<P> As the paratroops fought their way through the hedgerows, the main amphibious landings began . The Americans came ashore at the beaches codenamed' Omaha' and' Utah' . The landing craft bound for Utah, as with so many other units, went off course, coming ashore two kilometers off target . The 4th Infantry Division faced weak resistance during the landings and by the afternoon were linked up with paratroopers fighting their way towards the coast . </P> <P> At Omaha the Germans had prepared the beaches with land mines, Czech hedgehogs and Belgian Gates in anticipation of the invasion . Intelligence prior to the landings had placed the less experienced German 714th Division in charge of the defense of the beach . However, the highly trained and experienced 352nd moved in days before the invasion . As a result, the soldiers from the 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions became pinned down by superior enemy fire immediately after leaving their landing craft . In some instances, entire landing craft full of men were mowed down by the well - positioned German defenses . As the casualties mounted, the soldiers formed impromptu units and advanced inland . </P> <P> The small units then fought their way through the minefields that were in between the Nazi machine - gun bunkers . After squeezing through, they then attacked the bunkers from the rear, allowing more men to come safely ashore . </P> <P> By the end of the day, the Americans suffered over 6,000 casualties . Omaha Beach is the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German - occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during World War II . The beach is located on the coast of Normandy, France, facing the English Channel, and is 5 miles (8 km) long, from east of Sainte - Honorine - des - Pertes to west of Vierville - sur - Mer on the right bank of the Douve River estuary . Landings here were necessary in order to link up the British landings to the east at Gold Beach with the American landing to the west at Utah Beach, thus providing a continuous lodgement on the Normandy coast of the Bay of the Seine . Taking Omaha was to be the responsibility of United States Army troops, with sea transport and naval artillery support provided by the U.S. Navy and elements of the British Royal Navy . </P>

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