Utah Beach
Part of World War II
Amphibious DD tanks landing on Utah Beach.
Date 6 June 1944 Location Pouppeville, La Madeleine, in France Result American victory.
Combatants
United States	Germany
Commanders
Raymond O. Barton Theodore Roosevelt Jr U.S. 4th Infantry Division	Karl-Wilhelm von Schlieben Dietrich Kraiss German 352nd Infantry Division German 709th Infantry Division
Strength
32,000	?
Casualties
700	Unknown

American assault troops move onto Utah Beach, carrying full equipment. A landing craft, in the background, jams the harbor. 6 June 1944.

Map of the Utah beach landings.

Utah Beach was the codename for one of the Allied landing beaches during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, as part of Operation Overlord on 6 June 1944. Utah was added to the invasion plan towards the end of the planning stages, when more landing craft became available. Despite being substantially off course, the U.S. 4th Infantry Division landed there with relatively little resistance, in contrast to Omaha Beach where the fighting was fierce. Utah beach, about three miles long, was the westernmost of the five landing beaches, located between Pouppeville and La Madeleine. A practice run for these landings, known as Exercise Tiger, took place in April of 1944 on the southern coast of the United Kingdom. This training exercise resulted in 749 American servicemen perishing and nearly 300 being wounded after poorly executed naval escort permitted an attack by German E-boats on the landing force. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Image File history File links Description: Assault elements of Force U, including DD tanks, were still on the beaches when this photo was taken shortly after H Hour. ... DD Sherman tank with its flotation screen lowered. ... June 6 is the 157th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (158th in leap years), with 208 days remaining // 1508 - Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year truce and cede several territories to Venice 1513... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... There are communes that have the name La Madeleine in France: River Madeleine, in the Territoire de Belfort département Communes La Madeleine, in the Nord département Related La Madeleine-de-Nonancourt, in the Eure département La Madeleine-de-Villefrouin, in the Loir-et-Cher département La... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_States. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany_1933. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_States. ... Major General Raymond O. Barton and Colonel Buck Lanham Major General Raymond O. Tubby Barton b. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_States. ... Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ... It has been suggested that U.S. 1st Brigade 4th Infantry Division be merged into this article or section. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany_1933. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany_1933. ... [[]] 21:37, 6 February 2007 (UTC) Dietrich Kraiss (November 16, 1889, Stuttgart - June 6, 1944, Saint-Lô) was a German Generalleutnant during World War II, awarded the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves Kraiss was a commander of the 90th Infantry Regiment (from September 1939 to March 1941), 168th Infantry... 352nd Infantry Division 352nd Volksgrenadier Division The 352nd Infantry Division () was an infantry division of the German Heer during World War II. A western front unit, the 352nd is notable as the defenders of Omaha Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944. ... |image= |caption=Assault landing One of the first waves at Omaha Beach. ... Combatants United Kingdom Germany Commanders General-Lieutenant Miles Dempsey, British 3rd Infantry Division Generalleutnant Wilhelm Richter, German 716th Static Infantry Division Hans von Luck, German 21st Panzer Division Strength 28,845 Unknown Casualties 630 Unknown German defense at Ouistreham. ... This article is about the beach codenamed in WWII. For other uses, see Juno Beach (disambiguation) Combatants Canada Germany Commanders Major-General R.F.L. Keller, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division Generalleutnant Wilhelm Richter, German 716th Static Infantry Division Strength 15,000 7,771 Casualties 340 dead, 739 other casualties Unknown... Combatants United Kingdom Germany Commanders Lieutenant-General Miles Dempsey, British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division Generalleutnant Wilhelm Richter, German 716th Static Infantry Division Generalleutnant Dietrich Kraiss, German 352nd Static Infantry Division Strength 24,970  ? Casualties 400 altogether Unknown This article is about a World War II invasion. ... Combatants United States Germany Commanders Omar Bradley Norman Cota Clarence R. Huebner U.S. 1st Infantry Division U.S. 29th Infantry Division Dietrich Kraiss German 352nd Infantry Division Strength 34,000  ? Casualties 3,000 1,200 The build-up of Omaha Beach: reinforcements of men and equipment moving inland. ... Pointe du Hocs location Preinvasion bombing of Pointe du Hoc by 9th Air Force bombers. ... Combatants U.S.A. Germany Commanders Richard Winters Colonel von der Heydte Strength 13 60+ Casualties 4 dead, 2 wounded 15 dead, 12 prisoner, wounded unknown The Brécourt Manor Assault during Operation Chicago of the Normandy Invasion of World War II is often cited as a classic example of... During World War II, Operation Chicago was carried out by the Allies in 1944. ... The Battle of Villers-Bocage (June 13, 1944) was an unusual clash between the British and Germans in northern France during World War II. Michael Wittmann, an SS-Obersturmführer, led a unit of six PzKpfw VI Tiger tanks of the 501st Battalion to secure the N175 road near Villers... Combatants Allied Powers Germany Commanders J. Lawton Collins Friedrich Dollman Strength Unknown 40,000 Casualties 2,800 killed, 5,700 missing, 13,500 wounded 39,000 captured The Battle of Cherbourg was part of the Battle of Normandy during World War II, it was fought immediately after the successful Allied... Combatants Allied Powers Nazi Germany Commanders Lieutenant General Richard OConnor SS General Paul Hausser Strength 1 armoured division 3 infantry divisions 1 armoured brigade 2 SS Panzer Divisions 5 Panzer battlegroups Casualties British VIII Corps 4,020 12th SS Panzer Regiment 324 25th SS Panzer-Grenadier Regiment 383 26th... Operation Goodwood was an Allied military operation of World War II from July 18 to 20 July 1944 taking place in Normandy some weeks following D-Day. ... During World War II, Operation Atlantic (Allies, 1944) was a Canadian offensive, part of the British great breakout tentative (Operation Goodwood) during the Battle of Normandy, on June 19th. ... During World War II, Operation Spring (Allies, 1944) enabled to secure territory gains around Caen and its surroundings during the Battle of Normandy, after Operation Goodwood. ... Operation Cobra was the codename for the World War II operation planned by United States Army General Omar Bradley to break out from the Normandy area after the previous months D-Day landings. ... During World War II, Operation Bluecoat was an attack by British Second Army south of Caumont, France executed 29 July 1944. ... During World War II, Operation Lüttich was a counterattack launched by German forces on the left flank of the Allied lodgment at Normandy beginning on 7 August 1944. ... During World War II, Operation Totalise ( Allies, 1944) was a ground attack on 7 August 1944 by British, Canadian and Polish forces to breakout from the Normandy beachhead along the Caen-Falaise road. ... Operation Tractable was a military operation commanded by the 2nd Canadian Corps in Normandy in August 1944. ... Combatants United States United Kingdom Canada Free French Forces Free Polish Forces Others Nazi Germany Commanders Bernard Montgomery Omar Bradley Günther von Kluge Walter Model Strength N/A 150,000 Casualties Canadian: 18,500 Polish: 2,300 U.S and British: N/A 10,000+ killed, 60,000 wounded... This article is about the Second World War battle for Brest. ... The Liberation of Paris in World War II took place in late August 1944 after the battle of Normandy. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x847, 155 KB) Description: Carrying a full equipment, American assault troops move onto Utah Beach on the northern coast of France. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x847, 155 KB) Description: Carrying a full equipment, American assault troops move onto Utah Beach on the northern coast of France. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1844x1142, 341 KB) Description: Utah beach 6 June 1944 Source: www. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1844x1142, 341 KB) Description: Utah beach 6 June 1944 Source: www. ... In general, allies are people or groups that have joined an alliance and are working together to achieve some common purpose. ... Land on Normandy In military parlance, D-Day is a term often used to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. ... |image= |caption=Assault landing One of the first waves at Omaha Beach. ... The Battle of Normandy was fought in 1944 between the German forces occupying Western Europe and the invading Allies. ... June 6 is the 157th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (158th in leap years), with 208 days remaining // 1508 - Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year truce and cede several territories to Venice 1513... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Landing craft Rapière LCU 1656 departs USS Bataan (LHD-5) well deck during Hurricane Katrina relief operations. ... It has been suggested that U.S. 1st Brigade 4th Infantry Division be merged into this article or section. ... Combatants United States Germany Commanders Omar Bradley Norman Cota Clarence R. Huebner U.S. 1st Infantry Division U.S. 29th Infantry Division Dietrich Kraiss German 352nd Infantry Division Strength 34,000  ? Casualties 3,000 1,200 The build-up of Omaha Beach: reinforcements of men and equipment moving inland. ... There are communes that have the name La Madeleine in France: River Madeleine, in the Territoire de Belfort département Communes La Madeleine, in the Nord département Related La Madeleine-de-Nonancourt, in the Eure département La Madeleine-de-Villefrouin, in the Loir-et-Cher département La... The exercise involved travelling through Lyme Bay to Slapton Sands Sherman DD tank at the memorial A plaque at the memorial, commemorating those who perished Exercise Tiger (also called Operation Tiger) was the code name for an eight-day practice run for the Utah Beach landings of the D-Day... E-boat is the British and American name for the German Schnellboot (S-boot), a small, fast torpedo boat a little larger than the American PT boat and the British MTB. Specification Length - 34. ...

Plan of attack

The landing was planned for four waves. The first wave consisted of 20 Higgins boats or LCVPs, each carrying a 30-man assault team from the 8th Infantry Regiment. The 10 craft on the right were to land on Tare Green Beach, opposite the strong point at les Dunes de Varreville. The 10 craft on the left were intended for Uncle Red Beach, 1,000 yards (910 metres) farther south. The entire operation was timed against the touchdown of this first assault wave, which was scheduled to take place at 0630. Eight LCTs (or Landing Craft, Tanks), each carrying 4 amphibious DD Tanks, were scheduled to land at the same time or as soon thereafter as possible. The second wave comprised another 32 LCVPs with additional troops of the 2 assault battalions, some combat engineers, and also 8 naval demolition teams which were to clear the beach of underwater obstacles. The third wave, timed for H plus 15 minutes, contained 8 more LCTs with dozer tanks. It was followed within 2 minutes by the fourth wave, mainly detachments of the 237th and 299th Engineer Combat Battalions, to clear the beaches between high and low water marks. The Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP) or Higgins boat was a landing craft used extensively in World War II. The craft was designed by Andrew Higgins of Louisiana, based on boats made for operating in swamps and marshes. ... LCT-202 of the U.S. Navy. ... DD Sherman tank with its flotation screen lowered. ...

USS Nevada fires on positions near Utah beach June 6th, 1944

USS Nevada D-day Photo #: 80-G-252412 Normandy Invasion, June 1944 Forward 14/45 guns of USS Nevada (BB-36) fire on positions ashore, during the landings on Utah Beach, 6 June 1944. ... USS Nevada D-day Photo #: 80-G-252412 Normandy Invasion, June 1944 Forward 14/45 guns of USS Nevada (BB-36) fire on positions ashore, during the landings on Utah Beach, 6 June 1944. ... The second United States Navy Nevada (BB-36) was a battleship, lead ship of her class of two (Oklahoma (BB-37) being the other). ...

D-Day

Two hours before the main invasion force, a raiding party, armed only with knives, swam ashore at Îles Saint-Marcouf, thought to be a German observation post. It was unoccupied. ÃŽles Saint-Marcouf are a group of two small uninhabited islands off the coast of Normandy, France. ...

The first wave arrived at the line of departure on time and all twenty craft were dispatched abreast. Support craft to the rear were firing machine guns, possibly with the hope of exploding mines. When the LCVPs were from 300 to 400 yards (273 to 364 metres) from the beach, the assault company commanders fired special smoke projectors to signal the lifting of naval support craft fire. Almost exactly at H Hour the assault craft lowered their ramps and six hundred men walked into waist-deep water to wade the last 100 or more yards (91 metres) to the beach. The actual touchdown on the beach was therefore a few minutes late, but the delay was negligible and had no effect on the phasing of the succeeding waves. Enemy artillery had fired a few air bursts at sea, but otherwise there was no opposition at H Hour. Artillery with Gabion fortification Cannons on display at Fort Point Continental Artillery crew from the American Revolution Firing of an 18-pound gun, Louis-Philippe Crepin, (1772 – 1851) A forge-welded Iron Cannon in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. ...

The first troops to reach shore were from the 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry. The 1st Battalion landed a few minutes later. Both came ashore considerably south of the designated beaches. The 2nd Battalion should have hit Uncle Red Beach opposite Exit 3. The 1st Battalion was supposed to land directly opposite the strong point at les Dunes de Varreville. The landings, however, were made astride Exit 2 about 2,000 yards (1,820 metres) south.

Potentially this error was very serious, for it might have caused great confusion. In fact it did not. The original plans, in which each assault section had a specific mission, could not be carried out in detail, of course. Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., assistant commander of the 4th Division, had requested several times, against his commander's best judgement, to go in the first wave and personally lead the initial attack on the beach strong points. His written request was finally approved by General Barton, 4th Division Commanding General. Roosevelt was the only General to land with the initial assault wave on D-Day and, at 57, the oldest soldier to land. When Roosevelt realized that the landing craft had drifted south with the current and smoke more than a mile south of their objective, and that the first wave was a mile off course, walking with the aid of a cane and pistol, he personally made a reconnaissance of the area immediately to the rear of the beach to locate the causeways which were to be used for the advance inland. He then returned to the point of landing, contacted the commanders of the two battalions, Lt. Cols. Conrad C. Simmons and Carlton O. MacNeely, and coordinated the attack on the enemy positions confronting them. Roosevelt's famous quote in these circumstances was "We’ll start the war from here!" These impromptu plans worked with complete success and little confusion. With artillery landing close by, each follow-on regiment was personally welcomed on the beach by a cool calm and collected Roosevelt, who inspired all by humor and confidence. Ted pointed almost every regiment to their changed objectives. Sometimes he worked under fire as a self-appointed traffic cop, untangling traffic jams of truck and tanks all struggling to get inland and off the beach. For these actions on Utah beach, Roosevelt was later awarded the Medal of Honor. Theodore Roosevelt. ... It has been suggested that U.S. 1st Brigade 4th Infantry Division be merged into this article or section. ... The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. ...

The German forces who were responsible for the defence of the beach, were elements of the 709th Infantry Division, commanded by Generalleutnant Karl-Wilhelm von Schlieben, and the 352nd Infantry Division, commanded by Generalleutnant Dietrich Kraiss.

Amphibious DD tanks await blowing of breaches in sea wall on Utah Beach. This photo was taken shortly after H Hour.

American paratroopers in a French village at St. Marcouf, Utah Beach, France, 8 June 1944.

Image File history File links Description: Assault elements of Force U, including DD tanks, were still on the beaches when this photo was taken shortly after H Hour. ... Image File history File links Description: Assault elements of Force U, including DD tanks, were still on the beaches when this photo was taken shortly after H Hour. ... DD Sherman tank with its flotation screen lowered. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2880x2347, 415 KB) A group of paratroopers in a French village at St. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2880x2347, 415 KB) A group of paratroopers in a French village at St. ...

Success

By the end of D-Day, some 23,250 troops had safely landed on the beach, along with 1,700 vehicles. Only about 200 casualties were recorded during the landings. Several factors contributed to the success at Utah vs. the bloody battle at nearby Omaha:

• Fewer German fortifications: the defense of the area was largely based on flooding the coastal plain behind the beaches, and there were fewer bunkers.
• Effective pre-invasion bombardment: many of the known large bunkers, such as the coastal battery near Saint-Martin-de-Varreville, were destroyed from the air prior to D-Day.
• DD tanks: nearly all of these swimming tanks made the beach, because they were launched half as far out as at Omaha, and were able to steer into the current more effectively to avoid swamping in the rough seas.
• Mis-landings: because most of the invasion force landed opposite Exit 2, this one was the most used, but the other exits were more heavily fortified.
• Paratroopers: the most significant difference was the 13,000 men from the 101st Airborne Division and the 82nd Airborne Division already fighting inland. For 5 hours before the first Utah landings, the paratroopers (and glider forces) had been fighting their way out towards the beach, clearing the enemy from positions along the exits. The paratroopers also greatly confused the enemy, and prevented any significant counter-attack to the landing area.

The true cost of Utah Beach is reflected in the heavy airborne casualties: the 101st alone lost about 40% of their force on D-Day. Also, the 1000 casualties during Exercise Tiger, a practice run for the Utah assault, could also be considered part of the price for D-Day. DD Sherman tank with its flotation screen lowered. ... The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)—nicknamed the “Screaming Eagles”—is an airborne division of the United States Army primarily trained for air assault operations. ... The 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army was constituted in the National Army as the 82nd Division on August 5, 1917, and was organized on August 25, 1917, at Camp Gordon, Georgia. ... The exercise involved travelling through Lyme Bay to Slapton Sands Sherman DD tank at the memorial A plaque at the memorial, commemorating those who perished Exercise Tiger (also called Operation Tiger) was the code name for an eight-day practice run for the Utah Beach landings of the D-Day...

Notable people on Utah Beach

• Philip Hart - U.S. senator
• Elliot Richardson - Nixon-era politician, medical officer in the 4th wave ashore
• Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. - 4th ID general, landed in the 1st wave
• J. D. Salinger - U.S. author
• James Van Fleet - 4th ID colonel
• Hugh Nibley - Celebrated Mormon scholar

Philip Aloysius Hart (December 10, 1912–December 26, 1976) was a Democratic senator from Michigan. ... Elliot Lee Richardson (July 20, 1920 – December 31, 1999) was an American lawyer and politician who was a member of the cabinet of Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. ... Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. ... Theodore Roosevelt. ... Jerome David Salinger (born January 1, 1919) FYI(His secret lover Katharine was born july 6, 1990)is an American author best known for The Catcher in the Rye, a classic novel that has enjoyed enduring popularity since its publication in 1951. ... James Alward Van Fleet (March 19, 1892 - September 23, 1992) was a U.S. Army general during World War II and the Korean War. ... Hugh Winder Nibley (born March 27, 1910 in Portland, Oregon - February 24, 2005) was one of Mormonisms most celebrated scholars. ...

References

• Much of this text is taken from the official US Military History Utah Beach to Cherbourg, written by Roland G. Ruppenthal. This work is in the public domain.
• A short film entitled A Soldier's War, tells the story of a fictional squad who lands on Utah Beach and moves inland to link up with the 101st Airborne Division. The film reflects more on the psychological and personal effects of war, rather than on action sequences.

Short subject is an American film industry term that historically has referred to any film in the format of two reels, or approximately 20 minutes running time, or less. ... The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)—nicknamed the “Screaming Eagles”—is an airborne division of the United States Army primarily trained for air assault operations. ...

Utah beach song

In June 1994, the town of Carentan (Normandy), near Sainte-Mère-Eglise, produced an important show to commemorate its liberation by the 101st airborne forces in June 1944. This famous song, written by Daniel Bourdelès, is extracted from this show.

Utah Beach

Lace waves on its bared back
the beach is soft and hurtless
pulling on it the sea rollers
as we ride up a blanket
They won't keep cold our memories
kings can born and die in the future

White balls are bouncing lights
pushed by the children laughs
These are immensely songs of peace
in this ambush world
Utah Beach colored it is almost beautiful
even with its all on edge pain

The old requiem long shivers
always undulate on the beach
Seaweed make chrysanthemum dreams
on the shell marble
Some ladies go on a pilgrimage
between Sainte-Mère-Eglise and clouds

Original french song written by daniel Bourdelès in the CD "La mémoire du ciel". Words translated by Gaby Fangazio.

See also

• Exercise Tiger

The exercise involved travelling through Lyme Bay to Slapton Sands Sherman DD tank at the memorial A plaque at the memorial, commemorating those who perished Exercise Tiger (also called Operation Tiger) was the code name for an eight-day practice run for the Utah Beach landings of the D-Day...

External links

• Utah Beach American Memorial on the American Battle Monuments Commission web site
• D-Day : Etat des Lieux : Utah Beach

Coordinates: 49°25′05″N, 1°10′35″W The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) is a small independent agency of the Executive Branch of the United States federal government. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...