Point du Hoc (Part I)

Point du Hoc is bluff projecting into the English Channel, between Omaha and Utah Beaches. During WWII, the germans emplaced a battery of 5 or 6 captured French 75mm guns on the bluff, with a direct line of sight to Utah Beach, and the ability to place indirect fire on Omaha Beach (Omaha Beach is actually closer). Originally placed in open gun pits, before the D-Day landings the germans had started building concrete casemates for the guns. at the time of the landing, two of these were completed. The location was a active construction site, and so there were piles of materials there, such as rebar (steel reinforcement bar) and bags of concrete. the site was heavily bombarded, both from the air and by naval vessels the morning of the landing.
This photo is of what is left of one of the piles fo construction materials, still there 64 years later.

I have a number of photos from Point du Hoc, and will further discuss the history of the site in later parts. Point du Hoc has a special place in the history of the Army Rangers.