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Arromanches-les-Bains (Normandy, France)

Arromanches is remembered as a historic place of the Normandy landings and in particular as the place where a Mulberry harbour artificial port was installed. This artificial port allowed the disembarkation of 9,000 tons of materiel per day. It was on the beach of Arromanches that, during the Invasion of Normandy immediately after D-Day, the Allies established an artificial temporary harbour to allow the unloading of heavy equipment without waiting for the conquest of deep water ports such as Le Havre or Cherbourg. Although at the centre of the Gold Beach landing zone, Arromanches was spared the brunt of the fighting on D-Day so the installation and operation of the port could proceed as quickly as possible without damaging the beach and destroying surrounding lines of communication. The port was commissioned on 14 June 1944.

British cannon and Salle Des Fêtes in Arromanches, Normandy, France
British cannon and Salle Des Fêtes in Arromanches, Normandy, France

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Arromanches-les-Bains, France

Memorial Royal Engineers in Arromanches, Normandy, France
Memorial Royal Engineers in Arromanches, Normandy, France

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Arromanches-les-Bains, Frankreich

Monument Notre Dame des Flots (Arromanches, Normandy, France)
Monument Notre Dame des Flots (Arromanches, Normandy, France)

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Arromanches-les-Bains, Francja

This location was one of two sites chosen to establish the necessary port facilities to unload quantities of supplies and troops needed for the invasion during June 1944, the other being built further west at Omaha Beach. The British built huge floating concrete caissons which, after being towed from England, then had to be assembled to form walls and piers forming and defining the artificial port called the Mulberry harbour. These comprised pontoons linked to the land by floating roadways. One of these ports was assembled at Arromanches and even today sections of the Mulberry harbour still remain with huge concrete blocks sitting on the sand and more can be seen further out at sea.

Remains of the Mulberry Harbour on the Beach in Arromanches, Normandy, France)
Remains of the Mulberry Harbour on the Beach in Arromanches, Normandy, France)

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アロマンシュ レ バン, フランス

Boulevard in Arromanches, Normandy, France
Boulevard in Arromanches, Normandy, France

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Арроманш-ле-Бен, Франция

Memorial Royal Engineers in Arromanches, Normandy, France
Memorial Royal Engineers in Arromanches, Normandy, France

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Arromanches-les-Bains, Francia

Some key figures: by 12 June 1944 more than 300,000 men, 54,000 vehicles, 104,000 tons of supplies had been landed. During 100 days of operation of the port 2.5 million men, 500,000 vehicles, and 4 million tons of materiel were landed. The best performance of the port was in the last week of July 1944: during those seven days the traffic through Arromanches exceeded 136,000 tons or 20,000 tons per day.

Remains of German Defences in Arromanches (Normandy, France)
Remains of German Defences in Arromanches (Normandy, France)

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أرومانش ليه باين، فرنسا

Belvédère Table D' Orientation (Arromanches, Normandy, France)
Belvédère Table D’ Orientation (Arromanches, Normandy, France)

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अरोमांचेस-लेस-बेन्स, फ़्रांस

Arromanches 360° Circular Cinema (Normandy, France)
Arromanches 360° Circular Cinema (Normandy, France)

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Arromanches-les-Bains, Francuska

Today, Arromanches is mainly a tourist town. Situated in a good location for visiting all of the battle sites and war cemeteries, there is also a museum at Arromanches with information about Operation Overlord and in particular, the Mulberry harbours. On 21 September 2013 Bradford-based sand sculpting company Sand in Your Eye created a tribute called “The Fallen 9,000”. It was a temporary sculpture project, a visual representation of 9,000 people drawn in the sand which equates the number of civilians, German forces and Allies that died during the D-day landings. It coincided with Peace Day, and was washed away with the tide at the end of the day.

Whale Pier Bridge Element from the Mulberry Harbour (Arromanches, Normandy, France)
Whale Pier Bridge Element from the Mulberry Harbour (Arromanches, Normandy, France)

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Arromanches-les-Bains, Frankrijk

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