See how St. Marcouf Normandy changed between 1944 and 2025. Drag the slider to compare the historic photograph with the modern view.
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On 6 June 1944, the German Marine Küsten-Batterie St. Marcouf, located near the village of Saint-Marcouf in Normandy, fired the first shots of D-Day at the Allied invasion fleet. This coastal artillery battery, constructed in 1941, was initially equipped with six 155 mm guns. By June 1944, these were being replaced with more powerful 210 mm guns, though only two had been installed in their bunkers by the time of the invasion. The battery's commander, Oberleutnant zur See Walter Ohms, led a garrison of approximately 320 soldiers. Despite heavy Allied bombardment prior to D-Day, the battery remained operational and engaged American forces, sinking the USS Corry (DD-463) on the morning of 6 June. Over the following days, the battery repelled multiple attacks until 11 June, when orders to withdraw were received. Ohms and 78 men managed to reach German lines, and he was awarded the Iron Cross on 13 June. Today, the former battery site serves as a museum, preserving its history and significance during the Battle of Normandy. (battlefieldsww2.com)
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