It was June 6, 1944. Field Marshal Irwin Rommel, commander of the "Atlantic Wall" of the German armed forces on the French coast across the channel from England, acknowledged that the day of the coming attack would be Der langer tag - the longest day.
As luck would have it, Rommel was visiting his wife in Berlin for her birthday, assured that weather conditions would preclude an invasion while he was gone.
He was wrong.
Allied paratroopers kicked off the attack by jumping into the Cotentin Peninsula in the pre-dawn hours of June 6. The attack was originally scheduled for the 5th, but weather conditions were rough until a brief respite, which was predicted, on the 6th.
American, British, Canadian, French and other Allied troops assaulted the beaches of Normandy, France, in what was to be the largest sea-borne invasion ever attempted. The object was the liberation of France, and catching the Germans in a gigantic pincer between the Soviets in the East and the other Allies in the West.
It was an incredible gamble. An extensive but fake decoy army headed by George Patton had convinced the Germans that the attack would come at the closest point between France and England, the Pas de Calais. The Germans were reluctant to commit their reserve panzer units to the Normandy coast, because they were convinced it was just a feint - that the real deal would happen around Calais.
The deception worked. Gaining a foothold against incredible enemy resistance, the Allies broke out of the perimeter of the beaches in the coming days and liberated Europe.
The cost to the Americans was incredible. Countless lives were lost, and the bravery of our troops on that day was a milestone in history.
Here are some photos.
This is a shot of General Eisenhower briefing troopers of the 101st Airborne Division prior to their drop over France.
This is a picture of one of our amphibious boats approaching the shore of France.
Pictures of the actual invasion are few; bullets were flying everywhere, and few pictures survived the horrible battle. Here is one that made it. These are soldiers pinned down among the steel girders formed to puncture and trap the boats.
Casualties were high as our troops hit the beaches against nearly impossible odds.
In the U.S., the news broke everywhere. This is a picture of folks in Times Square viewing an electric display, anxious to learn of the outcome. Did we make it, or were we pushed back into the sea?
This is a picture of Pointe duHoc as it appears today, captured by American Rangers who scaled the cliffs below it through withering fire. The scars of battle still plainly show.
What was the cost? Let these two pictures give you a small idea.
These are German POWs burying our dead from the invasion.
Here is the American Cemetery today, overlooking the D-Day beaches. Please think on these brave men who gave their all on this day, 68 years ago. They should never be forgotten.
John
As luck would have it, Rommel was visiting his wife in Berlin for her birthday, assured that weather conditions would preclude an invasion while he was gone.
He was wrong.
Allied paratroopers kicked off the attack by jumping into the Cotentin Peninsula in the pre-dawn hours of June 6. The attack was originally scheduled for the 5th, but weather conditions were rough until a brief respite, which was predicted, on the 6th.
American, British, Canadian, French and other Allied troops assaulted the beaches of Normandy, France, in what was to be the largest sea-borne invasion ever attempted. The object was the liberation of France, and catching the Germans in a gigantic pincer between the Soviets in the East and the other Allies in the West.
It was an incredible gamble. An extensive but fake decoy army headed by George Patton had convinced the Germans that the attack would come at the closest point between France and England, the Pas de Calais. The Germans were reluctant to commit their reserve panzer units to the Normandy coast, because they were convinced it was just a feint - that the real deal would happen around Calais.
The deception worked. Gaining a foothold against incredible enemy resistance, the Allies broke out of the perimeter of the beaches in the coming days and liberated Europe.
The cost to the Americans was incredible. Countless lives were lost, and the bravery of our troops on that day was a milestone in history.
Here are some photos.
This is a shot of General Eisenhower briefing troopers of the 101st Airborne Division prior to their drop over France.
This is a picture of one of our amphibious boats approaching the shore of France.
Pictures of the actual invasion are few; bullets were flying everywhere, and few pictures survived the horrible battle. Here is one that made it. These are soldiers pinned down among the steel girders formed to puncture and trap the boats.
Casualties were high as our troops hit the beaches against nearly impossible odds.
In the U.S., the news broke everywhere. This is a picture of folks in Times Square viewing an electric display, anxious to learn of the outcome. Did we make it, or were we pushed back into the sea?
This is a picture of Pointe duHoc as it appears today, captured by American Rangers who scaled the cliffs below it through withering fire. The scars of battle still plainly show.
What was the cost? Let these two pictures give you a small idea.
These are German POWs burying our dead from the invasion.
Here is the American Cemetery today, overlooking the D-Day beaches. Please think on these brave men who gave their all on this day, 68 years ago. They should never be forgotten.
John
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