Before dawn on June 6, three airborne divisions-the U.S. 82nd and 101st and the British 6th-landed by parachute and glider behind targeted beaches. Allied naval forces, including the U.S. Coast Gueard, conveyed assault froces across the English Channel. Beginnin at 0630 hours, six U.S., British and Canadian divisions landed on Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword Beaches in history's greatest amphibious assault.
The U.S. 4th Infantry Division pushed inland from Utah Beach. To the East, on Omaha Beach, the U.S. 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions battles German resistance over a beach bristling with obstacles. To reach the plateau where Normandy American Cemetery stands, troops fought across an open area of up to 200 yards, and attacked us steep bluffs. By day's end, the Americans held fragile control of Omaha Beach.
On Gold, Juno, and Sword, British and Canadian divisions forged ahead. In less than a week, the Allies linked the beachheads and presses onward.
Over the next three months, the Allies battled German troops throughout Normandy. British and Canadians freed Caen. Americans liberated Cherbourg and staged a dramatic breakout near St. Lo. Allied troops, joined by French and Polish units, encircled and annihiated German troops at the Falaise Pocket while surviving units fled eastward. The way was now open to advance toward Paris and then to Germany.
1 comment:
Cool pics! Did we ever tell you that Ian's Grandpa was one of the ones that parachuted in on D-Day??
He got shot in the chin also. He was a true hero. Sadly he past away the day after Ian left for Aghanistan last year. He told us some amazing and sad stories from the war before he died. I will have to send you a link for the books that his War Experience was published in. Well, Have a good day...
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