D-DAY, JUNE 6 1944
It is hard to conceive the epic scope of this decisive battle that
foreshadowed the end of Hitlers dream of Nazi domination. Overlord was
the largest air, land, and sea operation undertaken before or since June
6, 1944. The landing included over 5,000 ships, 11,000 airplanes, and
over 150,000 service men.
After years of meticulous planning and
seemingly endless training, for the Allied Forces, it all came down to
this: The boat ramp goes down, then jump, swim, run, and crawl to the
cliffs. Many of the first young men (most not yet 20 years old) entered
the surf carrying eighty pounds of equipment. They faced over 200 yards
of beach before reaching the first natural feature offering any
protection. Blanketed by small-arms fire and bracketed by artillery,
they found themselves in hell.
When it was over, the Allied Forces had
suffered nearly 10,000 casualties; more than 4,000 were dead. Yet
somehow, due to planning and preparation, and due to the valor,
fidelity, and sacrifice of the Allied Forces, Fortress Europe had been
breached.
-go to links-
[Of course there is no Google Doodle in commemoration.]
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