D-Day - 73 Years Ago


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73 years ago today, over 5,000 ships, 11,000 airplanes, and over 150,000 Allied troops landed in Normandy, France fighting to end WWII in Europe.  After years of meticulous planning and seemingly endless training, for the Allied Forces, it all came down to this: The boat ramp goes down, then jump, swim, run, and crawl to the cliffs.  Many of the first young men (most not yet 20 years old) entered the surf carrying eighty pounds of equipment.  They faced over 200 yards of beach before reaching the first natural feature offering any protection. 

 

D-Day was originally set for June 5 but storms forced allied leader Gen. Dwight Eisenhower to postpone for 24 hours.  Without a break in the weather, D-Day would have to be put off two weeks until tides and moon were right again.  Allied meteorologists predicted that break, small though it was, for June 6. Eisenhower launched the invasion with a simple: "OK, we'll go."

 

By the end of the first day, Allied casualties have been estimated at 10,000 killed, wounded, and missing in action: 6,603 Americans, 2,700 British, and 946 Canadians.  Over the following days the Allies gradually expanded their foothold.  A failed German counterattack on August 8 resulted in more than 50,000 German troops being encircled by Allied forces near the town of Falaise, the tide turned, and the Allies broke out of Normandy on August 15.  Once out of Normandy, Allied forces advanced quickly and liberated Paris on August 25.  German forces retreated across the Seine five days later, marking the end of Operation Overlord.

Today, with mention of D-Day, we again thank the greatest generation for their sacrifices to keep us free.  Our mere thanks will never be enough for all they gave.

 

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Just a little extra....

 

What does the "D" in D-Day stand for?  Just "Day".  

 

Quote

In Stephen Ambrose’s D-Day, June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II, he writes,

 

Time magazine reported on June 12 [1944] that “as far as the U.S. Army can determine, the first use of D for Day, H for Hour was in Field Order No. 8, of the First Army, A.E.F., issued on Sept. 20, 1918, which read, ‘The First Army will attack at H-Hour on D-Day with the object of forcing the evacuation of the St. Mihiel salient.’” (p. 491)

 

In other words, the D in D-Day merely stands for Day. This coded designation was used for the day of any important invasion or military operation. For military planners (and later historians), the days before and after a D-Day were indicated using plus and minus signs: D-4 meant four days before a D-Day, while D+7 meant seven days after a D-Day.

Edited by Jim K
Updated for 73rd Anniversary
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On the morning of June 5, 1944, U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the supreme commander of Allied forces in Europe gave the go-ahead for Operation Overlord, the largest amphibious military operation in history. On his orders, 6,000 landing craft, ships and other vessels carrying 176,000 troops began to leave England for the trip to France. That night, 822 aircraft filled with parachutists headed for drop zones in Normandy. An additional 13,000 aircraft were mobilized to provide air cover and support for the invasion.

 

By dawn on June 6, 18,000 parachutists were already on the ground; the land invasions began at 6:30 a.m. 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 2,000 troops were lost and it was only through the tenacity and quick-wittedness of troops on the ground that the objective was achieved. By day’s end, 155,000 Allied troops–Americans, British and Canadians–had successfully stormed Normandy’s beaches.

 

For their part, the Germans suffered from confusion in the ranks and the absence of celebrated commander Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, who was away on leave. At first, Hitler, believing that the invasion was a feint designed to distract the Germans from a coming attack north of the Seine River, refused to release nearby divisions to join the counterattack and reinforcements had to be called from further afield, causing delays. He also hesitated in calling for armored divisions to help in the defense. In addition, the Germans were hampered by effective Allied air support, which took out many key bridges and forced the Germans to take long detours, as well as efficient Allied naval support, which helped protect advancing Allied troops.

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