Fox Red sector) defending the F1 exit is under control of the 1st U.S. Infantry Division.

- Hitler wakes up. He went to bed quite late the day before after listening to Wagner's music.

09:05
- The Canadian soldiers who landed on the Red Mike beach sector report that the situation is excellent.

09:10
- Omaha Beach: the Rangers who landed on the beach indicate that the tide rises quickly and that beach obstacles have still not been demolished. They ask for the support of demolition teams.

09:15
- The 352nd Infantry Division German registers in its logbook the loss of the Wn 65, Wn 68 and Wn 70 strongpoint.

09:17
- Publication of the Notice No. 1: "Under the command of General Eisenhower, the Allied naval forces, supported by strong air forces, began the landing of Allied armies this morning on the coast of northern France".

09:20
- The ships in front Omaha Beach start firing on the German defenses, as requested by general Huebner, who knows he risks to fire at American soldiers. It lasts twenty-five minutes.

- The German battery of Longues-sur-Mer stops firing momentarily.

09:21
- The 716th infantry division reports that 30 enemy tanks moving south toward Meuvaines.

09:25
- Omaha Beach: the 352nd artillery regiment reports that 6 amphibious tanks were destroyed by the firing of mortars in front of the Wn 35 strongpoint.

Sword Beach: at Ouistreham, amphibious tanks requested by Commandant Kieffer reach the bunker of the Casino and open fire, allowing the Free French commandos of the 1st Battalion to control the position.

09:30
- General Gale is parachuted north of Caen.

- Omaha Beach: General Omar Bradley receives an estimated loss report. 3,000 soldiers are out of fight, while soldiers of the 16th Regiment of the 1st U.S. infantry division move to Port-en-Bessin.

- Omaha Beach: the 352nd artillery regiment reports that the Wn 35 and 36 strongpoints are destroyed and that the guns of the Wn 40 destroyed 4 tanks and 3 landing crafts.

- Gold Beach: a dozen German Focke Wulf 190 fighters start a raid over the beach.

- Juno Beach: the town of Bernières is liberated by the men of the North Shore Regiment and the Queen's Own Rifle.

- Sword Beach: the town of Hermanville is liberated by the South Lancashire Regiment.

09:45
- End of the second artillery barrage on Omaha Beach.

09:55
- The 352nd German Infantry Division reports that all radio communications with the 916th regiment of grenadiers have stopped.

10:00
- Omaha Beach: 2 American destroyers go to less than 1 km from the shoreline to give close support to the isolated groups which attempt to exit the beach.

- Omaha Beach: approximately 200 soldiers from 1st Battalion, 116th Regiment (29th US infantry division) have climbed the cliff and reach Vierville-sur-Mer.

- Omaha Beach: the Wn 64 strongpoint is under control of the Americans.

- General Marcks takes the decision to counter-attack with the 21st Panzer Division.

- General Edgar Feuchtinger receives the order to counter-attack with his tanks along the Orne river deal against the paratroopers of the 6th British airborne division.

10:12
- Omaha Beach: the command post of the 726th regiment of grenadiers receive the following message from the Wn 62 strongpoint: "The Wn 60 is still holding, the Wn 62 is still firing with a machine gun, but the situation is critical. Elements of the 1st and 4th companies counter-attack".

- The 914th regiment of grenadiers reports that many enemy boats entered the Carentan canal but have not yet started landing operations.

10:15
- Omaha Beach: at Wn 62 strongpoint, near Colleville-sur-Mer, the two 76.5 mm guns are destroyed at the same time by the naval artillery.

- Omaha Beach: The 916th regiment of grenadiers reports that between 60 and 70 landing crafts are landing soldiers in front of the Wn 65 strongpoint at Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer. German troops of the Pointe du Hoc do not answer radio calls anymore.

10:25
- Omaha Beach: three tanks are located by the 916th regiment of grenadiers, west of the Wn 38 strongpoint.

10:30
- West of Utah Beach, American paratroopers of the Dog Company (505th PIR) start fighting near the village of Neuville-au-Plain.

- Omaha Beach: the two 75 mm guns of the Pointe de la Percee, the cause of widespread destructions, are destroyed by the McCook destroyer.

- Omaha Beach: the Wn 65 strongpoint, at the junction between the Easy Green and Easy Red beach sectors and protecting the E1 exit is under control of the American troops.

- General Feuchtinger is orders to move its 21st Panzerdivision to the west of the Orne Canal, and to the north of the Bayeux-Caen line.

11:00
- The radio station of the Pointe de la Percee is attacked by the Thompson destroyer at Omaha. It fires 127 mm shells.

- Pointe du Hoc: the 3rd company of the 726th regiment of Grenadiers reports to the 352nd infantry division HQ: "The enemy, with 2 companies, has invested the Pointe du Hoc strongpoint. It fire from the ships special shells with scales towards the cliff, with which the obstacle can be climbed".

- Gold Beach: 7 exits have been opened.

11:12
- Omaha Beach: The 914th regiment reports that the Wn 60 strongpoint still holds while the Wn 61 has felt and that the Wn 62 is in a critical situation even if it still has a gun. The survivors of the 1st and 4th battalions prepare an offensive to control the Wn 61 back.

11:20
- Omaha Beach: elements of the 5th Ranger Battalion reach the town of Surrain (South of Colleville-sur-Mer).

11:27
- Omaha Beach: the 916th regiment of grenadiers reports that the attackers held the heights above the beach of Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer. The commander of the 352nd infantry division gives the following order "Counter-attack the enemy to push it back to the sea".

11:45
- Omaha Beach: The 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment (1st US I.D.) has landed.

11:58
- The 726th regiment of grenadiers reports that three landing crafts were sunk in Port-en-Bessin.

12:00
- Utah Beach: 4 causeways are controlled by the paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division.

- Utah Beach: the 2nd bataillon of the 8th RCT enters Poupeville.

- Pointe du Hoc: The 6 last defenders of the observation post surrender to the American Rangers.

Pointe du Hoc: Colonel Rudder transmits the following message "Have reached the Pointe du Hoc. Completed. Need ammunition and reinforcements. Heavy losses".

- Omaha Beach: because of the lack of ammunition, the Houttevillebattery (4,500 meters from the beach, near Colleville-sur-Mer) refuses to fire salvos against the landing crafts approaching. 105 mm guns can only fire single shots.

- About 85 French resistants are slaughtered at the Caen prison by the Gestapo because the Germans failed to move them.

- Churchill makes his speech to the House of Commons, telling to the MPs the liberation of Rome and the beginning of the landing.

12:14
- Omaha Beach: The Americans have reached the Church of Colleville-sur-Mer.

12:23
- Omaha Beach: The 18th Regiment of the 1st US infantry division climbs the cliff and heads towards Colleville-sur-Mer.

12:40
- Omaha Beach: the 726th regiment of grenadiers reports that the southern exit of Colleville-sur-Mer has been reached by the Americans and that many tanks were stopped by antitank ditches.

01:00 pm
- Pointe du Hoc: Colonel Rudder receives the answer to his message of 12:00: "No reinforcements available. All the Rangers landed at Omaha".

- Omaha Beach: General Bradley learns the breakthrough of some groups of soldiers at the top of the cliffs.

- Omaha Beach: the Wn 72 strongpoint (Vierville-sur-Mer, Dog Green sector) is under control of the U.S. soldiers.

- Sword Beach: men of the 1st Suffolk Regiment control the Morris strongpoint at Colleville-Montgommery (then Colleville-sur-Orne).

01:30 pm
- Air raid on the city of Caen.

- Omaha Beach: general Omar Bradley, on the warship Augusta, receives the following report: "Troops previously stopped on Easy Red, Easy Green and Red Fox beaches, progress on hills behind the beaches".

01:41 pm
- Omaha Beach: the 726th regiment of grenadiers reports that Germans are once again controlling Colleville-sur-Mer.

- Omaha Beach: the German resistance at Dog Green, Easy Green, Easy Red and White Red beach sectors has stopped.

02:00 pm
- Pointe du Hoc: the German defenders of the 84th infantry regiment abandon the western strongpoint.


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The consolidation. The last German defenders abandon their positions one after the other on Omaha, the last lock to skip. Now the objective is to set a solid beachhead in Normandy.
02:13 pm
- Omaha Beach: destruction by the destroyer USS Harding of the steeple of the Church of Vierville-sur-Mer (with supposed German artillery observers).

02:25 pm
- The town of Périers, south of Sword Beach, is liberated by the Staffordshire Yeomanry tanks after heavy fightings.

02:30 pm
- A rescue boat is sent by the USS Barton to rescue the wounded Rangers at the Pointe du Hoc (but a German fire barrage of prevents it to access).

02:35 pm
- Juno Beach: general Keller organizes a press conference in an orchard near Bernières.

02:58 pm
- Omaha Beach: the 352nd artillery regiment reports that the village of Colleville-sur-Mer is once again under the control of the enemy.

03:00 pm
- Omaha Beach: two U.S. destroyers approach the shore to deliver close support to the landed troops.

- Omaha Beach: the 916th regiment of grenadiers counter-attacks the advanced American units between the Wn 62a, Wn 62b and Wn 64 strongpoint.

- General Marcks orders Colonel von Oppeln-Brokinoswski to counter-attack with the 21st Panzerdivision: "The fate of Germany and the fate of this conflict depend of the success of your attack".

03:26 pm
- Omaha Beach: failure of the German counter-attack led by the 916th regiment of grenadiers in Colleville-sur-Mer.

03:30 pm
- Omaha Beach: Hein Severloh, last defender of the Wn 62 strongpoint, abandon his post after having fired 12,500 rounds with his K98 rifle and MG 42 machine gun.

03:45 pm
- Sword Beach: men and tanks of the 2nd Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment and 13/18th Hussars control the Fort Sole strongpoint.

04:00 pm
- German counter-attack towards the bridge at La Fière, 3 km from Sainte-Mere-Eglise, defended by U.S. paratroopers of Able Company, 505th PIR of the 82nd Airborne.

- Omaha Beach: the first American Sherman tank reaches the road connecting the beach to Colleville through a small valley. It is then destroyed by an anti-tank gun.

- The Wn 35 strongpoint at Le Hamel is under control of the 1st Battalion Royal Hampshire.

- Air raid on the city of Caen. Bombing of the German battery at Mont Canisy by 37 Marauder bombers, which drop 61 tons of bombs on the site.

- German counter-attack in the town of Périers, south of Sword Beach.

- The Shropshire Regiment frees the town of Biéville south of Sword Beach, while its tanks support of the Staffordshire reaches Blainville.

- Marshal von Rundstedt is authorized to engage his two armored divisions.

05:00 pm
- Omaha Beach: general Clarence Huebner lands on the Easy Red beach sector.

- Omaha Beach: the steeple of the Church of Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, which covers German snipers, is destroyed by the American artillery.

- Omaha Beach: The Wn 73 strongpoint, located further west of Omaha, is under control of the men belonging to the 5th Ranger Battalion and 116th Regiment (29th infantry division).

05:10 pm
- The 916th regiment of grenadiers informs the 352nd infantry division HQ that the village of Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer is controlled by the enemy.

05:30 pm
- The speech of general de Gaulle ("The ultimate battle is engaged!") is broadcast on the BBC.

- Counter-attack of the German armored units led by Colonel von Oppeln-Brokinoswski towards the town of Biéville to push back the Canadian soldiers.

- Counter-attack by the German tanks led by Major von Gottberg towards town Biéville to push back the Canadian soldiers.

06:00 pm
- The Free France warship Georges-Leygues opens fire on the battery of Longues-sur-Mer, west of Gold Beach (which just attacked some allied ships).

- Juno Beach: in Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, the last German defenders in the Red Nan sector surrender.

- Sword Beach: men of the second battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment countrol the Daimler strongpoint in Ouistreham.

06:10 pm
- Omaha Beach: the 915th regiment of grenadiers reports that it has moved behing the ennemy lines at the castle of Colleville-sur-Mer and that the wounded can not be evacuated.

06:25 pm
- Pointe du Hoc: General Dietrich Kraiss, commander of the 352nd infantry division, reports to the officer in charge of the 916th regiment of Grenadiers: "The 1st company of the 914th regiment of Grenadiers must counter-attack at the Pointe du Hoc to solve the situation. Detachments from Le Guay strongpoint must also attack from the east".

06:30 pm
- Omaha Beach: The 26th infantry regiment (1st U.S. infantry division) lands..

06:54 pm
- The USS Harding destroyer fires once again against the bell tower of the Vierville-sur-Mer church. End of shooting at 18:57 pm.

07:00 pm
- Omaha Beach: in the town of Colleville-sur-Mer, heavy fightings take place between the U.S. troops and the German defenders.

07:25 pm
- Pointe du Hoc: the Germans, supported by elements from Le Guay, launch an offensive at the east of the small American beachhead.

07:35 pm
- The USS Harding destroyer fires once again the bell tower of the Vierville-sur-Mer church and the area near the church for two minutes. Shells falls on the castle of Vierville-sur-Mer.

07:37 pm
- New bombardment by the USS Harding destroyer of the bell tower of the Vierville-sur-Mer church and the area near the church for less than two minutes.

07:40 pm
- Pointe du Hoc: general Kraiss is informed of the German advance, and "the 9th company of the 726th regiment of Grenadiers is surrounded by the enemy from the east and the south".

- Omaha Beach: German fire barrage on the beach in the area of Colleville-sur-Mer, where the landing operations are continuing. Some losses among U.S. troops.

07:45 pm
- Pointe du Hoc: the 916th regiment of Grenadiers reports the dropping of paratroopers near Le Guay strongpoint.

08:00 pm
- 6 German tanks make a breakthrough to Lion-sur-Mer, where they observe the landing operations before turning back.

- The First Suffolk Regiment troops controls after fierce fighting the Hillman strongpoint, defended by the men of the 736th Regiment of Grenadiers, located south of Sword Beach.

- The french commandos of the 1st BFM reach the town of Le Hauger.

08:15 pm
- The German Hillman position is controlled by the men of the Staffordshire after hard fightings.

09:00 pm
- The 6th brigade led by general Kindersley lands with 256 gliders in the landing area of Ranville (Operation Mallard).

- 32 Horsa gliders of the 434th U.S. Troop Carrier Group lands in the Cotentin near Hiesville.

- 3 companies of the 21st Panzer division led by General Feuchtinger attack south of Juno Beach: it is a failure.

- Pointe du Hoc: 24 Rangers of A company, 5th battalion, who landed on Omaha Beach access the fortified point of the Pointe du Hoc.

09:30 pm
- Marshal Rommel arrives at his command post after a car travel of around 800 km long.

09:45 pm
- Omaha Beach: artillery barrages fired from the south-east of the area of Maisy are reported.

10:30 pm
- Air raid on the city of Caen.

- Liberation of the town of Tailleville after hard fighting, defended by the 736th regiment of Grenadiers.

- The men of 1st Battalion, Royal Hampshire, liberate the town of Arromanches.

11:00 pm
- Pointe du Hoc: counter-attack led by 40 German soldiers from the 1st and 914th regiments of the 352nd infantry dDivision against the U.S. Rangers.

- Omaha Beach: Major Tegtmeyer reports by radio to Colonel Ficchy that nothing is set to evacuate the wounded and something should be done about it.

11:30 pm
- Pointe du Hoc: General Kraiss reports to the General Marcks that "The attack against the 1st company of the 914th regiment of grenadiers is still