Hi "guripas"!
We're at Bayeux, Normandy's first liberated city.
Let's walk around it's charming old quarter
to discover it's street secrets.
Located at the center of the Allied apparatus,
Bayeux was key to take control over N13 highway
that connects Caen to Cherbourg.
The Gold Beach sector was responsible for taking the city,
and the mission was assigned to the British 56th Independent Brigade
part of the 50th Infantry Division, the Northumbrian.
These soldiers spent D-Day's night at the doors of Bayeux
and took over the city the next morning
with hardly any resistance,
confirming that the Germans had withdrawn further south.
While many towns fight over the title
of being the first liberated Norman town,
Bayeux, with a much larger population,
can boast of being the first liberated city of mainland France.
But what's more important
is that it's one of the few Norman cities
that weren't damaged during the war.
Without a doubt, Bayeux's streets are charming.
But in 1944, they were too narrow
to withstand the passage of thousands of Allied vehicles.
That's why, in mid-June, British engineers began to build a bypass:
the first one in all France.
The importance of this bypass can be better understood
if we remember that in Arromanches Beach,
north of the city,
one of the two prefabricated harbors would be built,
the Mulberry.
And on their way to the different battle fronts,
Bayeux became a mandatory route for soldiers and equipment.
Supplies weren't the only things landing at the Norman beaches.
On June 14th, French General De Gaulle landed.
The leader of the Free France chose Bayeux for an intervention
that would mark the future of France.
After being received by crowds on the streets of Bayeux,
the leader of the Free France arrived at Place Du Château,
now known as Place de Gaulle,
where he gave a historical speech.
General De Gaulle had just announced
the creation of a provisional government
for the French Republic.
Establishing the capital in Bayeux,
until the awaited liberation of Paris.
This column commemorates the exact spot
where he gave his historical speech.
Let's keep in mind
that the American President, Roosevelt, was in favor
of creating an occupation force in France,
like that of the Axis countries.
Since France, with Vichy's pro-German government,
was still an enemy nation.
Since De Gaulle's intervention was well received locally,
both, the President of the United States
and British Prime Minister Churchill
had no option but to recognize the French General's authority,
with whom they'll maintain a tense relationship until the end of the war.
Although the city is closely associated with De Gaulle,
it's mainly known worldwide
for the famous Bayeux Tapestry,
a 230 ft. long embroidered canvas
To get an idea,
it's as large as 11 Sherman tanks
or about eight Tiguer I.
It's a piece form the 11th century
that depicts the invasion of England
by the Norman troops of William,
Duke of Normandy.
This victory would crown him King of England
and he would go down in history as William the Conqueror.
Taking into account this bitter episode of English history,
the British erected, on the city's south side,
this memorial with a curious inscription in Latin:
"We, once conquered by William,
have now set free the Conqueror's native land."
The monument honors about 2 000 British soldiers,
including Canadian and a South African,
missing in combat
that couldn't be buried.
In fact, the largest British cemetery on French soil,
is located just across of it.
On this land, donated to Great Britain on perpetuity,
there's over 4 600 graves
almost all British,
but also from 10 other nationalities
including about 500 Germans,
that despite being enemies in the past,
now share the same resting place.
As we have seen today,
Bayeux is a city full of history,
that shouldn't be left out of your tour of Normandy.
Until next episode, "guripas"!
For more infomation >> Baby Finger Family - Learn names of all fingers - Baby Song - Duration: 4:09. 
For more infomation >> ヨメミ歴最強の敵が現れた！！！！【CUPHEADパート9】 - Duration: 13:59. 
For more infomation >> Kathy Griffin Recaps the White House Correspondents' Dinner - Duration: 3:46. 
For more infomation >> Kathy Griffin Addresses the Severed Trump Head Photo Controversy - Duration: 6:18. 
For more infomation >> Liên Khúc Disco Sôi Động II LK Organ Không Lời - Duration: 1:05:25. 
For more infomation >> 4月測試月結束了!成果如何!?羽翼之兔用影片記錄生活 - Duration: 5:08. 
For more infomation >> "Projet Daphne" ou le scandale des passeports européens à 1 million d'euros - Monkey - Duration: 3:26. 
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét