Sword was the code-name for the easternmost of the five landing beaches in Normandy. The stakes were high, the aim to protect the left flank of the Allied bridgehead in Normandy, in liaison with the 6th Airborne Division which had landed between the Orne and Dives rivers. Jointly they were supposed to seize the strategically important city of Caen, fifteen kilometres from Sword beach. The assault was led by the 3rd British Infantry Division, reinforced by the commandos of the 1st and 4th Special Service Brigades and supported by specially adapted tanks.

The sector of Sword Beach stretched from Langrune to Ouistreham. Once landed, the commandos neutralised the German strongpoints by attacking them from both sides. The landing on Sword Beach was largely successful. After clearing Ouistreham of hostile units, the 1st Special Service Brigade was able to join the paratroopers at Bénouville and settle on the east bank of the Orne.

However, the commandos who had to assure the connection with the Canadian troops landed on Juno Beach, couldn’t make it on the evening of 6 June. They were attacked by the 21st German Panzer Division. Following the loss of 50 of their tanks, the Germans abandoned their positions. Congestion on the beaches and determined resistance by some German strongpoints further inland prevented the British from capturing Caen on 6 June as they had hoped. In the end, more than a month of fighting was necessary to complete the liberation of the city on 9 July 1944.

Today there are several sites and items of interest in the Hermanville area. In Hermanville-Plage, a ‘Centaur’ tank that engaged in support of the Royal Marines Commandos stands near the intersection of the rue du Dr Turgis and Rue Amiral Wietzel. Near Hermanville-Bourg a British military cemetery with 1005 graves is located, and the German “Hillman” Strongpoint at Colleville-Montgomery is also interesting to visit.