Pointe du Hoc

Pointe du Hoc as a geological phenomenon, Calvados, Normandy, France.

Pointe du Hoc, one of the D-Day battlefields during Operation Overlord in World War II (Calvados, Normandie, France)

Pointe du Hoc

U.S. Army Ranger assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment, brief climbers prior to appraching the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc, in Cricqueville en Bessin, France June 4, 2019. Rangers scale the cliff to honor the 135 men killed or wounded from the 2d and 5th Ranger Battalions while capturing and holding Pointe du Hoc. More than 1,300 U.S. service members, partnered with 950 troops from across Europe and Canada, have converged in northwestern France to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Overlord, the World War II Allied invasion of Normandy, commonly known as D-Day. Upwards of 80 ceremonies in 40 French communities in the region will take place between June 1-9, 2019, the apex being held June 6th at the Normandy American Cemetery at Coleville sur Mer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Andy M. Kin)

U.S. Army Ranger assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment, gives the all clear as climbers clear the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc, in Cricqueville en Bessin, France June 4, 2019. Rangers scale the cliff to honor the 135 men killed or wounded from the 2d and 5th Ranger Battalions while capturing and holding Pointe du Hoc. More than 1,300 U.S. service members, partnered with 950 troops from across Europe and Canada, have converged in northwestern France to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Overlord, the World War II Allied invasion of Normandy, commonly known as D-Day. Upwards of 80 ceremonies in 40 French communities in the region will take place between June 1-9, 2019, the apex being held June 6th at the Normandy American Cemetery at Coleville sur Mer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Andy M. Kin)

French service members work with U.S. Army Rangers assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment, to provide safety checks to climbers at Pointe du Hoc, in Cricqueville en Bessin, France June 4, 2019. Rangers scale the cliff to honor the 135 men killed or wounded from the 2d and 5th Ranger Battalions while capturing and holding Pointe du Hoc. More than 1,300 U.S. service members, partnered with 950 troops from across Europe and Canada, have converged in northwestern France to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Overlord, the World War II Allied invasion of Normandy, commonly known as D-Day. Upwards of 80 ceremonies in 40 French communities in the region will take place between June 1-9, 2019, the apex being held June 6th at the Normandy American Cemetery at Coleville sur Mer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Andy M. Kin)

A group of French Legionnaires entered the Pointe at the same time we did, giving the place a special vibe. For the first time in 9 years we were able to come close to the monument and enter the observation post which had been in constant restoration the previous years.

U.S. Army Rangers assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment, climb the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc, in Cricqueville en Bessin, France June 4, 2019. Rangers scale the cliff to honor the 135 men killed or wounded from the 2d and 5th Ranger Battalions while capturing and holding Pointe du Hoc. More than 1,300 U.S. service members, partnered with 950 troops from across Europe and Canada, have converged in northwestern France to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Overlord, the World War II Allied invasion of Normandy, commonly known as D-Day. Upwards of 80 ceremonies in 40 French communities in the region will take place between June 1-9, 2019, the apex being held June 6th at the Normandy American Cemetery at Coleville sur Mer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Andy M. Kin)

U.S. Army Rangers assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment, climb the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc, in Cricqueville en Bessin, France June 4, 2019. Rangers scale the cliff to honor the 135 men killed or wounded from the 2d and 5th Ranger Battalions while capturing and holding Pointe du Hoc. More than 1,300 U.S. service members, partnered with 950 troops from across Europe and Canada, have converged in northwestern France to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Overlord, the World War II Allied invasion of Normandy, commonly known as D-Day. Upwards of 80 ceremonies in 40 French communities in the region will take place between June 1-9, 2019, the apex being held June 6th at the Normandy American Cemetery at Coleville sur Mer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Andy M. Kin)

U.S. Army Rangers assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment, climb the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc, in Cricqueville en Bessin, France June 4, 2019. Rangers scale the cliff to honor the 135 men killed or wounded from the 2d and 5th Ranger Battalions while capturing and holding Pointe du Hoc. More than 1,300 U.S. service members, partnered with 950 troops from across Europe and Canada, have converged in northwestern France to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Overlord, the World War II Allied invasion of Normandy, commonly known as D-Day. Upwards of 80 ceremonies in 40 French communities in the region will take place between June 1-9, 2019, the apex being held June 6th at the Normandy American Cemetery at Coleville sur Mer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Andy M. Kin)

U.S. Army Rangers assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment, look on as fellow Rangers climb the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc, in Cricqueville en Bessin, France June 4, 2019. Rangers scale the cliff to honor the 135 men killed or wounded from the 2d and 5th Ranger Battalions while capturing and holding Pointe du Hoc. More than 1,300 U.S. service members, partnered with 950 troops from across Europe and Canada, have converged in northwestern France to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Overlord, the World War II Allied invasion of Normandy, commonly known as D-Day. Upwards of 80 ceremonies in 40 French communities in the region will take place between June 1-9, 2019, the apex being held June 6th at the Normandy American Cemetery at Coleville sur Mer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Andy M. Kin)

U.S. Army Rangers assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment, approach the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc, in Cricqueville en Bessin, France June 4, 2019. Rangers scale the cliff to honor the 135 men killed or wounded from the 2d and 5th Ranger Battalions while capturing and holding Pointe du Hoc. More than 1,300 U.S. service members, partnered with 950 troops from across Europe and Canada, have converged in northwestern France to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Overlord, the World War II Allied invasion of Normandy, commonly known as D-Day. Upwards of 80 ceremonies in 40 French communities in the region will take place between June 1-9, 2019, the apex being held June 6th at the Normandy American Cemetery at Coleville sur Mer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Andy M. Kin)

U.S. Army Rangers assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment, climb the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc, in Cricqueville en Bessin, France June 4, 2019. Rangers scale the cliff to honor the 135 men killed or wounded from the 2d and 5th Ranger Battalions while capturing and holding Pointe du Hoc. More than 1,300 U.S. service members, partnered with 950 troops from across Europe and Canada, have converged in northwestern France to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Overlord, the World War II Allied invasion of Normandy, commonly known as D-Day. Upwards of 80 ceremonies in 40 French communities in the region will take place between June 1-9, 2019, the apex being held June 6th at the Normandy American Cemetery at Coleville sur Mer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Andy M. Kin)

U.S. Army Rangers assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment, climb the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc, in Cricqueville en Bessin, France June 4, 2019. Rangers scale the cliff to honor the 135 men killed or wounded from the 2d and 5th Ranger Battalions while capturing and holding Pointe du Hoc. More than 1,300 U.S. service members, partnered with 950 troops from across Europe and Canada, have converged in northwestern France to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Overlord, the World War II Allied invasion of Normandy, commonly known as D-Day. Upwards of 80 ceremonies in 40 French communities in the region will take place between June 1-9, 2019, the apex being held June 6th at the Normandy American Cemetery at Coleville sur Mer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Andy M. Kin)

U.S. Army Rangers assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment, climb the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc, in Cricqueville en Bessin, France June 4, 2019. Rangers scale the cliff to honor the 135 men killed or wounded from the 2d and 5th Ranger Battalions while capturing and holding Pointe du Hoc. More than 1,300 U.S. service members, partnered with 950 troops from across Europe and Canada, have converged in northwestern France to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Overlord, the World War II Allied invasion of Normandy, commonly known as D-Day. Upwards of 80 ceremonies in 40 French communities in the region will take place between June 1-9, 2019, the apex being held June 6th at the Normandy American Cemetery at Coleville sur Mer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Andy M. Kin)

U.S. Army Rangers assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment, climb the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc, in Cricqueville en Bessin, France June 4, 2019. Rangers scale the cliff to honor the 135 men killed or wounded from the 2d and 5th Ranger Battalions while capturing and holding Pointe du Hoc. More than 1,300 U.S. service members, partnered with 950 troops from across Europe and Canada, have converged in northwestern France to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Overlord, the World War II Allied invasion of Normandy, commonly known as D-Day. Upwards of 80 ceremonies in 40 French communities in the region will take place between June 1-9, 2019, the apex being held June 6th at the Normandy American Cemetery at Coleville sur Mer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Andy M. Kin)

Adegem - Canada-Poland War II Museum Point du Hoc 19-2-2015 13-41-04

"American Battle Monuments Commission" seal, Pointe du Hoc, Calvados, Normandy, France

Coast line est seen from Pointe du Hoc, Calvados, Normandy, France.

1944/6/6 - 2024/6/6 : It was just 80 years ago, today. La Pointe du Hoc is a promontory with a 100-foot (30 m) cliff overlooking the English Channel on the northwestern coast of Normandy in the Calvados department, France. During World War II it was the highest point between the American sector landings at Utah Beach to the west and Omaha Beach to the east. The German army fortified the area with concrete casemates and gun pits. On D-Day, the United States Army Ranger Assault Group attacked and captured Pointe du Hoc after scaling the cliffs. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointe_du_Hoc This picture was previously on Panoramio. Comments there pointed out the two faces Mother Nature designed onto those cliffs. On the left, at the edge, one sad and tired face mourning for all the men who died there, some for a terrible cause that fortunately lost that war, but most were given no other choice, others paying with their life for Victory, and Liberty. On the right, a gently smiling younger face, staring far away to the horizon, with the satisfaction of these now almost 80 years of peace in Western Europe, between Countries and Nations that are now united within the European Union and or the Nato, after generations wasted in devastating wars. And the eternal gratitude for the men who fought there, and elsewhere, to allow that.

U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife Deborah tour the cliffs at Pointe-du-Hoc, Normandy, France, Oct. 4, 2009. The 100-foot cliffs were scaled, under heavy fire, by a battalion of U.S. Army Rangers in the opening hours of the D-Day invasions in 1944 knocking out a battery of heavy German guns allowing the entire invasion to be successful.

The English Channel seen from Pointe du Hoc.

Towards the west, from Pointe du Hoc, in background, Grandcamp-Maisy, Calvados, Normandy, France.

Constructionwork at Pointe du Hoc

Normandy '10: Pointe du Hoc

Massive restorations underway, so not everything was accessible.