Post by 2nd Bat on Jun 6, 2015 14:58:36 GMT -5
D-Day June 6th 1944 With a tenuosly brief break in horrible weather Eisenhower gave the go ahead for the long anticipated amphibius invasion of Western Europe. The Landings were proceeded by a highly risky airborne assault by British and American Paratroopers. the British Air Minister predicted 85% casualties for this force. (Fortunately they were no where near that). Though badly scattered and in most cases far from their intended drop zones they contributed to the chaos and confusion that impacted significantly the Germans ability to react. french resistance fighter played a significant role as well especially by impacting rail movement with calculated acts of sabotage.
The Landings themselves were concentrated on five seperate beaches. The Amercian beaches were UTAH and OMAHA and the British, Canadian beaches were SWORD JUNO and GOLD. The location and timing of the landings was a closely guarded secret and a great deal of deception and espionage had successfully lead the Germans both prior and for quite a while afterwards to believe the real landings would occure elsewhere.
The Normandy location was quite unexpected as there was no adequate Port Facilities nearby and the beaches did not seem suitable to a major operation for a number of reasons. The landings themselves went far better than expected although OMAHA in the Center was perilously close to failure and was in doubt for the first several hours. The most spectacular engagements were the assault on Pegasus bridge by the British Airborne, the Assault on the forified Artillery batteries at Merville by elements of the British 6th Airborne. The US Ranger assault on the Cliffs at Pont D Hoc and the impromptu raid on the 105 Battery at Brecon Manor by Easy Company as portrayed in Band of Brothers.
Thousands of individual stories from the "Longest Day" no doubt never to be told. As significant as that day was, it was minor in comparison to the Soviet Offensive started this same month which had 20 times the impact and production of casualties on both sides.
D-Day is a proud part of our History and the men who imdividually saw to its success must not be forgotten. If you ever get a chance to tour Normandy it will be a powerful and moving experience and you owe it to yourself and to those men (known and unknown) to do so.
The Landings themselves were concentrated on five seperate beaches. The Amercian beaches were UTAH and OMAHA and the British, Canadian beaches were SWORD JUNO and GOLD. The location and timing of the landings was a closely guarded secret and a great deal of deception and espionage had successfully lead the Germans both prior and for quite a while afterwards to believe the real landings would occure elsewhere.
The Normandy location was quite unexpected as there was no adequate Port Facilities nearby and the beaches did not seem suitable to a major operation for a number of reasons. The landings themselves went far better than expected although OMAHA in the Center was perilously close to failure and was in doubt for the first several hours. The most spectacular engagements were the assault on Pegasus bridge by the British Airborne, the Assault on the forified Artillery batteries at Merville by elements of the British 6th Airborne. The US Ranger assault on the Cliffs at Pont D Hoc and the impromptu raid on the 105 Battery at Brecon Manor by Easy Company as portrayed in Band of Brothers.
Thousands of individual stories from the "Longest Day" no doubt never to be told. As significant as that day was, it was minor in comparison to the Soviet Offensive started this same month which had 20 times the impact and production of casualties on both sides.
D-Day is a proud part of our History and the men who imdividually saw to its success must not be forgotten. If you ever get a chance to tour Normandy it will be a powerful and moving experience and you owe it to yourself and to those men (known and unknown) to do so.