Feared for its tides and currents, the English Channel - punctuated by the multiple defences installed by the Germans, becomes perilous during the war. That is why, for the allied forces, the 150-kilometer crossing from the English coast to the Normandy beaches is a first ordeal.
On June 5, the weather conditions are so degraded that the landing operations have to be rescheduled by 24 hours in the wait of a relatively calmer period. However, in the open sea the wind blows at 15 knots and the waves form troughs of one to two meters. The roll is such that the men cannot stand and are overcome by seasickness. In addition, the Channel is crisscrossed by minefields. Even if the tether mines (mines kept under the surface of the water by a cable attached to a weighted block) are easily neutralized by minesweepers, influence mines (triggered by the influence of a ship or submarine, rather than direct contact) positioned along the coast line remain a deadly threat.
Finally, given that Rommel has reinforced the "Atlantic Wall", the obstacles to impede landings are numerous as shown in the diagram. In addition, the rising tide is half an hour earlier than expected, the soldiers are forced into a long assault in the open, handicapped by the difficulty of wading in the water and by the landscape of a beach riddled with obstacles, and anti-tank and anti-personnel mines. The Allies endure the fierce fire from the Germans who take advantage of firing positions from above allowing them to enfilade the beaches and cross the fire.
Cross-section of Omaha Beach:
[IMAGE]
1: 200 Cointet-elements (or Belgian gates) almost permanently flooded. These are steel fences mounted on rollers (3 m wide x 2.5 m high).
2: 450 stop beams (3 to 4 m in height) with bipods on which are attached steel saw-tooth blades or mines covered with tar.
3: 2000 timbers planted towards the open sea.
4: a thousand tetrahedra (or Czech hedgehogs).
5: barbed wire
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