PRESS FILE - UTAH BEACH

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UTAH BEACH | LANDING MUSEUM

CONTENTS3 THE MUSEUM 4 THE MUSEUM IN 5 DATES 5 KEY FIGURES 6 EXHIBITION SPACES 8 INTERNET REVIEWS 10 ONE MUSEUM, MULTIPLE VISITS 12 KEY EVENTS IN 2019 14 PRACTICAL INFORMATION

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ELANDING MUSEUM | UTAH BEACH

In the name of those who gave their life for others

The sound of engines thrumming under a full moon. Enemy positions ablaze. 13,000 armed silhouettes deployed into the fields and villages. At daybreak, the mass landing of allied forces on the beach of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, given the code name Utah Beach.

On 6 June 1944, at 6.30 am, the first American units stormed a 2-km portion of the coast located east of Cotentin. The admirable military manoeuvre was part of the extraordinary D-Day operation. This decisive chapter in the great story of the liberation of Normandy has been recreated by the Utah Beach Landing Museum, built on the beach captured by the American troops.

From its planning to its success, the museum space surrounds visitors with the officers, soldiers and Normandy civilians who accomplished, took part in and witnessed the epic events of Utah Beach. Precise testimony from those who survived the combat, a display featuring an incredible collection of equipment, weapons and vehicles – including an original B26 bomber – and screenings of the multi-award-winning film, “Victory in the Sand” all help visitors to understand the dedication and sacrifice of exceptional men and women in the name of the ideals of freedom and peace.

THE MUSEUM

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Ever since it wasfounded in 1962,the museum has continuedto reinvent itself...

1994SECOND MUSEUM EXTENSIONFor the 50th anniversary of the landing, the museum undergoes a second extension, opening it up to the sea. The panoramic room links the beach to the museum.

1984NEW SCREENING ROOMTo mark the 40th anniversary of the landing, the museum is equipped with a brand-new screening room.

1962OPENING OF THE MUSEUMSpearheaded by Michel de Vallavieille, mayor of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, collected objected are brought together to pay tribute to the Americans who landed on Utah Beach.

1964FIRST MUSEUM EXTENSION An octagonal room is built to house a model explainingthe Utah Beach landing.

A short history withinthe bigger picture...In June 2007, two Americans, David and Gene Dewhurst, visited the museum. In one of the display cases, they came across a photo of their father. They then learnt that Major David Dewhurst, who died very young, valiantly took part in the final bombing run on 6 June 1944, just before the soldiers landed on Utah Beach. He was a hero, decorated by the American army. This discovery encouraged his two sons to set up a foundation in the United States to help fund the museum’s expansion work. They managed to finance over a third of the entire project.

2011 MUSEUM RENOVATION AND EXTENSIONA vast renovation and extension project gives the site a new dimension. Over 3,000 m² of gallery space immerses visitors in the landing and the Battle of Normandy, through objects, films and equipment that vividly depict the events of 1944.

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ELANDING MUSEUM | UTAH BEACHLANDING MUSEUM | UTAH BEACH

THE EVENTS OF 1944 THE MUSEUM

23,000 infantrymenland on Utah Beach on D-Day

137 killed and 60 missingon the beach

836,000 menlanded on Utah Beach

3,000 m² dedicated to the events

1.5 hours on average to explorethe museum

Over 3 million visitors since opening

Over 151,000 visitors in 2018

key figures

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EXHIBITION SPACES1944 / UTAH BEACH : AN IMMERSION IN HISTORY

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The German defencesWN5: 2 letters and a number identified the German stronghold of blockhouses watching the beach of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont. The Mu-seum is built around one of these. German objects evoke this strong military presence.

The German occupationLeaflets, testimony and objects reveal the terrible occupation years in the French department of La Manche.

“Victory in the Sand”Relive the landing preparations and follow the sequence of events of this historic day hour-by-hour with this film.

Allied StrategyA major mil itary operation, Overlord required meticulous pre-paration, led by commander “Ike” Eisenhower.

Naval forcesTo best protect the infantrymen, “Force U” attacked the enemy from the sea. Models show the different types of vessels involved

Air forcesThe victory also played out in the air. An omnipresent airborne army served to crush enemy positions. A vast array of objects – including equipment worn by pilots – recount this episode.

Land forcesOver 23,000 soldiers landed on French soil at Utah Beach on 6 June 1944. This space pays tribute to them.

6 June 1944D-Day on Utah Beach. From the first bombings on 5 June to the landing of infantrymen on the mor-ning of 6 June, relive the timeline of events through testimony and objects brought together in the centre of the panoramic room, offering a spectacular view of the beach where it all took place.

The Link-UpThe parachutists dropped on 5 June and the infantrymen who landed on the morning of the 6th join up: the link-up is complete. Parachutist Lieutenant Winters recounts this episode.

From Utah to CherbourgThe push to Cherbourg, through the wooded countryside, was a bloody one: emergency medical centres were set up, as shown by the material on display here.

The artificial port at Utah BeachPending the capture and restoration of the port of Cherbourg, an artifi-cial port was built off the coast of Utah. Photos show the sheer size of the construction.

DON’T MISSLETTER FROM LOUISE ROSS TO HER FIANCÉStuart Kauffman was a radio operator on the destroyer “Rich”, which sunk off Utah Beach on 8 June 1944.His body was never found.

B26 MARAUDER AIRCRAFT Its stature dominates the large glass-clad hangar. This 12-tonne bomber is one of the planes that flew over the Normandy coasts on D-Day, weakening the enemy with a blanket of bombs.

LCVP LANDING BARGE Over ten metres long, this landing craft is the symbol of D-Day. It allowed soldiers to draw as close as possible up to the beach, under enemy fire.

ASSAULT VEST Assault vests were used by the troops in the first wave of the assault, allowing them to carry maximum ammunition and equipment. A rare piece.

BIBLE OF SERGEANT LOUIS HARVARD (4TH INFANTRY DIVISION)This stopped a bullet fired by the enemy during the combat of 1944 and saved his life.

WATCH OF SERGEANT GIBSON (70TH TANK BATTALION)The sole survivor of the LCT 593, struck by a mine and sunk along with the 4 amphibious tanks it was transporting on the morning of 6 June, 5 km off the coast. His watch is stopped at 5.47 am, the time of the explosion.

FLAG OF COLONEL CAFFEY(1ST ENGINEER BRIGADE)This was the first flag to fly on Utah Beach on 6 June 1944 around 8 am, once the dunes were under American control. It marked the start of a land of freedom.

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Raymonde, January 2019 (Tripadvisor) “It is even more moving when you realise this museum has been built on the very spot where the American troops landed on 6 June 1944! A very impressive collection of objects, vehicles, material and testimonies!”

Mélanie, February 2019 (Google review) “A super museum where you can see objects and vehicles that you can’t see anywhere else and where children can learn a lot.”

INTERNEt REVIEWS

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Solène, 11 years old, March 2019 (Museum visitors’ book) “Super museum, it really explains the Normandy landings. I hadn’t realised so much had happened at Utah Beach.”

Yves, October 2018 (Google review) “Visiting the museum really helps you understand the achievement and sacrifice of the soldiers during the Normandy landings.”

Antoine, December 2018 (Tripadvisor) “Certainly the best museum about the Normandy landings that I have visited. The organisation is very modern, it provides slightly different insight into this so special day.”

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ONE MUSEUM, MULTIPLE VISITS

1 French, English, German, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Danish and Chinese

In images Multi-award-winning “Victory in the Sand” is one of the films that punctuates the tour of the museum, immersing visitors in the events of 1944. This exceptional film pays particular attention to the planning and proceedings of 6 June, as well as the strategic role of Utah in the recapture of Europe. Projected in English and French, the Utah Inside application enables it to be viewed in 7 additional languages.

With a guide From 45 minutes to 90 minutes, from the inner spaces to the entire Utah Beach site, the guided tours offered by the museum are tailored to your requirements. Fascinated and fascinating guides share the history of this beach and give you a better understanding of the story of the landing.

And...For “VIPs”Lasting around 3 hours, this exceptional tour is for small groups only (6 people maximum). The VIP Tour takes placein several key stages: • a detailed presentation of the story of the

landing on Utah Beach on 6 June 1944• a tour of the crypt and monuments• a full tour of the museum, the reserve

collection and the trenches• a refreshing break

Just for kids With this treasure hunt, specially designed for families and classes, follow in the footsteps of Thérèse, a little girl living in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont during the occupation, and help her find the suitcase she lost near the beach when the Germans arrived. An original way to approach the period of the occupation. Educational workshops for primary and secondary school pupils offer another approach to the story of the landings through games and craft activities. For more information, see our “Educational and group offers” brochure.

Excerpt from the film « Victory in the Sand »

Through the bravery of thousandsof troops, a page of history

was written, a future was bornand the world was changed,

all here on Utah Beach.

The museum on your smartphone!With “Utah Inside”, experience the events from within. The museum has developed a digital tool that offers ano-ther dimension to the visit. In particular it allows access to the interior of a B26 bomber and provides the translation of the Museum and “Victory in the Sand” film content in 9 languages.

Additional content, adapted to the visi-tor’s country of origin, is also available with the tour assistants, and appears as you explore the museum. These virtual guides provide the historical context.

More new features will be added to the tour application during 2019!

It couldn’t be simpler to use: visitors can connect to a dedicated network from their smartphone or tablet, without ha-ving to download the app. By scanning the QR codes on the museum signs and selecting their language, the translated texts will appear on the screen!

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ONE MUSEUM, MULTIPLE VISITS

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key events in 2019

EVENT

European Museum Night18 mayGuided tours by torchlight and activities alongside the heroes of the past. For the second year running, the Museum unveils a different approach to its collections and takes visitors back in time to D-Day on Utah Beach.

DOCUMENTARY

First showing of “The Girl who wore Freedom”31 May – 8.30 pmDocumentary by Christian Taylor, in which the central character is Danièle Patrix, a small girl during the war, who for the first commemorations in June 1945 wore a dress in American colours made from fabric taken from parachutes. She is the little girl wearing Freedom.

IMMERSION

“In the footsteps of our liberators”2 June – 9.30 am to 4.30 pmA 15 miles walk with commented stops at Utah Beach and Sainte-Marie-du-Mont. Registration required.

ENCOUNTER

World War II International Film Festival opening night2 juneAs part of the World War II International Film Festival held from 2 to 7 June, the Museum will host the official opening ceremony, attended by actors from the TV series “Band of Brothers”.

EXHIBITION

Utah Beach, then and nowFrom June 2019 until 30 November 2020Photographs taken between Utah Beach and Sainte-Marie-du-Mont at the time of the Normandy Landings are superimposed on contemporary pic-tures; a way of projecting visitors into History. Open on the past, these books are revealed through a chronological path and enable visitors to understand the Landing on Utah Beach and the inland advance as part of an immersion experience.

D-Day Anniversary

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Why does the museum have such an important place in your life?The Story of the Landing and the Utah Beach Museum are part of our heritage. We continue to discover, protect and share it with the new generations, preserving the same spirit of gratitude that was so important to my father, the founder of this museum.At the Utah Beach Museum, we pass on this memory in modern and even innovative ways, but which maintain the spirit of the museum above all, putting these men front and centre. It is important to be inspired by the examples they set, and to always ask ourselves: “what would we have done in their shoes?”

What are the challenges of the museum today? Through the donations that we receive, we are the committed guardians of this memory. The older I get, the more I realise how lucky we are to have this peace and the price that was paid for it, 75 years ago, at Utah Beach. The museum is a place to meet, share and experience a wealth of emotion with visitors from every country, linked by this history.I realise what an impact this war has had on families and its consequences on our lives today. This museum is a remarkable achievement, and should always remain this way.

UTAH BEACH MUSEUM« A place to meet, share

and experience a wealth of emotion »

2 QUESTIONS FOR Charles de Vallavieille son of the museum’s founder, Michel de Vallavieille

CELEBRATION

Utah celebrates its liberationUtah Memory Field from 4 to 9 JuneHistoric gathering: Guaranteed immersion experience in this 1944 military camp. The different exhibitions and workshops proposed provide an immediate insight into the events that took place at Utah Beach on 6 June 1944 and during the following days. France’s armed forces will also be present offering a parallel between yesterday and today. Activities during the week.

Utah Memory Tour on 4 and 5 June and then on 8 and 9 JuneClimb aboard for a 44-mile trip in a vehicle of the day.

Utah Memory Ball on 7 June from 8.30 pmAs part of the 6 June commemorations, the Landing Museum will welcome visitors for an evening of festivities. Picnic and a concert with the group Madeeson & Co., who will perform French and American songs from the 1940s and 50s. Spectators

will be encouraged to dance and swing along to the music from that era. Food and drinks available on site. The day will close with a firework display at 11 pm on Utah Beach.

COMMEMORATIONS

6 June ceremonies at Sainte-Marie-du-MontFor more information regarding the 6 June ceremonies at Utah Beach, please contact us at : [email protected] or +33 (0)2 33 71 53 35

EVENTS

“Then and Now” commented walk23 June – 10 amA 4 miles “Then and Now” commented walk, putting the current museum exhibition into context, from 1 June 2019.

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A MUSEUM FOR ALL, CONSCIOUS AND RECOGNISED

National Tourism and Disability Label The museum is accessible to those with motor, hearing, mental and visual disabilities. It has two lifts and a dedicated car park. Wheelchairs, hearing devices and documents in Braille are among the services provided to visitors. The museum also offers visitors with disabilities a preferential rate, as well as free entry for their guides. They have priority access with no waiting time.

Winner of the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence The museum has been recognised twice, in 2014 and 2015, by the famous travel website. TripAdvisor only awards this prize to 10% of the best establishments around the world.

Ambassador for the granting of UNESCO status to the landing beachesAs part of the application for the D-Day beaches to be granted world heritage status, the museum is taking part in the “Freedom I write your name” campaign alongside the Region of Normandy and numerous public and private supporters.

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PRACTICAL INFORMATIONOpening hours 1 October to 30 May: 10 am – 6 pm1 June to 30 September: 9.30 am – 7 pmReception desks close one hour before the museum.Annual closure from 1 to 25 December and from 31 December to 1 January

2019 PRICE LIST

Adults .................................................................................. € 8Children ............................................................................ € 5Adult groups (open visit) ...................................... € 6,50School groups (open visit) .................................... € 4Children under 6 ......................................................... Free

Utah Shop Leave with your eyes full of images, your ears full of testimony and your pockets full of souvenirs. Freely-accessible in the museum hall, our shop offers a selection of books and DVDs on the theme of the Second World War, clothes, local products and more.

Tel.: +33 (0)2 33 71 92 36

• Extra charge for guided tour of the museum .............................................................. € 1,50

• Extra charge for full guided tour of the Utah Beach site and the museum: ....... € 4

• Extra charge for educational activities for school groups (workshops, treasure hunt): ........... € 3,50

• VIP TOUR : ................................................................. € 50

CONTACT

Flavie [email protected]

02 33 71 53 35

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PRESS FILE - UTAH BEACH