A look back at D-Day 2022 Normandy Victory Museum

Reenactments, demonstrations and immersive experiences

Several demonstrations and activities allowed visitors to discover the realities of the field during the Second World War, including the paratroopers of the Round Canopy Parachuting Team (RCPT) or the bivouacs of the 2nd Armored in Europe association.

The temporary exhibition dedicated to the Trippelwagen, the first amphibious vehicle in history, was a highlight of this year's event. Presented in partnership with the Chartreuse Museum in Molsheim and the Tank Museum in Saumur, it was accompanied by guided tours and lectures led by Grégory Oswald, curator of the Molsheim Museum.

Inside the museum, demonstrations around the Enigma machine, offered by Edmond Kern, as well as the associated workshops and presentations, made it possible to address the issues of intelligence and communications.

The reconstruction of a military hospital with demonstrations of operations, meanwhile, particularly attracted the public's attention.

Meetings, conferences and highlights

Throughout the event, several authors, historians and speakers, including Yves Corver, Frédéric Patard and Denis Le Priol, came to exchange ideas with the public and present their works devoted to the Second World War.

the documentary They Won't Die Twice by Florent PlanaThe preview presentation, along with the lectures by Grégory Oswald and Edmond Kern, provided different perspectives on the period, between historical approach and transmission work.

In parallel, the event also gave way to more convivial moments, with concerts, musical entertainment, the Liberation dinner or the 40s civilian fashion competition.

Andrew Biggio, author of the book The Riflewas there, accompanied by four American veterans.

Bob Weber (10th Armored Division), Marvin Gilmore (458 AAA Battalion), Robert Heurgue (82nd Airborne) and John Althuizen (7th Armored Division) met with the public and shared their experiences, marked by the campaigns in Normandy, the Ardennes, the Rhineland and Central Europe.

One of the most memorable moments of this year's event was the presentation of the Purple Heart to John Althuizen by representatives of the U.S. Army. Serving in the 7th Armored Division, he had never before received this honor. Nearly 80 years after the events, this official recognition, bestowed before the public, lent a special significance to the gathering.

Through his work with The Rifle, Andrew Biggio demonstrates a commitment to direct transmission, gathering and sharing the stories of veterans. His presence alongside these men contributed to making these exchanges a highlight of this year's event.

During this 2022 edition, the Normandy Victory Museum offered an immersion deeply rooted in reality, between reenactments, demonstrations and exchanges with enthusiasts.

The presence of several veterans marked these days. Their arrival, the time spent with the public, the exchanges—sometimes simple but always meaningful—evoked a great deal of emotion among the visitors. The team of Normandy Victory Museum is proud to have enabled this transmission of history on the occasion of this 78th D-Day .