 The primary objective at Omaha was to secure a beachhead of eight kilometres ( 5 miles ) depth , between Port @-@ en @-@ Bessin and the Vire River , linking with the British landings at Gold to the east , and reaching the area of Isigny to the west to link up with VII Corps landing at Utah . Opposing the landings was the German 352nd Infantry Division . Of the 12 @,@ 020 men of the division , 6 @,@ 800 were experienced combat troops , detailed to defend a 53 @-@ kilometer ( 33 mi ) front . The Germans were largely deployed in strongpoints along the coast — the German strategy was based on defeating any seaborne assault at the water line . 
