Well, what a solemn day! Our hearts were heavy!
Firstly we asked, why did they call it D Day? D Day is a day chosen for an important event to begin. From then you can use -1 for the day before or +1, +2 for the days after. So, D Day for this event was the 6th June, 1944. The largest seaborne invasion in history which changed a world at war towards victory for the liberators although it still took another 18 months to end.
USA & British Commanders, Eisenhower, Montgomery, Bradley, Dempsey against German leaders Rommel, Rundstedt and Schweppenburg.
Operation Overlord was initiated in 1943. Five beaches along the 80 kms of Normandy coast were chosen points, we saw two of them: Utah Beach and Omaha Beach named after Operation Utah and Operation Omaha. 156,000 allied troops against 50,350 Germans, 170 coastal artillery guns and rocket launches. The German machine gun could fire 1,040 runs per minute. At the end of the day, 4,414 confirmed dead plus 185 German tanks. German loses not clear approx. 4,000- 9,000.
The day and times chosen were precise for the weather, tides and currents. Months before, the allies mislead the Germans through military deception as to the date and location of the landings, code named Operation Bodyguard. Knowing the beaches were heavily protected it was crucial for heavy aerial bombardment before the infantry arrived. Just after midnight 24,000 paratroopers were dropped. Aerial assault 0510. Infantry landing 0630. Unexpected fog hampered the aerial assault forcing fighter pilots to drop their bombs behind their targets. Paratroopers were dropped up to 2 kms off their target zone. One, John Steele landed on the Saint Mère I’Église church steeple. He acted dead whilst watching his mates below being shot by Germans in the street.
Movie: The Longest Day’.
Amphibious vessels where blown east by strong winds and currents landing them on a beach which very few Germans were protecting. Resistance was minimal. Others landed where their bombers had missed, right in the firing line where they unknowingly believed their back up air artillery had bombed an hour before giving them free access. The waves were 12 feet high causing sea sickness in most of the men before they arrived on the beach. It was only the total surprise attack that shocked the Germans into submission and surrender. The bravery of the men to step over their dead mates, push through the obstacles of wooden stakes, metal tripods and barbed wire lining the beach, to within hours take German prisoners of war, shows shear guts and determination for a free world. Though the allies failed to achieve many of their goals on D Day, just to access the coast and drive Hitler back gradually liberating each country was a mighty feat. Hitlers tanks were far superior to the British or American tanks but America produced 49,000 and were able to replace their tanks quicker then the Germans.
Thank you to the brave men who gave their lives and the woman back home building the tanks, making the ammunition and components, supplying the food packs and a million other things! It’s insane! The world was insane! Together, we can change the world. The human race must stand up against tyranny at all costs.
13th Century Saint Mère I’Église Church
Paratrooper, John Steele plays dead hanging from this parachute off the St Mere I’Eglise church steeple watching his friends being shot by Germans.
Philip lit two candles for his mom and dad who met during the war years and spoke often of D Day.
Utah Beach ....
Andrew Higgins designed the ‘Higgins Boat’. Supreme Commander, Dwight Eisenhower said ‘Higgins was the man who won the war for us’.
Omaha Beach….
Three monuments known as ‘Les Braves’ now stand in the sand on Omaha Beach.
‘Les Braves’ ‘Wings of Hope’ : So that the spirit which inspired these men on June 6th, 1944 continues to inspire us, reminding us that together it’s always possible to change the future.
‘Rise, Freedom!’ : So that those who are against barbarity helps us remain standing strong against all forms of inhumanity.
‘Wings of Fraternity’ : So that the surge of brotherhood always remind us of our responsibility towards others as well as ourselves.
On June 6th, 1944, these men were more than soldiers they were our brothers!
USA Cemetery…..
174 acres given to the American people from the French government, free of payment or tax. 9,273 marble crosses are only 1/3 of those who died here. Others were taken home by their families. The marble Star of David represents our Jewish brothers. The Wall of the Missing lists approx. 1,900 soldiers. A small bronze rosette beside the name states the soldier was later found, identified and buried.
What does peace mean to us….
