March 6, 2005

D-Day + 61 Years

61 years ago, today, Allied troops began landing on the shores of Normandy. The day has been known ever since, around the world, simply as .... D-Day. Men from the USA, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, France, Poland and probably some I'm leaving out waded ashore from their landing craft. Many drowned under the weight of their field gear and weapons in water too deep to stand in. Others were killed by murderous machine gun and artillery fire before they ever touched the beach. The few in the first waves who survived the water, the machine guns and artillery, overcame the obstacles and made it off the beach faced days and weeks of hard fighting to keep those beaches. American, British and Canadian paratroopers came down behind the beaches and fought desperate battles in the darkness, often scattered and out of touch with their comrades. The greatest invasion fleet and landing force the world has ever seen brought about the beginning of the end that day, 61 years ago. -- Eric Cowperthwaite
Posted by Vanderleun at March 6, 2005 8:53 AM | TrackBack
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