BENIDORM BECAME NORMANDY

Armed troops re-enact Normandy landing on Poniente beach

ARMED troops could be seen on the Poniente beach last weekend – but it was all part of the Codex Belix D-Day Normandy Landing re-enactment which took place, rather than something more sinister!

More than 300 members of the association, dedicated to recreating historical events, took part in the three-day event, all dressed in uniform, including military field nurses… a truly surreal sight.

Restored American and German military vehicles paraded through the resort, even passing as far across as the Levante promenade, attracting much attention from holidaymakers sunbathing on the beach, and in the evening there was a concert of 1940’s songs and music.

On Saturday the first of the two landings took place on the Poniente beach, with an original Higgins boat bringing in the troops to recreate June 6, 1944 – the Normandy landing.

The sound of gunfire was amplified over loudspeakers and the troops fired their rifles, those defending, from sand bunkers dug out on the stretch of beach being used.

Grenades and even a cannon were fired, positioned on the wavy promenade above to make the event as realistic as possible.

Sunbathers looked on and even stood in the sea to watch the gunfight, while plumes of smoke drifted across to bystanders on the beach.

On Sunday afternoon the second re-enactment took place - Operation Avalance – Salerno 1943 and finished with the Spanish air force parachuting down onto the sand.