MUSEE DU DEBARQUEMENT DE UTAH BEACH PRESS KIT

MUSEE DU DEBARQUEMENT DE UTAH BEACH PRESS KIT

TABLE OF CONTENTS MEMORABLE DATES FOR THE MUSEUM 1 EXHIBITIONS 2 SERVICES 3 UTAH INSIDE, THE MUSEUM IN 9 LANGUAGES 4 PROGRAM OF EVENTS 5 TEMPORARY EXHIBITION 6 A camp for German prisoners in Foucarville, 1944-1947 PRACTICAL INFORMATION 7

MEMORABLE DATES FOR THE MUSEUM The Museum at the Utah Beach landing is internationally recognised as one of the first places for remembrance and commemoration of The Battle of Normandy. 1962: Inauguration of the Museum In 1962, Michel de Vallavieille, the then Mayor of Sainte Marie du Mont, decided to create a memorial to express his gratitude to the American soldiers and their heroic actions. Thanks to the links he had forged over the years with American officers and veterans, he managed to gather together many collectable items and to create a truly historical museum, forging again an unbreakable Franco-American friendship. June 6th 1944, he bravely leads out the last bombing raid on the German WN5 strongpoint, only minutes before the Allied troops landed on Utah Beach. Very moved by this discovery, the Dewhurst brothers decided there and then to participate in the financing of the renovation of the Museum by creating in the United States of America, a foundation in the name of their Father. Their contribution represents more than one third of the total project funding. June 6th 2011: Extension of the Museum 1964: Creation of the Octagonal Room A large model explains the landings at Utah Beach. 1984: 40th Anniversary of the Landings Following the visit of seven Heads of State in 1984 for the commemoration of June 6th 1944, the Mayor of Sainte Marie du Mont began to improve the infrastructure of the Museum with the construction of a projection room. 1994: 50th Anniversary of the Landings Since 2011, the Museum at Utah Beach now extends to more than 3,000 square meters of exhibition space and highlights the success of Operation Overlord, the largest military operation of all time. The Museum s Treasures An original B-26 Marauder housed in a 1940s style reconstructed hanger A Higgins landing barge The documentary film Victory in the Sand awarded a CINE Eagle Award and a Special Jury Prize On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of D-Day, the Museum opened its second extension, creating a large room with stunning panoramic views of Utah Beach and allowing visitors to really delve into the events surrounding D-Day. June 6th 2007: A Special Meeting In 2007 whilst on a family visit, two Americans, David and Gene Dewhurst, found a picture of their Father in one of the display cases at the Museum, Major David Dewhurst and his mission map. He is shown accompanied by his crew before flying their B26 Marauder. The brothers learnt that their Father died when they were very young and had been a decorated pilot in the US Air Force. On 1

EXHIBITIONS The German defences In the WN5 blockhouse, part of the Atlantic Wall, Lieutenant Arthur Jahnke and his men prepare for a possible Allied invasion. German items are displayed in cabinets. The Cotentin under occupation The Cotentin suffered under German occupation. Many items, leaflets and video testimonials attest to this terrible period. 6.30am. He was 57 years old. He landed on a LCVP barge, a replica of which is displayed in the Museum. June 6th 1944: D-Day at Utah Beach The first bombings are heard around 11pm on the 5th June at St Martin Vareville. At 00.15 hours, the paratroopers were dropped behind enemy lines. Operation Overlord was launched. The events of the carefully planned timeline are related with video testimonials in the Panoramic Room. The Junction Allies strategy Operation Overlord required careful preparation. The symbolic figure in this operation was the commander Ike Eisenhower, supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force. Naval forces The mission of Force U was to attack the enemy on Utah Beach and protect the soldiers landing on the beach. An amphibious tank used during the operation is on display here in the Museum. The Air Force The 82nd and the 101st Airborne Divisions are parachuted in during the night of the 5th-6th June. At noon they successfully meet up with the infantry that had landed that morning on Utah Beach. One of these parachutists is known to have triumphed at The Battle of Brécourt and is a testament to its history; it was Lieutenant Winters. Utah to Cherbourg After the landings, there followed what the Americans called The Battle of the Hedgerows, crossing the Cotentin to liberate Cherbourg. The wounded are many and medical emergency centres are set up. To support the infantry and naval forces, the whole of the air force is implemented: among others, B-26 bombers pounded enemy lines. Major David Dewhurst was a squadron s chief pilot in one of these legendary aircraft, which oy can see in the Museum s hanger. The Artificial Port During the five months of The Battle of Normandy, the Americans built an artificial harbour at Utah Beach whilst waiting to capture and restore that at Cherbourg. Land forces 23,000 men landed on Utah Beach on June 6th 1944. Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, a cousin of President Franklin Roosevelt, is part of the first assault wave at 2

SERVICES Movie: Victory in the sand Screened in the Museum since June 2012, the new film Victory in the Sand was named best documentary at a tourist centre. Directed by Joshua COLOVER and produced by Aperture Films, it was awarded in 2012 the CINE Eagle Award and in 2013 the CINE Special Jury Award. The film chronicles the events of June 6th, from preparation to completion and success. The viewer is immersed in the preparations for the operation and can relive hour by hour this amazing day. The film allows us to understand the strategic choice of the Normandy beaches and the role and importance of Utah Beach during the Second World War due to the military and technological success there. Thus this beach, these few kilometres of sand, bear witness to an unusual battle, a bold attack that changed the course of the war. Here, an unprecedented challenge was successfully launched. Here, with the courage of thousands of fighters, a page of history was written, the future was born and the world changed, here at Utah Beach. (Excerpt from the film) Guided tours the Museum and the Utah Beach site Lasting about from 1 hour to 2 hour, the Museum propose inside guided tours and the Utah Beach site with vestiges and monuments to honor the memory of the soldiers. The VIP Tour: total immersion The Museum suggest that these tours are in small groups. This tour will allow you to take advantage of all that is best at this site and to view the objects more closely. The tour includes a visit to view reserve items in the collection, an actual climb inside the B-26 Marauder and an exclusive tour outdoors. 3

UTAH INSIDE, THE MUSEUM IN 9 LANGUAGES In 2016, the Utah Beach Museum launched its new mobile application Utah Inside which was developed by Twelve Solutions, a start-up from Caen. Compatible with smartphones and tablets, the mobile application Utah Inside provides translations of much of the museography into 9 different languages (French, English, German, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Danish and Chinese) and offers access to a virtual display case. Once connected to Wivi, Utah Beach Museum s network, visitors can use their own smartphones, without downloading an application, select their language and scan the QR codes on the signs for the museum pieces they want to learn more about. In addition to the QR codes, visitors can view the various translated signs on the application and simply swipe to move to the next sign. Visitors have constant access to the Museum map on their mobile, allowing them to find their way around more easily. As well as the museography translations, visitors also have access to an offer that is unique in Europe. Visitors can use their tablet or smartphone to discover and zoom in on objects on display in the museum, as well as those that are behind closed doors. Each object has its own detailed description and is translated into 9 different languages - it is a true virtual display case. Thanks to this unique technology, Utah Beach Museum visitors have behind the scenes access. This mobile application will allow Utah Beach Museum to target more foreign visitors of nationalities that are currently under-represented: the Danish, Portuguese and Chinese. For the first time in France, Chinese visitors will have access to translations of some of the museography. For foreign visitors who already come to the Museum, Utah Inside will allow them to benefit from a visit which is entirely in their language. Each year, the Museum has many Dutch, Italian and German visitors, but no information was translated into these languages, it was only in English. But now, all that has changed! DÉCOUVREZ LE MUSÉE EN 9 LANGUES ET ACCÉDEZ VIRTUELLEMENT À UNE PIÈCE JAMAIS VISITÉE Discover the museum tour in 9 different languages and (virtually) access a previously unseen room COMMENT SE CONNECTER? Activez le WIFI de votre mobile et connectez-vous au réseau «_Wivi.site» Ouvrez votre navigateur internet et profitez d une visite complète du musée dans votre langue. Turn on your Wi-Fi and select «_Wivi.site» NetWork. Open your web browser and enjoy the visit in your favorite language. 4

PROGRAM OF EVENTS Temporary exhibitions March, 1st: Launch of temporary exhibition A camp for German prisoners in Foucarville, 1944-1947 Ces Hommes-là, exhibition of photos by the artist Adeline Keil. May, 20th: The Museum will propose guided tours and animations. crédit photo : Adeline Keil At European Night of Museums 73rd Anniversary s commemorations at Utah Beach June, 1st 14h : Ceremony of Peace at Utah Beach From June, 2nd to June, 6th 1st International Film Festival at Utah Beach, organize by WWII Foundation. More informations : http://www.wwiifoundation.org/events/filmfest/ June, 3rd Picnic Music Concert at Utah Beach 8.00 10.30 pm: Music Concert by Mary and the Bugs 11.00 pm: Lanterns Drop Refreshments will be available June, 6th: 2.00 pm: Ceremony of Peace at Utah Beach 4.30 pm: National Official Commemorative Ceremony of D-day in Normandy 5

TEMPORARY EXHIBITION A camp for German prisoners in Foucarville, 1944 1947 Near Utah Beach, Foucarville was chosen to install a camp for German prisoners between 1944 and 1947. 60 000 German prisoners went through this camp. This place called «Continental Central Enclosure n 19». A real city was built with electric lighting, roads, sanitation, cinema, theatre, a hospital and a reeducation university dedicated to 17 000 young German prisoners. This exhibition relates the history of this camp and the everyday life of German officers and soldiers. Thanks to this rich collection of objects, videos, terstimonies, the exhibition questions the role of the prison world that displayed a rehabilitation objective of young Germans to democracy. 6

PRACTICAL INFORMATION Musée du Débarquement de Utah Beach 50480 Sainte Marie du Mont musee@utah-beach.com www.utah-beach.com Opening hours 1st October to 30th May: 10.00am to 6.00pm 1st June to 30th September: 9.30am to 7.00pm The reception desk closes one hour beforehand Visiting time : 2h Annual closure from 1st to 25th December and from 31st December to 1st January Admission Adults : 8 euros Children : 4 euros Adults groups : From 6 euros School groups : From 3.50 euros Contact Marion COQUOIN Chargée de communication communication@utah-beach.com Séverine LETOURNEUR Directrice severine.letourneur@utah-beach.com 7