Utah beach is the code name given to the
beach located more to the west of the landing zone. The beach, facing North-east
and sandhill-edged is situated on the east coast of the Cotentin peninsula and
at the edge of a marshland zone which had been flooded by the Germans. Only
four causeways could be used to cross this marshland and reach inlands.
Along the coast, there were variable forms of artificial
defences. On the beach itself, rows of obstacles were placed. These obstacles
looked like piles or posts inclined towards the sea, of steel hedgehogs
and barbed wire entanglements, of "C" elements and Belgium gates
(Cointets elements).
Behind the beach, along the mansonry wall, the defensive system was organized
with blockhouses, armored turrets, "Tobrouk" holes, trenches
and underground dugouts. These works were connected to each others by
a network of trenches and protected by iron barbed wires, minefields and
anti-tanks ditches.
Cotentin peninsula was in the defence zone of the VIIth
German army. This defence was affiliated to the 709th, 243rd and 91st
Infantry Divisions.
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