More than sixty years later, the Normandy invasion remains the largest seaborne invasion in history, involving almost three million troops crossing the English Channel from England to occupied France. “D-Day Spots: A Virtual Visit of D-Day Overlord Sites” is the first virtual interactive visit of the Normandy invasion on the Internet. I can imagine how veterans of this battle would appreciate online access to the Normandy battle locations, as well as the many others born later who have an interest in this historic turning point in the Second World War.

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On June 6, 1944 an international coalition attacked Nazi occupied France along the Normandy coast. Supported by paratroops, soldiers landed on five beaches along 50 miles of coast between Cotentin Peninsula and Orne River to begin the liberation of Western Europe. This was D-Day for Operation Overlord and its success - all five beachheads were established - was a pivotal moment in the Second World War.

More than 5,000 ships, from battleships to landing craft, carried, escorted and landed the assault force along the Normandy coast. Amphibious craft landed 130,000 troops. Air forces controlled the skies overhead. In the eastern zone, British and Canadian troops landed on codenamed Gold, Juno and Sword beaches. The Americans landed on two beaches in the west – Utah and Omaha.

French photographer Dennis Gliksman shot over forty 360-degree panoramas, which are accessible through an interactive map divided into three zones, according to the unfolding of D-Day. Zone 1 – Utah Beach, for example, contains five panos showing the landing area, beach bunkers and the defense area, all shot on beautiful clear, sunny days. The landing area looks so peaceful with cows grazing in the background that it’s difficult to imagine the many lives that were lost here. The website is available in English and French and, while it contains some information on the invasion, the real motivation to visit is the panos.

Gliksman, along with Olivier Emery, head of the multimedia agency Trimaran, began this pet project in 2004 and have plans to extend the site in the future, and a CD-ROM is in the works. They dedicate their site to those who sacrificed their lives and youth here. “Many will make the trip to Normandy, others are not able to undertake such a journey, and it is for them that this 360-degree panoramic view of the Normandy sites came to be.”
Email: Denis Gliksman: gliksman[at]club-internet[dot]fr