Posted on 06/06/2023 7:46:39 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
D-Day was the name given to the June 6, 1944, invasion of the beaches at Normandy in northern France by troops from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and other countries during World War II. France at the time was occupied by the armies of Nazi Germany, and the amphibious assault—codenamed Operation Overlord—landed some 156,000 Allied soldiers on the beaches of Normandy by the end of the day. Despite their success, some 4,000 Allied troops were killed by German soldiers defending the beaches. At the time, the D-Day invasion was the largest naval, air and land operation in history, and within a few days about 326,000 troops, more than 50,000 vehicles and some 100,000 tons of equipment had landed. By August 1944, all of northern France had been liberated, and in spring of 1945 the Allies had defeated the Germans. Historians often refer to D-Day as the beginning of the end of World War II.
After World War II began, Germany invaded and occupied northwestern France beginning in May 1940. The Americans entered the war in December 1941, and by 1942 they and the British (who had been evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk in May 1940 after being cut off by the Germans in the Battle of France) were considering the possibility of a major Allied invasion across the English Channel. The following year, Allied plans for a cross-Channel invasion began to ramp up. In November 1943, Adolf Hitler (1889-1945), who was aware of the threat of an invasion along France’s northern coast, put Erwin Rommel (1891-1944) in charge of spearheading defense operations in the region, even though the Germans did not know exactly where the Allies would strike. Hitler charged Rommel with finishing the Atlantic Wall, a 2,400-mile fortification of bunkers, landmines and beach and water obstacles.
OI January 1944, General Dwight Eisenhower (1890-1969) was appointed commander of Operation Overlord. In the months and weeks before D-Day, the Allies carried out a massive deception operation intended to make the Germans think the main invasion target was Pas-de-Calais (the narrowest point between Britain and France) rather than Normandy. In addition, they led the Germans to believe that Norway and other locations were also potential invasion targets. Many tactics were used to carry out the deception, including fake equipment; a phantom army commanded by George Patton and supposedly based in England, across from Pas-de-Calais; double agents; and fraudulent radio transmissions.
A Weather Delay: June 5, 1944
Eisenhower selected June 5, 1944, as the date for the invasion; however, bad weather on the days leading up to the operation caused it to be delayed for 24 hours. On the morning of June 5, after his meteorologist predicted improved conditions for the following day, Eisenhower gave the go-ahead for Operation Overlord. He told the troops: “You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you.”
Later that day, more than 5,000 ships and landing craft carrying troops and supplies left England for the trip across the Channel to France, while more than 11,000 aircraft were mobilized to provide air cover and support for the invasion.
D-Day Landings: June 6, 1944
By dawn on June 6, thousands of paratroopers and glider troops were already on the ground behind enemy lines, securing bridges and exit roads. The amphibious invasions began at 6:30 a.m. The British and Canadians overcame light opposition to capture beaches codenamed Gold, Juno and Sword, as did the Americans at Utah Beach. U.S. forces faced heavy resistance at Omaha Beach, where there were over 2,000 American casualties. However, by day’s end, approximately 156,000 Allied troops had successfully stormed Normandy’s beaches. According to some estimates, more than 4,000 Allied troops lost their lives in the D-Day invasion, with thousands more wounded or missing.
Less than a week later, on June 11, the beaches were fully secured and over 326,000 troops, more than 50,000 vehicles and some 100,000 tons of equipment had landed at Normandy.
Remainder at link:
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day
I like that meme.
I’m very thankful for their service and sacrifice for our country.
A quick story. I saved it, and usually post it here every Veteran’s Day. But it sure does apply to D-Day too.
Back when I was in my 20s I worked security for a major university. One of the campus cops - I’ll call him Bill - was older than most of us. He was also fat and slow. Bill didn’t look anything like those slick cops you see on TV. Some of the younger campus cops made fun of him. Bill never said anything back. He just took it.
Well, one day Bill brought a briefcase to roll call. He didn’t say a word, he just opened it up in front of us. In that briefcase were citations and rows of medals. Bill was an Army Ranger who landed on D-Day.
Nobody made fun of Bill after that.
To be clear, that story in #5 is not something I coped from the internet. I was in the room.
I think the beginning of the end was actually the battle of Midway, and beating the Germans at Stalingrad. That does not reduce the events of D Day
Whenever I see a man in any sort of military jacket, or he is wearing a ball cap that commemorates anything ‘military’ I always talk to them and if they’re a Veteran, I ask if I can give them a hug. Their response is always heartwarming.
As a Vet myself, I’m not the least bit shy about it. We should NEVER forget the many sacrifices others have made for us and for America.
With all my time in the Army (1978-1996) I was never on a battlefield and I thank God above for THAT. It was pure LUCK.
The best meme is of the landing craft - “college kids leaving their safe space”. How far we have fallen. Prayers for those incredibly brave and patriotic men.
Thank you for posting this, Diana. We must never forget.
I agree.
Midway, El Alamein, Stalingrad, D-Day. All meant doom for the Axis.
Some people caught on earlier. Admiral Canaris (Hitler’s spy chief) knew the war was lost the day Hitler decided to invade the Soviet Union. So Canaris advised Spanish dictator Francisco Franco to stay neutral, and not join the Axis. Franco wisely took the advice.
Tue beginning of the end yes, but also the start of real mass murder on a scale never seen before.
Anyone know at what beach / LZ this iconic photo was taken?
June 4, 1944 -- liberation of Rome
June 6, 1944 -- Normandy invasion begins
June 15, 1944 - Battle of Saipan (D-Day of the Pacific) begins
The U.S. provided the main manpower and supplies for all three major military operations in three different areas happening at about the same time. Can you imagine the planning and logistics and equipment and manpower to pull off all of those?
> The U.S. provided the main manpower and supplies for all three major military operations in three different areas happening at about the same time. <
Ah, yes. It was an incredible feat. It was also back when when nobody gave a damn about climate change, diversity, or using the correct pronouns.
Oh, and one more point. There is much to criticize FDR about. But I will give him credit for one important thing. He did not interfere with operational planning or operational execution. He left that up to the generals and admirals.
Contrast this with LBJ’s handling of Vietnam and Bush II’s handling of Afghanistan and Iraq.
Wasn't alive that day, but I still honor and remember!
From this Air Force retiree:
“He did not interfere with operational planning or operational execution. He left that up to the generals and admirals.”
Well said.
The success of the D-Day operation was also a huge part of the reason General Eisenhower later became President.
How I wish we had more capable military men as President. It’s a shame that we don’t.
Exceptions that ALMOST made it and I’m happy they did not: John McCain and John Kerry! Oh, wait. I DID specify they be,’capable.’ ;)
The photo was taken by Robert F. Sargent, US Coast Guard
https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/history/info-2019/d-day-quiz.html
Our culture does not spend the month of June expressing pride in these achievements. Instead we have “Pride Month” commemorating some riot at a gay bar. There isn’t much worth saving.
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