On June 6, 1944, the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada invaded Nazi-occupied France. “ D-Day” was the most massive military undertaking in history. Here are some interesting facts about that historic day.
D-Day was the 20th century’s best-kept secret. The Allies masked their plans with a years-long series of elaborate ruses including false news reports, planted intelligence, and false radio broadcasts designed to be intercepted by the Germans. The allies also created columns of make-believe tanks , fake troop encampments, and inflatable dummy warships.
.The Allies masked their plans with a years-long series of elaborate ruses including false news reports, planted intelligence, and false radio broadcasts designed to be intercepted by the Germans. The allies also created columns of make-believe tanks , fake troop encampments, and inflatable dummy warships.
The Germans believed the allies would attack the port of Calais because it was the closest point to Britain. Thus, Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower decided to strike at Normandy. Relying on natural light, the Allies needed a full moon for the invasion. On June 5, Eisenhower ordered the attack for the following morning, the last day of the full moon. Wet weather and brutal high winds would handicap the Allies, but the ominous skies convinced Germany’s military leaders that an attack was not imminent and kept German airplanes grounded.
The Nazis’ defense of the coast centered on “The Atlantic Wall,” the most robust military entrenchment ever built. The fortifications stretched from Norway to Spain, passing through Denmark, Holland, Belgium, and France. The wall was financed by the wealth the Germans plundered from the countries they conquered. Labor was provided by the POWs from those countries. 50,000 German soldiers manned the fortifications. The wall was so strategic that Adolph Hitler brought in revered Field Marshall Erwin Rommel to oversee construction.
Allied airplane bombardments began at midnight and simultaneously 24,000 paratroopers were dropped behind German lines to support the invading troops.
As dramatized in “Saving Private Ryan,” the allied troops suffered horrific carnage on the Normandy beaches. D-Day was just the start of the brutal Battle of Normandy which finally concluded on August 25 with the liberation of Paris.
The vaunted Atlantic Wall collapsed on D-Day. It was the beginning of the end for the Nazis.
Field Marshal Rommel, convinced that the sea was too rough for an invasion, had left for Germany to celebrate his wife’s birthday.
Hitler was the only leader authorized to order a to counterattack but he slept until noon. Nobody dared wake him which cost vital time for sending reinforcements.
TRIVIA
Yogi Berra participated in the invasion, as did author J.D. Salinger and civil rights leader Medgar Evers. Golf great Bobby Jones was forty when he successfully petitioned his Army Reserve commander to allow him to participate. British actor David Niven won a U.S. Legion of Merit Medal. Actor Charles Durning who won a Silver Star was among the only survivors from his Omaha Beach landing group. James Doohan, a Royal Canadian Artillery lieutenant survived six bullet wounds and lost his middle finger on Juno Beach. He eventually found fame as Scotty on “Star Trek.” Actor Henry Fonda enlisted at age 37and was a navel quartermaster on D-Day. He went on to star in “The Longest Day,” a D-Day epic.
In one of the most notorious episodes in Oscars ‘history, the masterful “Saving Private Ryan” lost to “Shakespeare in Love” for the 1999 Best Picture award. Shakespeare’s loathsome producer Harvey Weinstein employed backroom bullying to win the honor.
Heroes
Waverly Woodson was a medic for the only African American battalion to land at Omaha Beach. Despite being wounded during the landing, Woodson found a relatively safe space on the beach to set up a first aid station. He treated scores of black and white soldiers- removing bullets, patching wounds, and even amputating a foot. After 24 hours he collapsed of exhaustion but returned to his unit within three days. He was awarded a Bronze Star, but Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen has started a campaign to posthumously award Woodson the Medal of Honor.
General Eisenhower drafted a statement in case the landings failed. It read: “I have withdrawn the troops. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt, it is mine alone.” Try finding that type of leadership today.
Thanks to all the heroes who helped liberate Europe and thanks to all of you who have served.
Have a great weekend.
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