June 6, 20197 yr 75 years ago today the largest amphibious assault in world history was started, and helped trigger "the beginning of the end" for Nazi Germany and the Axis Powers of World War II. Allied forces included 7000 ships, 132000 soldiers storming the beaches, 23000 airborne troops dropped behind enemy lines, 12000 aircraft, and 10000 vehicles. On D-Day alone, Allied forces confirmed the death of 4,414 of their troops, and roughly 18,000 additional troops who were wounded in the assault.
June 6, 20197 yr SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE “Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! “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. The hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world. “Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is will trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely. “But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory! “I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory! Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.” - Dwight D. Eisenhower
June 6, 20197 yr Author Robert Capa was a Hungarian photojournalist, considered by many to have been the greatest combat photojournalist in history. He took part in the Allied invasion on June 6, 1944, attaching with the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, the "Big Red One". Completely un-armed, Capa was with the Big Red One when they stormed Omaha Beach, making himself the only civilian photographer to risk life and limb as part of the Allied invasion on D-Day. According to Capa, he took a total of 106 photos that day. Between water-logging of his equipment, and a photo-lab accident by in Life's darkroom in London, all but 11 of the frames were destroyed. The surviving frames are known as The Magnificent Eleven. Magnificent Eleven | imgur.com D-Day and the Omaha Beach Landings: The only photographer landing with the first wave on Omaha Beach, Robert Capa’s iconic photographs provide a unique documentation of the event
June 7, 20197 yr My dad was in the Normandy invasion on D-Day. He was 30 years old. He didn’t talk much about it but occasionally he would mention the horrible scene on the beach at the Omaha landing site and how some of the guys jumped out into water over their heads and had a difficult time, with some drowning. And after the beach was secured they had to dislodge the Germans from hedge rows. His unit eventually ended up meeting up with Russian soldiers at the Elbe River in Czechoslovakia. He passed away in October 1995.
June 7, 20197 yr We don't have too many WWII veterans left. I can't imagine being part of what these heroes did for the world.
June 7, 20197 yr Not Normandy, but my dad and one of his brothers were US Marines engaged in the South Pacific. I still have my Dad's "four island" belt buckle. Neither of them spoke much of it, but after their passing, their friends shared a lot of stories about the "Irishmen from South Memphis".
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