USA Girl Scouts Overseas
PARIS, FRANCE
The D-Day Landing Beaches Patch
Answer Key
Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts, answer as many questions as you can in each museum.
Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors should answer all questions.
Leaders or adults should compare girls’ questionnaires to this answer key and confirm by
signing off that work has been sufficiently completed for this earned patch.
The Caen Memorial ***
(for older Girl Scouts)
The Caen Memorial is a beautiful museum which covers the causes of the Second World War. It is
suited to older Junior Girl Scouts, Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors. There are several films to see
plus an exhibition. Plan to spend at least 1-1/2 hours. The Caen Memorial can help you answer some
general questions about World War II and the D-Day landings.
1. How long did the Second World War last? From 1939 to 1945
2. What was the political regime in power in Germany and who was its leader?
Nazi party; Adolf Hitler
3. Who occupied France for 4 years?
German Occupation Forces/Germany/the Germans
4. Most French people opposed this occupation. What did they form to fight the Nazis?
The (French) Resistance/The Free French
5. Who were the “Allies”? Name 4 countries The USA, Great Britain, Canada and France
6. What was the code name of the D-Day landing plan? (Operation) Overlord
7. On what date did the D-Day landings begin? June 6, 1944
8. What were the five code names for the different D-Day beach landings?
CODE NAME
Gold
Juno
Omaha
Sword
Utah
COUNTRY
Canada
Great Britain
USA
Great Britain
USA
NORMANDY D-DAY LANDING BEACHES ANSWER KEY
USAGSO-PARIS is a registered nonprofit making organization. (Reg. 434100183768) 34 avenue de New York 75116 Paris, France - www.parisgirlscouts.org
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
USA Girl Scouts Overseas
PARIS, FRANCE
UTAH BEACH
Sainte-Mère-Eglise ***
If you watch the movie “The Longest Day”, with your troop, you will notice the story of a young
American soldier left hanging from a church steeple by his parachute. It happened here! The museum
tells the story of the American parachutists who were among the first to land in Normandy.
1. Look at the church in the center of the town. In the museum you will find the name of
this soldier. John Steele
2. In the first building of the museum, count the stars on the big American flag in the
middle of the room. How many are there and why? 48; Alaska and Hawaii were not yet
states at this time.
3.
Find
two
types
of
landmines.
What
were
land
mines
used
for?
Antipersonnel mines were used to kill people; anti-tank mines to blow up tanks.
4. How did the soldiers get to Sainte-Mère-Eglise? They were parachuted in.
The emblem of one of the divisions to land was an eagle. What was the nickname of the
division? Nickname was “The Screaming Eagles.”
5. What was the motto of the A.A.? “All the way.”
6. In the second building, what is the name of the big airplane in the middle of the room?
The Dakoda, a C-47
7. Women during the war: Find a display case featuring women’s uniforms. What color are
they? What did these women do during the war? Color was khaki; they were nurses.
Musée de la Liberté – Quinéville
What was it like to live in occupied France? What did the people of France endure for four long years
before D-Day? This unique museum will give you fascinating insight into everyday life during the war.
1. Just past the entrance, find a doll representing a baby. What is it wearing and why?
The doll is wearing a gas mask for protection against poisonous gases.
2. Which French leader made the “Appel du 18 juin? (June 18th Appeal) Charles de Gaulle
3. What animal has its own gas mask? A horse.
4. What was the quote used to signal to the French resistance that D-Day would soon take
place?
“Les sanglots longs des violons de l’autome blessent mon coeur d’une longeur monotone.”
5. Find the display featuring some American products carried by the soldiers. Name some of
the brands that still exist today. Hershey’s chocolate, Camel cigarettes, Chicklets,
Campbell’s Soup, Coca-Cola, Planters’ Peanuts, Beechnut gum and others.
6. What happens to a soldier’s “dog tags” (identification tags) if he is killed? One pair is left
on the body, and the other was taken back to the United States.
7. Go to the replica of a French village during the war. Why was the tailor’s shop closed?
The owner was Jewish.
8. What were Jewish people forced to sew on their clothing to identify themselves?
A yellow Star of David.
9. What did the French population need to buy food during the war? Ration cards.
10. Name two items of clothing made from a parachute. Dress, pillow case, bra.
NORMANDY D-DAY LANDING BEACHES ANSWER KEY
USAGSO-PARIS is a registered nonprofit making organization. (Reg. 434100183768) 34 avenue de New York 75116 Paris, France - www.parisgirlscouts.org
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
USA Girl Scouts Overseas
PARIS, FRANCE
Musée Utah Beach, Sainte-Marie-du-Mont
Set in the dunes where the American soldiers fought for their lives, this museum tells how the
amphibian (land-sea) vehicles were indispensable to the success of the landing.
1. What is the name of the amphibian vehicle in the room overlooking the beach? Joanne
2. How many soldiers landed on Utah Beach? 23,250 How many vehicles accompanied
them? 17,000
3. Find Sergent Glenn E. Gibson’s wristwatch. At what time did it stop and why?
It stopped at 6:30 because the amphibian landing vehicle he was in hit a mine.
OMAHA BEACH
Musée des Rangers, Grandcamp-Maisy
The Rangers had a dramatic role to play on D-Day. Their job was the most dangerous and they paid
the highest price in human lives.
1. How many Rangers landed on D-Day? 225 How many survived? 90
2. Who was the officer in charge of the Rangers? Colonel James Rudder
3. Watch the film on the second floor. Which American President is shown at a Pointe du Hoc
commemoration ceremony? Ronald Reagan
4. What was the Rangers’ mission? Did they succeed? They were charged with knocking out
the strongest German position on the invasion front. They succeeded.
5. Where did the Rangers train before they left for France? Isle of Wight
Pointe du Hoc ***
This strategic site captured by the Rangers is one of the most spectacular landing sites to visit. Walk
around and you will see that it is easy to imagine yourself on June 6, 1944 ...
1. Why is the landscape full of holes? The “holes” are bomb and mine craters.
2. What kind of coastline is there along Omaha Beach? Steep, rocky cliffs.
3. Who built the cement bunkers? The Germans.
4. As you stand on the point, which landing beach is to the left and which is to the right?
To the left is Utah Beach; to the right is Omaha Beach.
5. What does the Pointe du Hoc monument symbolize? It symbolizes the Rangers’ dagger.
Saint-Laurent-sur-mer - Musée Omaha
This museum presents a collection of World War II vehicles, weapons and uniforms.
1. Locate and name the 3 obstacles that the Germans placed on the beach to deter a
landing. Stakes, barbed wire, mines.
2. Find a large Nazi flag with writing on it. What is the writing?
American soldiers’ signatures.
3. What is the name of the woman whose story is written up right next to the entrance?
Jean Foley.
NORMANDY D-DAY LANDING BEACHES ANSWER KEY
USAGSO-PARIS is a registered nonprofit making organization. (Reg. 434100183768) 34 avenue de New York 75116 Paris, France - www.parisgirlscouts.org
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
USA Girl Scouts Overseas
PARIS, FRANCE
La Cambe - German Military Cemetery
German fathers, sons and husbands also died in Normandy. Their stories are tragic too and can be
remembered here.
1. In the entry building are pictures of other German military cemeteries in the world. What
countries are they in? USA (Tennessee), England, Egypt, Finland, Canada, Norway,
Australia.
2. What color are the crosses and how many are grouped together? They are black, in
groups of five.
Colleville-sur-Mer - American Cemetery ***
This is a breathtaking site that is truly an inspiration. Take the time to walk around and observe the
various memorials. Plan to stay at the cemetery until 17:40 when taps are played while the flags are
lowered. Read the names of soldiers. How old were they? Where were they from? As long as we
remember, no American soldier’s sacrifice will have been in vain.
1. How many crosses are there in this cemetery? 9,386
2. Which famous President’s son is buried in this cemetery? Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt’s
son.
3.What is the quote inscribed on the crosses of unknown soldiers? Here rests in honored
glory a comrade in arms known but to God.
4. Why do some gravestones have a star on them? The Stars of David mark graves of
Jewish soldiers; the five-sided stars mark Medal of Honor recipients’ graves.
5. How many Medal of Honor recipients are there in the cemetery? How are their graves
identified? There are three recipients in this cemetery. Their grave markers are topped by a
gold star.
GOLD BEACH
Musée d’Arromanches – Arromanches***
Arromanches had a very important role to play in the days following June 6th. Army engineers
accomplished incredible feats in Arromanches. The museum tells the whole story.
1. Who were the 4 Allied leaders involved in D-Day?
United States Franklin D Roosevelt Great Britain Winston Churchill Canada McKenzie King
France Charles de Gaulle
2. How long did it take to build the artificial port? 9 months of preparation; 12 days to
construct.
3. Find a picture of a French female Resistance fighter. What is her name? Paulette Duhalde
What Resistance network (“réseau”) did she belong to? Réseau Jeanne. How and when did
she die? She died in Ravensbrück concentration camp on the April 24, 1945.
4. What damaged the artificial port? A big storm.
5. Where were the elements used to build the port constructed and how did they get them
to Arromanches? The concrete structures were made in England and towed across the
Channel by old merchant ships that were scuttled at Arromanches.
NORMANDY D-DAY LANDING BEACHES ANSWER KEY
USAGSO-PARIS is a registered nonprofit making organization. (Reg. 434100183768) 34 avenue de New York 75116 Paris, France - www.parisgirlscouts.org
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
USA Girl Scouts Overseas
PARIS, FRANCE
JUNO BEACH
Canadian soldiers landed in Normandy along with the Americans, the British and the French.
1. At the Canadian Cemetery in Bény-sur-mer, how many graves are there? 2,049
2. On one of the crosses, find the name of a regiment from Winnipeg. The Royal Winnepeg
Rifles.
SWORD BEACH
At the far eastern end of the landing beaches, the British forces had a special mission to accomplish.
1. At what time did the first British soldiers land in the sector surrounding Pegasus?
At midnight.
2. How did the British arrive in this sector? In glider planes.
3. What is the name of the café which serves as a little museum? Gondrée Café.
4. Why is the café building famous? It was the first house in France to be liberated.
*** Don’t forget to taste a few of the specialties of Normandy while you are
here: veal scallops in cream sauce with mushrooms, apple cider, confiture de lait
(caramel butter), crêpes, seafood, apple tart and of course the wonderful
cheeses of Normandy: camembert, Pont-l’Evêque...
NORMANDY D-DAY LANDING BEACHES ANSWER KEY
USAGSO-PARIS is a registered nonprofit making organization. (Reg. 434100183768) 34 avenue de New York 75116 Paris, France - www.parisgirlscouts.org
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.