Utah Beach III

Moving inland about a mile, the Engineers bivouac for the night and gather equipment and weapons found lying around. Our Dad ended up with a German pistol as his protection, which wasn't good because he could be executed if he was captured. Below you can see the French and Americans flags fly near a small cafe. On the bottom are German obstacles called Czech hedgehogs which were to interfere with the landing craft. Coming in at low tide left these obstructions exposed and useless, Rommel believed the attack would be at high tide. The weeks later would find the Allies fighting in hedgerows in Normandy which greatly slowed their advance. To achieve a better and faster method of attack, these German obstacles were welded to Sherman tanks which plowed thru the earthen mound of trees and bushes of the hedgerows.