Friday, June 6, 2014

D-Day

The largest military invasion in history took place 70 years ago today.  American, British, Canadian, and other forces landed on the beaches of Normandy in occupied France, dealing the coup de grace to Hitler's dream of a racist empire.


The first wave of soldiers hits the beach.



Robert Capa's famous photo taken under fire of the first wave of American troops hitting the beaches in Normandy on June 6, 1944




General Eisenhower speaks to American paratroopers the day before the invasion.





A beach in Normandy several days after the invasion; an indication of the huge industrial build-up, unprecedented in size and speed, in the USA to prepare for the invasion.  The Allies were able to absorb huge losses in weapons and equipment that would have defeated armies earlier.





An anonymous American soldier lies dead on the beach.





Treating the wounded.





Allied wounded from the first wave of the invasion, June 6, 1944





American paratroopers with a captured German flag and helmet, June 9, 1944





70 years ago today and every day.





1 comment:

JCF said...

I think of the scene as depicted in "Saving Private Ryan": they drop the front gate on the landing craft, and the first (couple of?) ranks essentially get cut in two.

I just can't imagine being in that front row: "we who are about to die..."

War No More!!!