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SUMMARY:World War II Alumni Tour
DESCRIPTION:THE LONDON BLITZ, D-DAY IN NORMANDY, AND THE LIBERATION OF PARIS
ALUMNI TOUR FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH

MAY 31 - JUNE 9, 2012
ACCOMPANIED BY DR. HAROLD GOLDBERG
On this specially crafted journey to commemorate the 68th anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1944, travel from London to Portsmouth and discover the “behind the scenes” action necessary to stage the largest amphibian landing in history. Cross the English Channel by ferry. Though much more comfortable than what the “boys” lived through in June 1944, this water crossing of the Channel allows us a special perspective of what their experience might have been like. Follow in the wake of the liberating armies, walk the beaches of Normandy where the soldiers landed, stand atop bluffs the Rangers scaled, explore museums that bring together the various elements that affected the landing and the ensuing Battle for Normandy, and visit places of extraordinary heroism.
Enjoy four nights in Normandy at a hotel chosen for its comfort and location. Interact with individuals and places which today still bear testimony of the sacrifice and courage of Allied Troops during WWII.
Day 1 • USA/LONDON Depart for London. 
Day 2 • LONDON Arrive in London and transfer to your hotel. After check in, enjoy an afternoon visit to Winston Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms and adjoining Museum. It is from this underground “safe place” that Churchill directed the British war effort and where today one can still see maps, telephones and bunks preserved since 1945. This evening, enjoy a private reception and dinner at the hotel. (R,D) 
Day 3 • LONDON/IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM/BLETCHLEY PARK Begin today at London’s Imperial War Museum where you can explore its vast WWII collection and enjoy a private museum lunch. In the early afternoon, travel to Bletchley Park and discover the real story behind the Enigma code breakers, credited with shortening the war by successfully deciphering the encryption used by the Wehrmacht to safeguard its messages. The evening is at leisure in London. (B,L) 
possibly add dinner?
Day 4 • LONDON/PORTSMOUTH/NORMANDY Travel by coach to Portsmouth where we begin with a stop at Southwick House, Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Force, and the location from which Eisenhower made the “let’s go” decision on the eve of June 6th. After lunch at the nearby Golden Lion pub, explore the D-Day Museum featuring the Overlord Embroidery which depicts the events of D-Day in dramatic and colorful artistic fashion. Travel a short distance to board our afternoon ferry to Normandy. (B,L)
Dr. Goldberg will lead discussion of the landing plan onboard the ferry followed by dinner on your own on the ferry 
Bus to hotel 
Day 5 • SAINTE MÈRE EGLISE/UTAH BEACH/POINTE DU HOC Begin your journey in Normandy by exploring Sainte Mère Eglise, site of the dramatic 82nd and 101st Airborne Division paratrooper landing on the nights of June 5th and early hours of June 6th. It’s on the small church steeple in Sainte Mère Eglise that John Steele’s parachute became ensnarled. He survived, suspended throughout the night with church bells ringing in his ears. After viewing the church, cross the town square for a tour of the Airborne (Paratrooper) Museum, replete with airplanes and other D-Day artifacts. Continue to Utah Beach, site of one of the two American amphibian landings in the early hours of June 6th, 1944. One of the most dramatic sites along the Normandy coastline is Pointe de Hoc, where US rangers scaled steep cliffs in order to destroy key German gun positions. Walk through cratered pathways and imagine the bravery of those rangers as they faced a barrage of German artillery fire and a fierce storm.
Morning--Sainte Mere Eglise, Airborne Museum, then lunch at Roosevelt Cafe, then brief film at Utah Beach Museum. In afternoon, visit Pointe du Hoc. (B,L,D)
Day 6 • BAYEUX/ARROMANCHES Just on the outskirts of Bayeux, opposite a WWII British cemetery sits the Battle of Normandy Museum. We sometimes forget that the beach landings of June 6th were just the start of the Battle for Normandy and indeed, the start of the end of the war. The highlight of this small museum is its feature film, in English, which clearly details the progress – at times rapid, at times slow – of the Allied troops towards Paris and the rest of France. Walk into the heart of Bayeux and view the famed Bayeux Tapestry. After lunch at leisure in town, continue to Arromanches and see the Mulberry harbor – known as Port Winston – a remaining prefabricated concrete platform designed to assist in landing Allied supplies. (B,D) 
Morning--Longues sur mer, Arromanches, lunch in Arromanches, Bayeux for Brit cemetery, museum film, tapestry
Day 7 • CAEN AND MEMORIAL MUSEUM/OMAHA BEACH/COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER Continue to Omaha Beach, site of the bloodiest fighting of invasion day. At the far eastern edge of the beach, walk up a pathway along the bluff to the American cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer. Enjoy an evening reception at the Château de Creully, used by the BBC to broadcast following the invasion. (B,D) 
Morning--Caen and Memorial, lunch at museum, then Omaha in afternoon
Day 8-- NORMANDY/GIVERNY/PARIS Depart Normandy for Paris, and stop en route to visit Monet’s inspirational gardens at Giverny. Tour the artists’ home, and enjoy lunch in one of the local restaurants before continuing on to Paris. (B,R,D)
drive to Paris, Giverny, lunch, arrive Paris, dinner, free evening
Day 9--morning walking tour with Dr. Goldberg, afternoon free, evening reception Join your fellow travelers for this evening’s farewell reception and dinner 
Day 10 • PARIS/USA Depart Paris for the USA 
Dr. Harold Goldberg, Underdown Distinguished Professor of History and the author of two books on World War II (Europe in Flames and The Battle of Saipan) will accompany the group and provide appropriate additional information throughout the journey. 

Price for this trip is $4,995/per person for double occupancy, with a $1250 supplement for single travelers.

Return to Alumni Travel page.



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