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KF5JRV > TODAY 06.06.19 13:37l 8 Lines 3354 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 37609_KF5JRV
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Jun 06
Path: IW8PGT<IZ3LSV<IV3SCP<IW0QNL<VE2PKT<N3HYM<KF5JRV
Sent: 190606/1133Z 37609@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA BPQ6.0.18
On this day in 1944, Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D.Eisenhower gives the go-ahead for the largest amphibious militaryoperation in history: Operation Overlord, code named D-Day, the Alliedinvasion of northern France.By daybreak, 18,000 British and American parachutists were already onthe ground. An additional 13,000 aircraft were mobilized to provide aircover and support for the invasion. At 6:30 a.m., American troops cameashore at Utah and Omaha beaches.The British and Canadians overcame light opposition to capture Gold,Juno and Sword beaches; so did the Americans at Utah. The task was muchtougher at Omaha beach, however, where the U.S. First Division battledhigh seas, mist, mines, burning vehicles—and German coastal batteries,including an elite infantry division, which spewed heavy fire. Manywounded Americans ultimately drowned in the high tide. Britishdivisions, which landed at Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches, and Canadiantroops also met with heavy German fire.But by day’s end, 155,000 Allied troops–Americans, British andCanadians–had successfully stormed Normandy’s beaches and were then ableto push inland. Within three months, the northern part of France wouldbe freed and the invasion force would be preparing to enter Germany,where they would meet up with Soviet forces moving in from the east.Before the Allied assault, Hitler’s armies had been in control of mostof mainland Europe and the Allies knew that a successful invasion of thecontinent was central to winning the war. Hitler knew this too, and wasexpecting an assault on northwestern Europe in the spring of 1944. Hehoped to repel the Allies from the coast with a strong counterattackthat would delay future invasion attempts, giving him time to throw themajority of his forces into defeating the Soviet Union in the east. Oncethat was accomplished, he believed an all-out victory would soon be his.For their part, the Germans suffered from confusion in the ranks and theabsence of celebrated commander Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, who was awayon leave. At first, Hitler, believing that the invasion was a feintdesigned to distract the Germans from a coming attack north of the SeineRiver, refused to release nearby divisions to join the counterattack andreinforcements had to be called from further afield, causing delays.He also hesitated in calling for armored divisions to help in thedefense. In addition, the Germans were hampered by effective Allied airsupport, which took out many key bridges and forced the Germans to takelong detours, as well as efficient Allied naval support, which helpedprotect advancing Allied troops.Though D-Day did not go off exactly as planned, as later claimed byBritish Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery–for example, the Allies wereable to land only fractions of the supplies and vehicles they hadintended in France–the invasion was a decided success. By the end ofJune, the Allies had 850,000 men and 150,000 vehicles in Normandy andwere poised to continue their march across Europe.The heroism and bravery displayed by troops from the Allied countries onD-Day has served as inspiration for several films, most famously TheLongest Day (1962) and Saving Private Ryan (1998). It was also depictedin the HBO mini-series Band of Brothers (2001).
73 de Scott KF5JRV
Pmail: KF5JRV@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA
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