At Pont du Hoc the Germans had very strategically placed guns that allowed them to cover both the Utah and Omaha beaches, as well as the landing craft approaching them. The allies realized they needed to be eliminated early so 225 Rangers were dispatched under command of Col Rudder, an Eagle Scout. The only approach was to climb the cliffs to the summit and then attack the guns. They fired rope ladders up the side of the cliff and fought their way to the top. The battle took two days and by the end only 90 of the original 225 were able to fight, but they achieved their objectives.
The memorial symbolized the daggers they stuck in the cliffs to help them climb.
When you get there and look around you are struck by the beauty of the area. Only after a few minutes do you realize that the area is literally covered with deep holes left by the massive aerial and sea bombardment on those positions prior to the attack.
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