Switzerland & France

Our next stop was Juno Beach, which was assigned to the Canadian forces. In this location, marshlands rather than cliffs were the primary geographic challenge. Uniquely designed tanks were used to clear paths from the beach. One version could unroll tracks ahead of itself so it wouldn't get bogged down in the marshes. Another would thrash the ground with cables to detonate landmines.

The final stop of the day was the WWII Memorial Museum in Caen. There was an extensive exhibit of the Normandy invasion, but also rooms dedicated to other aspects of the war, including the political climate, propaganda, the holocaust, weaponry, and military strategy. There was also an intact German bunker that served as the command center for Nazi forces in the Normandy region.En savoir plus