Visiting Sword Beach - History of the D-Day Landings and Key Sites
Sword Beach – The Eastern Flank of D-Day
Sword Beach was the easternmost of the five Allied landing beaches of the Normandy Invasion on 6 June 1944, where British forces came ashore as part of Operation Neptune, the assault phase of Operation Overlord.
Codenamed Sword, this 8-kilometre (5-mile) stretch of coastline between Ouistreham and Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer was assigned to the British 3rd Infantry Division, supported by commandos, armour, and naval firepower.
Their objective was to secure the left flank of the Allied landings, link up with the 6th Airborne Division holding key bridges over the Orne River and Caen Canal, and advance inland towards Caen, a vital city in Normandy.
Despite determined German resistance, the British successfully established a foothold on Sword Beach on D-Day.
Sword Beach Sectors
Sword Beach was split into four sectors — Oboe, Peter, Queen and Roger. The landings took place on the White and Red beaches of the Queen sector.
- Oboe — from Sainte-Aubin-sur-Mer to Luc-sur-Mer
- Peter — from Luc-sur-Mer to Lion-sur-Mer
- Queen — from Lion-sur-Mer to Hermanville-sur-Mer
- Roger — from Hermanville-sur-Mer to Ouistreham
Quick Facts about Sword Beach
Location: Normandy, France – coastline between Ouistreham and Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer (approx. 8 km / 5 miles).
Date of landing: 6 June 1944 (D-Day).
Assault force: British 3rd Infantry Division, supported by 1st Special Service Brigade, Royal Marines, and armour.
Objectives: Secure the eastern flank of the Allied invasion, link with the 6th Airborne Division at Pegasus Bridge, and advance towards Caen.
Defenders: Elements of the 716th Infantry Division and 21st Panzer Division.
Casualties: Around 1,300 British casualties, including approximately 680 killed.
The Landings on 6 June 1944
Preceded by intense naval gunfire and aerial bombing, the D-Day landings at Sword Beach began at 07:25 on 6 June 1944, when the first wave of British infantry and armour came ashore.
The beach was heavily defended with concrete bunkers, machine-gun nests, anti-tank obstacles, and mines. Although the preliminary bombardments had weakened some positions, many remained intact, forcing the attackers to fight through determined German resistance.
The main assault force was the 3rd British Infantry Division, supported by specialised armoured vehicles from the 79th Armoured Division, including the so-called “Hobart’s Funnies”, designed to clear obstacles, lay tracks, and provide direct fire support. Despite strong currents and enemy fire, the assault troops managed to secure sections of the beach by mid-morning.
At Ouistreham, the 1st Special Service Brigade, under Brigadier Lord Lovat, landed alongside No. 4 Commando which included French troops led by Commander Philippe Kieffer. Their mission was to move inland and link up with the 6th Airborne Division, who had captured the vital bridges over the Caen Canal (Pegasus Bridge) and Orne River (Horsa Bridge) during the early hours of D-Day.
Although initial progress was steady, resistance stiffened inland. By midday, units advancing towards Caen encountered counter-attacks from elements of the 21st Panzer Division, marking the only significant German armoured response on D-Day. While the beachhead was secure by nightfall, the ambitious objective of capturing Caen on D-Day itself proved out of reach.
Sword Beach Casualties
The assault on Sword Beach came at a heavy cost. On D-Day, British forces suffered an estimated 1,300 casualties, including around 680 killed. Losses were caused by a combination of machine-gun fire, artillery, mines, and anti-tank obstacles, which slowed the advance and exposed troops to concentrated fire.
German defenders, primarily from the 716th Infantry Division, fought tenaciously from fortified positions in concrete bunkers and gun emplacements. At Ouistreham, the strongpoint around the casino proved particularly difficult to suppress. Further inland, the 21st Panzer Division launched a counter-attack during the afternoon, adding to the pressure on the British and contributing to additional losses.
Many of those killed during the fighting on Sword Beach are now buried at Hermanville-sur-Mer War Cemetery. Originally known as Sword Beach Cemetery, it became the final resting place for hundreds of men who lost their lives during the landings and in the days that followed.
[Hermanville Cemetery photo]Despite these challenges, Allied forces managed to secure Sword Beach by nightfall. The determination of the attackers, combined with naval gunfire support and the use of specialised armoured vehicles, enabled the beachhead to hold firm against fierce resistance.
Sword Beach Today
Today, Sword Beach is a peaceful stretch of Normandy coastline, lined with seaside towns and villages such as Ouistreham, Lion-sur-Mer, and Hermanville-sur-Mer. The bunkers and beach defences are largely gone, but a number of museums, memorials, and cemeteries preserve the memory of the men who fought and died here.
The Atlantic Wall Museum - (Le Grand Bunker)
This 52 ft tall tower served as a flak tower and fire control for the batteries protecting the Orne Estuary. The interior has been restored to how it would have been on the 6th June 1955.
Musée du Commando No4
This museum is a tribute to the 177 members of the Free French commandos who under command of Commandant Kieffer landed on Sword Beach on the 6th June 1944 and captured the Casino strong point.
Coleville-Montgomery General Montgomery Monument
A 7 foot tall bronze statue in honour of Field Marshal Montgomery. The statue is located in Coleville-Montgomery originally Colleville-sur-Orne but renamed in 1946 in honour of Field Marshal Montgomery.
Churchill / Centaur Tank Memorial
Although memorial references a Churchill AVRE the tank present at the memorial is a Centaur IV the memorial is to all those who served and died on the shores of Normandy.
LCH 185 Memorial
A memorial to those who were killed when H.M.L.C.H. 185 struck a mine on the 25th June 1944 off the coast of Lion-sur-Mer.
2nd Royal Ulster Rifles Churchill AVRE
A Churchill AVRE tank which was offered by Sir Ian Harris who commanded the 2nd Royal Ulster Rifles, a memorial to the 41st Royal Marine Commando is at the same spot.
Widerstandsnest 27, Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer
WN27 on the seawall at Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer which still retains its 50mm cannon. On the right of the bunker, you can see the damage caused by an AVRE tank.
Hermanville War Cemetery
Originally known as Sword Beach cemetery due to its proximity to the beach Hermanville War Cemetery many of the burials here are from the 3rd Division from the landings on the 6th June 1944 and the push inland.
Explore more nearby locations in our Explore section, which features museums, cemeteries, and memorials across Normandy.
See Sword Beach as it looked in 1944 with our interactive map, including rare aerial imagery from D-Day.
Visiting Sword Beach
If travelling from the UK, the easiest way to reach Sword Beach is via the Portsmouth to Caen (Ouistreham) ferry, operated by Brittany Ferries. The ferry docks directly at the eastern end of the beach, making Sword one of the most accessible landing sites for British visitors.
Sword Beach itself stretches for around 5 miles (8 km) and can be comfortably explored on foot or by bicycle. Walking along the seafront allows you to see memorials and plaques in Ouistreham, Lion-sur-Mer, and Hermanville-sur-Mer at a relaxed pace.
For those wishing to visit other D-Day beaches or inland battlefields, a car is highly recommended. Many cemeteries, memorials, and museums are spread across the Normandy countryside and are not easily accessible by public transport. However, because the port of Ouistreham sits at the eastern edge of Sword Beach, exploring the beach and nearby villages by bicycle is also a practical option, especially if you wish to follow the coastline at a slower pace.
Parking and Car Parks at Sword Beach
When driving the length of Sword Beach there is frequent — and often free — parking available, making it easy to stop and explore. Below are details of several main car parks along the beach, including sat nav addresses for convenience:
Sainte-Aubin-sur-Mer
Car park located on the road running parallel to the beach, next to the Canadian infantry memorial and WN27, which still retains its original 50 mm gun.
Sat nav address: 20 Rue de Verdun, 14750 Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, France
Luc-sur-Mer
Car park located on the seafront opposite the Hôtel des Thermes et du Casino.
Sat nav address: 5 Rue Guynemer, 14530 Luc-sur-Mer, France
Lion-sur-Mer
Car park situated in front of the Mairie de Lion-sur-Mer. Within the car park is a memorial to the 41 Royal Marine Commando, and nearby on the Boulevard is a memorial to LCH 185, a landing craft that struck a mine on 25 June 1944.
Sat nav address: 30 Rue du Général Gallieni, 14780 Lion-sur-Mer, France
Colleville-Montgomery
A large car park is located between the beach and the tourist information office. In the corner stands the statue of Bill Millin, the “D-Day Piper”. Several other memorials are only a few hundred metres away.
Sat nav address: Avenue de Bruxelles, 14880 Colleville-Montgomery, France
Ouistreham
Parking is available along the entire length of Boulevard Aristide Briand, stretching from Colleville-Montgomery to the eastern edge of Sword Beach at Ouistreham.
Sat nav address: Boulevard Aristide Briand, 14150 Ouistreham, France