D-Day

• Reference Guide

<!--/.content-head-nav-->
<!--/.clear--><!--/#content-head--><!--Introduction, images, essential facts-->
A landing craft loaded with soldiers heads for the Normandy coast. Many soldiers got seasick from the rough ride across the English Channel. (Reproduced by permission of Corbis/The Mariner's Museum)

American soldiers leaving the ramp of a coast guard landing boat during the invasion of Normandy. (Photograph by Robert F. Sergeant. Reproduced by permission of the National Archives and Records Administration)

Introduction

D-Day is the name given to the landing of 160,000 Allied troops in Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. The success of the invasion of Normandy was really the beginning of the end for **** Germany. The invasion, also called “Operation Overlord,” involved five separate landings by American, British, and Canadian troops and was commanded by American General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Stiff German resistance resulted in nearly 10,000 Allied casualties, but the Germans were ultimately unable to repel the Allied forces. Although German resistance continued even after all five beachheads were taken, they had too few troops in the area to be effective. By August 1944, all of Northern France was under Allied control as Eisenhower began to prepare for the invasion of Germany. <!--Essential Facts-->
Essential Facts

1. Many scholars have tried to explain the term “D-Day,” suggesting it stood for “decision day” or “disembarkation day,” but most likely it comes from the army’s use of the term to mean an “undefined day,” or the first day of any operation.
2. D-Day was originally scheduled for June 5, but the weather did not cooperate. The operation was pushed back to June 6, 1944.
3. The D-Day invasion involved 5,000 ships carrying men and vehicles across the English Channel as well as 800 planes dropping over 13,000 men in parachutes. A further 300 planes dropped bombs on German troops defending the beaches. Over 100,000 Allied troops made it to shore that day.
4. The most difficult landing of D-Day was at Omaha beach. Navigation problems resulted in many men drowning before they reached land. Omaha Beach also had the largest amount of German troops, and the fighting was fierce. It is the Omaha Beach battle that is reenacted in the opening of the movie Saving Private Ryan.
5. The success of D-Day was a death knell for the Germans. Hitler was forced to fight a two-front war against the Russians on the East and the Americans, British, Canadians, and French on the West. Within a year, Hitler committed suicide, and the war was over.

 

Thanks for the D-Day reminder / info, Space. An important day in our nation's history. Certainly worthy of a few moments to remember those who changed the course of history.

 

Thanks `Dave for your words.
I grew up with many senior citizens that were impacted or were involved during that era. My grandfather reminded me 2day that it was D-Day, and I thought many members may have family member's that were involved in this dangerous mission....It's sad that so many had to die or were seriously wounded ...It's sad that there are still so many that are still dying & getting wounded in the name of Peace in the Middle East...It seems never Ending in our World
We must remember, and give respect to those that have or are still risking their life to serve & protect.....4-Sure..
Wish you & readers Peace & Happiness in `Life...
"Peace ~>It is not `Free" 4-Sure

 

All soldiers from all theater of operations remain in my thoughts everyday!

the brave soldiers who stormed the beaches (Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha, Utah, as well as the Airborne assault) under the Disorganization, confusion, and the incomplete implementation of the set plans of action, are in my mind some of the bravest soldier this planet has ever seen!

i don't mean to demean any other soldiers by this statement, i personally believe anyone who fights for their country has a level of personal courage/bravery that no civilian in the world could ever know.

Army Media Player

 

Thanks Space.... Just looking at the videos of D-day on the military channel is terrifing can't imagine what it was like to actually be in the middle of it. I do have uncles thate seved in WWII one in the pacific and one in North Africa

 

It's interesting that someone as young as you are (relatively speaking) would have thought of D-Day today. I didn't even think of it myself, and I am... well, probably old enough to be your Dad. :O I can see why someone in another thread said they thought you were much older because of your posts.

Thanks for reminding us of the significance of the day.

 

Space was born already 50+ years old!

true story, ask him!

 

Good thread...Thanks to all those brave soldiers. What might have been had this not been resolved??

 

Definite thanks to all those brave soldiers. WWII history is a huge interest, kind of hobby of mine.

 

Thanks to our servicemen/women and happy birthday to me!