Pointe du Hoc: A Historic Cliff in Normandy
La Pointe du Hoc is a 30-meter high cliff that juts out into the English Channel. Located in the Calvados region, and more precisely in the municipal town of Cricqueville-en-Bessin, la Pointe du Hoc was the theater of a decisive operation during the beach landings on June 6, 1944. Visit Normandy and Pointe du Hoc during your holidays to explore this significant historical site.
France Occupied by the German Army
By 1944, France had been occupied by the Germans for four years following the armistice on June 22, 1940. The occupation was mainly in northern France, whereas the southern part of the country was still governed by the French (later becoming the Vichy regime). The German occupation mainly consisted of using France’s resources.
However, not wanting to lose so early on in the war, a part of the French population organized a Resistance to fight against occupation; sabotaging public offices, civil disobedience, refusing to cooperate, and clandestine publications, etc. These actions were strongly encouraged by General Charles de Gaulle on June 18, 1940. Exiled abroad and far from the organization of Operation Overlord, de Gaulle nevertheless became a WWII hero. Operation Overlord was the code name for the entire operation in Normandy led by Western Allied forces in June 1944.
June 6, 1944: Landing Theater
Pointe du Hoc is a place of major strategic interest. Indeed, the cliff is an ideal observation point for surveying the English Channel and its coastline. Furthermore, its location between two beaches made it a natural watchtower from which it was easy to defend the D-Day beaches that are today known as Omaha Beach and Utah Beach.
This is why the cliff was bombed in April 1944, several months before the disembarkment. Several attacks were launched, allowing rangers to act accordingly. On D-Day, 225 men under the command of Colonel Rudder landed at 6:30 am to climb to the top of Pointe du Hoc and seize control.
Once Pointe du Hoc was taken, it was attacked several times by the German Army. The isolation of troops made them vulnerable; although reinforcements wouldn’t arrive until June 7, the mission’s ultimate success wasn’t compromised. The village of Saint-Pierre-du-Mont, located 4 kilometers away, was taken by American troops on the morning of June 8.
A Place to Commemorate D-Day
Pointe du Hoc has become a place where the Allied forces and their sacrifices are remembered. At the end of the 1970s, France ceded a part of Pointe du Hoc to the United States of America, who subsequently erected a monument. In fact, the 40th and 50th anniversaries of D-Day were commemorated at Pointe du Hoc, where American Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton attended.
Pointe du Hoc is open to the public year-round, every day of the week. The observation point, however, is only open during the day. A command station and artillery firing points still remain at Pointe du Hoc.
Relive History in Normandy
Do you want to relive history? Our Normandy tours include visits to D-Day beaches and historic places, providing a comprehensive look at the events that took place on June 6, 1944. Visit Normandy and explore the historical significance of Pointe du Hoc.