D-Day … 80 Years Later
I sometimes wonder how many know what happened 80 years ago in northern France. June 6, 1944.
From History.com:
On June 6, 1944, Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower gives the go-ahead for the largest amphibious military operation in history: Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of northern France, commonly known as D-Day.
By daybreak, 18,000 British and American parachutists were already on the ground. An additional 13,000 aircraft were mobilized to provide air cover and support for the invasion. At 6:30 a.m., American troops came ashore at Utah and Omaha beaches.
The British and Canadians overcame light opposition to capture Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches; so did the Americans at Utah. The task was much tougher at Omaha beach, however, where the U.S. First Division battled high seas, mist, mines, burning vehicles—and German coastal batteries, including an elite infantry division, which spewed heavy fire. Many wounded Americans ultimately drowned in the high tide. British divisions, which landed at Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches, and Canadian troops also met with heavy German fire.
But by day’s end, 155,000 Allied troops–Americans, British and Canadians–had successfully stormed Normandy’s beaches and were then able to push inland. Within three months, the northern part of France would be freed and the invasion force would be preparing to enter Germany, where they would meet up with Soviet forces moving in from the east.
Bearing Drift archived posts about D-Day….
–The D-Day Address Eisenhower Never Gave by M.D. Russ
–Part 2: D-Day Memorial Remembrance, Reading of Names of Those Lost on June 6, 1944 … Photos
-‘The Eyes of the World Are Upon You’ … D-Day 73 Years Later
–Remembering D-Day Through the Eyes of Evelyn Kowalchuk
–Roosevelt’s D-Day Prayer and Reagan’s Remembrance
