Find the complete programme of events at: www.the70th-normandy.com

70th anniversary of D-day and the battle of normandy

Marked by the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Landings and the Battle of Normandy, 2014 will be a year for peace and reconci- liation. Through an exceptional programme showcasing this his- torical event in dedicated sites and museums, you will be able to relive and better understand this crucial phase of the Second World War. On the occasion of this 70th anniversary, the chal- lenges of our cultural and family-oriented programme of events, suitable for all, will be to show, evoke and explain so that people can see, understand and remember. In this brochure you will find a small selection of events which Normandy is planning.

THE OFFICIAL COMMEMORATIONS The official commemorations of June 5th, 6th and 7th 2014 will bring together many heads of State and Government. Only holders of invitations will be able to gain access to the sites of these official commemorations. To stay abreast of the latest news about conditions of ac- cess to the sites, please consult the following site regularly: www.the70th-normandy.com In any case, areas will be open to the general public in immediate proximity to these sites and many other sites and museums will be easily accessible so that you can find out about the history of the D-Day Landings and the Battle of Normandy.

2 what’s on in 2014?

From February to December From March to October Centre Courseulles-sur-Mer (14) Leaving the war behind. From grandma what was it like the Battle of Normandy during the war? exhibition through to Reconstruction This temporary exhibition re- This travelling exhibition will be on creates the war-time experiences show in 14 towns throughout the of Norman and Canadian civilians, department of Calvados. In each mainly of children, from 1940 to of these 14 towns, the exhibition 1944. will bring together local inhabitants www.junobeach.org both the young and those who lived through the war and will host lec- tures and various events. www.calvados.fr FREEDOM EXCURSIONS Historic excursions on the D-Day Landing Beaches, or at Houyel © Thierry the main sites of the Battle of Normandy to allow you to discover the history and events of 1944. Check out our varied schedule of historic excursions in 2014: on foot, by bike, mountain bike, rollerblades, in From April to September a canoe or on horseback. La Cité de la Mer - Cherbourg (50) www.randonnees-normandes.com Cherbourg… And freedom came from the sea This exhibition of images shows the

© Thierry Houyel © Thierry work of the American troops in the days following the liberation of the port of Cherbourg, which became the world’s biggest port for several months and the essential supply hub of the Liberation. www.citedelamer.com/en

3 Find the complete programme of events at: www.the70th-normandy.com

April 26th expected for various ceremonies, Bayeux Cathedral (14) campfires and a giant picnic. Bell of Peace AND FREEDOM www.tac-bsa.org/Program/Normandy The new bell of Bayeux cathe- dral, weighing 1,100kg or 1 ton,

sponsored by nine young people, © StéphaneDévé was cast to commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day and it will be exhibited in the cathedral until June. Interdenominational service in the presence of scouts from all the Allied countries and Germany. clochebayeux6juin2014.blogspot.com May Memorial (14) “100 OBJECTS FROM THE 100 DAYS OF THE BATTLE © Thierry Houyel © Thierry OF NORMANDY” EXHIBITION This exhibition recounts the terrible conflict which led to the liberation of and of Western Europe, putting the emphasis on objects and documents which are remar- kable, previously unseen or with special relevance to a context or to a particular event. April 26th www.normandy.memorial-caen.com Omaha Beach (14) AMERICA’S BOY sCOUTS May 10th NORMANDY JAMBOREE Ouistreham (14) Since 1994, the Boy Scouts of Ame- rica “Transatlantic Council” gather Jazz band on the D-Day Landing sites for a The Ouistreham Jazz Big Band made jamboree dedicated to remem- up of 18 musicians in the tradition brance. of American Big Bands, pays tribute This will be the biggest gathering to Glenn Miller, the arranger and of families of American military composer, and icon of 40’s swing. in Europe. Over 4,500 people are www.ville-ouistreham.fr

4 May 10th and 11th End of May Château du Taillis - Duclair (76) Ouistreham (14), Utah Beach (50) and Mont-Ormel (61) Reconstruction of camps 70 VOICES and 3 TREES OF FREEDOM

© Thierry Houyel © Thierry Three “trees of freedom” will be created by some 500 pupils and apprentices. 70 groups of young people from Lower Normandy are in the process of gathering 70 sets of testimonies from those who lived through the D-Day Landings and the Battle of Normandy which includes veterans, members of Reconstruction of American, Bri- the resistance and citizens of all tish, French and German camps nationalities. Extracts from eye wit- in the château grounds with over ness accounts will be attached to 250 participants. these symbolic trees, which will be “planted” in May in three places em- www.chateau-du-taillis.com blematic of the Battle of Normandy. 70voix.blogspot.fr May 8th, June 8th, July 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th, August 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd From June to September and 30th, September 7th Caen Memorial (14) Cap Fagnet - Fécamp (76) A MONUMENTAL FRESCO ON THE FAÇADE OF THE MEMORIAL 39-45 Tour The blockhouses of Cape Fagnet bear witness to the Atlantic Wall © Memorial de Caen de © Memorial erected from 1942 onwards. A sli- deshow will show the extent of the The stencil artist Jef Aérosol will co- defences built on the coast around ver the façade of the Memorial with Fécamp. two giant paintings on the theme of the liberation of Western Europe. The second part of the tour gives Below these artworks the sculptor an opportunity to visit the «Ger- Decaroline from Arromanches will man military hospital» create a fresco on the 100 days of via a woodland path. the Battle of Normandy. www.ville-fecamp.com www.normandy.memorial-caen.com

5 Find the complete programme of events at: www.the70th-normandy.com

June 5th 24 towns along the D-Day Landing Beaches Coastal fireworks From June 1st - 9th 2014 Arromanches - Bayeux -

Sainte-Mère-Eglise - Isigny-sur-Mer © L.A. Pyrotechnie - Omaha Beach - Carentan - Utah Beach D-DAY FESTIVAL NORMANDY 2014 24 major firework displays syn- A selection of celebrations orga- chronised between all the 24 main nised by six Tourist Offices of the sites of the D-Day Landings. D-Day Landing Beaches. www.normandiememoire.com www.ddayfestival.com The night of June 5th to 6th From June 4th to 12th Pegasus Memorial Museum – Ranville (14) Carentan (50) “JUNE 6TH 1944, THEY WERE THE Reconstruction of FIRST” DOCUMENTARY an Allied camp Reconstruction of an Allied camp from the Second World War. Exhi- bition of military, civilian and agri- Houyel © Thierry cultural equipment of the time, musical entertainment, proces- sion of vehicles, various exhibition workshops rediscovering the daily life of soldiers and civilians. Open air screening of period documents. Screening in the museum garden on a 100m2 screen of a 52 mi- www.amis-suffolk-rgt.com/en nute documentary film, made by Jean-Michel Vecchiet, recounting the story of the soldiers from the © Thierry Houyel © Thierry 6th British airborne division who were amongst the first to set foot on the soil of Normandy. www.memorial-pegasus.org

6 From June 5th to 9th few days before the D-Day Lan- Caen (14), Sainte-Mère-Eglise (50), dings and the training of British Sées (61), Lisieux (14), Cherbourg (50) parachutists before the victorious Concert for Freedom but tragic assault. A musical evening with the regio- www.batterie-merville.com nal orchestra of Lower Normandy including 150 young musicians. June 7th (in the afternoon) The work interpreted will be the Grandcamp-Maisy & Isigny-sur-Mer (14) Mass for Peace, composed by Karl- Procession of military William Jenkins and illustrated vehicles with images from the archives of Caen Memorial. www.orchestrenormandie.com Houyel © Thierry

June 6th Zénith - Caen (14) Imax film « D-DAY NORMANDY 1944 » This is the first Imax film in 3-D Jeeps, Dodges, GMC, as well as about the D-Day Landings and heavy equipment such as tanks, the Battle of Normandy. In 40 mi- Diamonds or Wreckers will be part nutes “D-Day Normandy 1944” will of a procession through the streets plunge you into the military ope- of Grandcamp-Maisy and Isigny- ration which involved the biggest sur-Mer. An event that will delight armada of all time. A major show lovers of military hardware and created in partnership with the Ge- history! neral Councils of the and www.isigny-grandcamp-intercom.com Calvados and the Region of Lower Normandy. June 7th www.cr-basse-normandie.fr Omaha Beach - Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer (14) th th June 6 and 8 (in the evening) Giant picnic Site of the Merville Gun Battery (14) The picnic on this iconic beach is «They didn’t know a tribute to the men who fought it was impossible….» Show for our freedom. It brings together Large historical fresco in four parts more than 1,500 people of every following the construction of the generation and nationality each gun battery, the way it works, the year. eventful arrival of Rommel just a en.oti-omaha.fr

7 Find the complete programme of events at: www.the70th-normandy.com

June 7th and 8th American, French, German, Dutch, Regional model aircraft club, British... Creully (14) www.sainte-mere-eglise.info/en Major model aircraft Major air show with many flying June 7th to 9th model aircraft on the theme of Zénith - Caen (14) “Aircraft of June 6th”. On show there will be 12 Typhoons on a 1/5th scale, Liberation Tattoo 7 DC3s with a 5 metre wingspan, and a C47 with an 8.2 metre

wingspan as well as gliders on the Houyel © Thierry same scale. amcb.jimdo.com

June 7th and 8th Ver-sur-Mer, Courseulles-sur-Mer, Langrune-sur-Mer, Luc-sur-Mer (14) First Military Music Festival bringing Freedom Tournament together 650 French, Belgian, Major football tournament on the Côte de Nacre. In total: 64 teams Canadian, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, and 700 children. British, American and German German, English and Canadian musicians. teams are expected, paying tribute www.memorial-pegasus.org to the first international football match in liberated which From June 14th to August 23rd took place at Courseulles-sur-Mer (Tuesdays, Thursdays and th on July 14 1944. Saturdays) fccn.free.fr Bayeux Cathedral (14) rendez-vous à la cathédrale June 8th «The Lights of Freedom» Site de La Fière - Sainte-Mère-Eglise (50) A spectacular walk around the International parachuting cathedral on the theme of free- Major military and civilian para- dom. A dramatic account with light, chute drops. Several nationalities colour, music, special effects and will be present at the historic site giant projected images... of La Fière (drop zone in 1944) – www.bayeux-bessin-tourisme.com/en 8 From July 1st to August 31st August 22nd and 23rd One evening per week Quai des Arts - Argentan (61) Various sites around Trévières (14) GRAND MUSICAL SHOW Open air screenings A grand musical show with One evening a week to see archive choirs and orchestra against a footage or films linked to the Se- backdrop of images from films cond World War. has been specially created for the event. en.oti-omaha.fr www..fr/en From August 8th to 15th August 23rd Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer (14) Throughout the site of Mont-Ormel (61) The Acadian week A DAY OF DISCOVERY AND Created to pay tribute to the Aca- ENTERTAINMENT dian soldiers, this major event will Conferences, exhibitions of old be based on the theme of Acadia: equipment and cultural activities the Major Landing. Commemo- will take place in the villages of ration ceremonies, conferences, the battlefield of Mont-Ormel. So hikes, an exhibition and Acadian many places to stop and explore, ball with freedom as its theme... and chances to meet local people, www.semaineacadienne.net some of whom witnessed this last battle of Normandy. From August 9th to 17th www.orne.fr/en Montormel Memorial (61)

EXHIBITION OF A PANTHER TANK © Buedel AND GERMAN MOTORCYCLES Exhibition of the first tank of mo- dern design: the Panther. About thirty motorcycles, authen- tic period pieces which survived the conflict will be here for the week-end of August 16th and 17th. www.memorial-montormel.org

The information given here has been gathered in November 2013 and is therefore given for guidance only. We advise you to consult the two following websites: www.normandy-tourism.org and www.the70th-normandy.com 9

To plan your stay and explore Normandy: www.normandy-tourism.org

Find out all you need to know about the 70th anniversary on the website created by the State and the Region of Lower Normandy, in partnership with the General Councils of Calvados, the Manche and the Orne, the City of Caen and the D-Day Landing Committee: www.the70th-normandy.com

For a better understanding of the historical importance of the D-Day Landings and the Battle of Normandy: www.normandiememoire.com

Support the candidature of Normandy’s D-Day Landing Beaches to become part of UNESCO’s World Heritage: www.liberte-normandie.com The D-Day Landing Beaches are an incarnation of the memory of a key episode in the Second World War and they still bear the scars left by the violence of the fighting. Today these landscapes are peaceful, but they will soon be the only witnesses of a day etched into our memory. Italic’Communication - 02 32 39 15 49 / 10-13 16159 / 10-13 49 15 39 32 - 02 Italic’Communication