Omaha Beach was the code name for one of the three American landing sectors of the Allied invasion of Normandy, which took place on June 6, 1944, to liberate German-occupied France during World War II. The other two American sectors were Utah and Point du Hoc. The main goal at Omaha was to establish a five-mile-deep beachhead, between Port-en-Bessin and the Vire River, and make contacts with the British landings to the east, linking up with VII Corps landing to the west, at Utah Beach.
The western half of Omaha Beach was the objective of the 29th Infantry Division, which were augmented by eight companies of U.S. Army Rangers, while the 1rst Infantry Division was given the task to capture and secure the eastern half. Opposing the Americans at Omaha Beach was the Wehrmacht 352nd Infantry Division, which had been deployed in strongpoints along the coast. This German division consisted of veteran and battle-hardened infantry soldiers under the command of Lieutenant General Dietrich Kraiss.
Omaha Beach was the hardest Allied Objective on D-Day, as it was the most heavily fortified beach, with high bluffs defended by funneled mortars, machine guns, artillery, barbed wire, and anti-tank barriers. The naval bombardment of the German bunkers and concrete pillboxes was not effective. These military obstacles coupled to the difficulties the Amercans had trying to get the landing craft and tanks on the beach made of Omaha Beach a living inferno where about 3,000 Americans were killed or wounded. Nevertheless, one the Ranger companies managed to climb the cliffs between the strong points despite the heavy machine gun fire they were subjected to. Further infantry landings exploited these initial penetrations achieved by the Rangers and by the end of the day two isolated footholds had been established.
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