The Legacy of the First Liberated House on D-Day: From Grenades to Pilgrimage

On a misty beach stood an elegant, two-story villa, isolated from any other houses. Surrounding it were minefields, military pillboxes, and enemy machine gun posts.

It was June 6, 1944, D-Day. That cloudy morning saw 10 boats carrying Canadian troops navigating the choppy waters of the English Channel. Their destination was the 1,500 yard stretch of Normandy coastline where the villa stood.

Their role in the D-Day invasion was to take control of the coastal town of Bernieres-sur-Mer. The main target was to capture the villa, which they mistakenly thought was a railway station based on aerial images. Despite the confusion, the allied commanders intended to use it as a strategic vantage point after securing the beach.

Canadian soldiers from 9th Brigade are seen landing at Juno Beach on D-Day. The house in the center managed to survive the battle.

Canadian soldiers from 9th Brigade are seen landing at Juno Beach on D-Day. The house in the center managed to survive the battle.

Imperial War Museum/AFP/Getty Images

To reach their destination, the troops had to cross the exposed beach, facing an assault landing with little cover available.

At 7:15 a.m., the troops landed on the shore and were immediately greeted by intense machine gun and mortar fire. Despite the harsh resistance, within 20 minutes, the surviving soldiers reached the villa and successfully drove out the German troops stationed inside. This was likely the first house to be liberated following the beach landings of Operation Overlord.

The cost was extreme. About 100 Canadians died on that beach in the first few minutes of the battle.

The villa, though riddled with bullet holes and other battle scars, was intact.

Eighty years later, the half-timbered home still stands as a memorial. Known as "La Maison de Canadiens" in French or Canada House in English, it honors the Canadian soldiers who sacrificed their lives to free France, all thanks to the efforts of a French couple.

Opening their doors to strangers

The half-timbered home that many Canadian soldiers saw has been refurbished, but still looks much like it did on D-Day.

The half-timbered home that many Canadian soldiers saw has been refurbished, but still looks much like it did on D-Day.

After Nicole and Herve Hoffer got married in 1975 and started a family, they started spending more time at their family vacation home in Bernieres-sur-Mer. One day, Nicole realized that people passing by on the boardwalk between the house and the beach would often stop to take pictures of their building. She was curious about this and asked her husband why, but he didn't have an answer.

The villa was built in 1928 by a Parisian man for his two children to have their own vacation homes. He constructed two houses next to each other, one for his daughter and one for his son. In 1936, Herve Hoffer's grandparents bought the daughter's side of the villa.

During the war, the house was taken over by the Germans in 1942 but was later returned to the family in 1947, fortunately still in good condition. Many other homes in the area were destroyed during the Battle of Normandy due to allied bombardment.

But the reason behind people constantly taking photos of their house remained a mystery to the Hoffers. Curious, they decided to ask, and it turned out that many of these photographers were actually Canadian veterans revisiting the spot where they landed on D-Day. The couple welcomed them inside for a beer, a glass of Calvados (an apple brandy from Normandy), or a meal, during which the former soldiers shared their experiences.

Nicole Hoffer has for decades opened the doors to her summer home to Canadian veterans returning to Juno Beach.

Nicole Hoffer has for decades opened the doors to her summer home to Canadian veterans returning to Juno Beach.

Joshua Berlinger/CNN

Nicole Hoffer shared that even within her own family, she faced criticism for welcoming strangers. She would respond by reminding them that without the foreigners who came, they might not even exist today. These individuals risked their lives to bring freedom to their country.

The Hoffers often found the initial moments of meeting veterans to be incredibly moving. As the veterans sat down, they would gaze out the window as if they were reliving a scene from a movie that had been paused for decades. It was during these moments that they would share stories that had never been heard by their own families and friends.

With every meeting, more details about the Hoffer family vacation home story came to light.

The family discovered that during the Canadian troops' landing at H-Hour for the amphibious assault, Germans inside the house fired at them from a machine gun positioned on a bench by the front window. Despite the initial attack, many soldiers managed to take cover behind a beach wall near the home. From there, they regrouped and successfully drove the German troops out of the house.

Nicole Hoffer mentioned that when soldiers come back, they are often shocked to see that the wall has disappeared under the sand. Despite this change, the house remains unchanged.

A house filled with memories from past summers at war.

The Hoffers have collected countless souvenirs over the years, including a cross (center) that one veteran discovered during the war.

The Hoffers have collected countless souvenirs over the years, including a cross (center) that one veteran discovered during the war.

The Hoffers have noticed that as veterans continue to return year after year, they have started bringing souvenirs for them. Their summer home has now turned into a museum, filled with these gifts from veterans. The guestbook at their home is filled with hundreds, if not thousands, of signatures from veterans and their families who come back to Juno Beach. One visitor, Ernie Kells, even shared a humorous story of throwing grenades into their basement to get rid of German troops.

The walls of the house are decorated with donated medals, flags, paintings, and other keepsakes. Among them is a cross with a Jesus icon, missing an arm as it had been blown off while in a soldier's pocket. The cross was found intact in a nearby house, and the shrapnel that hit it may have saved the soldier's life. Years later, on his deathbed, the man asked his family to return the cross to the Hoffer's home.

"In the house, you find a lot of memories," she said.

Their guestbook is filled with hundreds of entries, including that of one soldier who tossed grenades into their cellar.

Their guestbook is filled with hundreds of entries, including that of one soldier who tossed grenades into their cellar.

The Hoffers decided to start hosting their own ceremony to pay tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives for Canada. A week prior to June 6, they light a paraffin lantern and keep it burning on their balcony. On the anniversary evening, bagpipers serenade as the lantern is thrown into the sea. Guests join in by placing flowers and crosses at the water's edge where the sand meets the sea.

Herve Hoffer used to throw the lamp himself until he passed away in 2017. To honor his memory, Nicole Hoffer has decided to welcome even more veterans into their home now.

"Nowadays, we have groups of veterans coming in buses, asking if they can visit the house," she mentioned.

For the 80th anniversary of D-Day this year, Hoffer is anticipating a bigger turnout. Along with the regular visitors to her home, the west side of the house will be open to the public for the first time since it was bought by the local government. A special exhibit will showcase the stories of French individuals who experienced D-Day as children.

Photographs of the landing at Juno Beach are displayed on the wall next to Canada House.

Photographs of the landing at Juno Beach are displayed on the wall next to Canada House.

Joshua Berlinger/CNN

Editor's P/S:

The article transports us back to the fateful day of D-Day, where a humble villa on the shores of Normandy played a pivotal role in the liberation of France. The bravery of Canadian troops, who faced relentless fire to capture the villa, is a testament to their unwavering determination. Despite the horrors of war, the villa stands as a symbol of hope and resilience, thanks to the efforts of the Hoffer family who have dedicated their lives to honoring the fallen heroes. Their unwavering hospitality and the creation of a makeshift museum within their home serve as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made during this pivotal event.

As we approach the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the villa continues to serve as a beacon of remembrance, connecting veterans and their families with the past. The Hoffer family's unwavering commitment to preserving the legacy of D-Day is a testament to the enduring power of human connection and the importance of honoring those who fought for freedom. The villa, now known as Canada House, stands as a symbol of the unbreakable bond between Canada and France, a testament to the shared sacrifice and the unwavering pursuit of peace.