6th June

Amazing operation from inception, planning and execution but deeply tragic too. We owe our freedom to those brave that lost their lives making operation Overlord a successful.

Our thanks - Lest we forget.
 
I'm in the middle of reading D-Day by Stephen Ambrose. Anyone who has even the slightest interest in events of that day should read it, it's the only piece of work (be it film or written) that gives some perspective as to the massive scale and the tremendous amount of organisation that went into the operation.

Funnily enough, I've just finished the chapter entitled 'Visitors To Hell' - which is the story of the American forces at Omaha. The opening ten minutes of Saving Private Ryan are powerful enough, but that particular chapter of the book is even more powerful, without being too gory. Just the sheer sacrifice and waste on the beach that day is captured by Ambrose perfectly.

Made it my mission to visit the cemetery in Vierville at some point before the 75 year anniversary, if nothing else just to stand at the front of the graves and pay my sincere respects to those thousands of men who were a million times braver than I will ever be even in the face of almost certain death on Omaha.

June 6th always sits in my mind as a sombre day every year.
 
Thanks for this Ed.

Part of me wonders how long we can go on remembering this kind of thing, as the impact lessens with every passing year. I certainly hope it doesn't stop being remembered in my lifetime.
 
I watched Saving Private Ryan last night to remind me what it was like.
On Blu Ray on my 50" TV & the Awsome HD Audio Surround Sound.
The part where they storm the Beaches I had it on loud.... Wow so realistic.

RIP my Grand Pa who went through this day he was soldier on survived only to die of Cancer back in 1988 - I remember him telling me stories when I was a lad a Hero in my eyes and always will be.
 
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I can't begin to imagine being at the front of the landing craft boats, the door dropping and literally getting blown apart by gun fire.

It's bizarre, because those planning the operation must have been aware of the potential casualties and "signed off" on the acceptable losses. Something that would never happen today because we'd have to ask permission from the UN to even go near another country and wouldn't want to shoot anyone for fear of a breach of human rights!
 
Lest we forget. Words cannot express the gratitude we owe to those who put their lives at risk and made the ultimate sacrifice so that others could be free.

Also not forgetting those who helped the war effort from home, from women working in factories to produce ammunition to fire wardens patrolling the streets and the merchant navy who suffered heavy losses brining in food and supplies to the UK.

RIP.
 
Lucero said:
I can't begin to imagine being at the front of the landing craft boats, the door dropping and literally getting blown apart by gun fire.

It's bizarre, because those planning the operation must have been aware of the potential casualties and "signed off" on the acceptable losses.
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At Omaha where the worst losses occurred, the planners knew they would be facing big losses because of the layout of the beach and the german fortifications.

However, the pre-invasion air and naval bombardments were scheduled to render most of the fixed defences inoperative, and the infantry were told they would have a pretty clear run up the beach and the real fight would begin when they reached high ground and moved inland.

However, the air strikes were ineffectual due to cloud and the reluctance of the bomber crews to bomb blind for fear of hitting their own men, combined with the failure of the naval bombardment meant that every single german implacement was intact and operational when H-Hour ticked over. Hardly anything landed where it was supposed to and the whole beach was just one massive killing field.

How anyone even made it up to the seawall, then had the wherewithall to fight on from there is testament to the amount of bravery and sheer bloody-mindedness of those who were there that day.
 
andyp said:
I'm in the middle of reading D-Day by Stephen Ambrose. Anyone who has even the slightest interest in events of that day should read it, it's the only piece of work (be it film or written) that gives some perspective as to the massive scale and the tremendous amount of organisation that went into the operation.

Funnily enough, I've just finished the chapter entitled 'Visitors To Hell' - which is the story of the American forces at Omaha. The opening ten minutes of Saving Private Ryan are powerful enough, but that particular chapter of the book is even more powerful, without being too gory. Just the sheer sacrifice and waste on the beach that day is captured by Ambrose perfectly.

Made it my mission to visit the cemetery in Vierville at some point before the 75 year anniversary, if nothing else just to stand at the front of the graves and pay my sincere respects to those thousands of men who were a million times braver than I will ever be even in the face of almost certain death on Omaha.

June 6th always sits in my mind as a sombre day every year.
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Got halfway through that and still havent finished it. Its very informative.
 
andyp said:
I'm in the middle of reading D-Day by Stephen Ambrose. Anyone who has even the slightest interest in events of that day should read it, it's the only piece of work (be it film or written) that gives some perspective as to the massive scale and the tremendous amount of organisation that went into the operation.

Funnily enough, I've just finished the chapter entitled 'Visitors To Hell' - which is the story of the American forces at Omaha. The opening ten minutes of Saving Private Ryan are powerful enough, but that particular chapter of the book is even more powerful, without being too gory. Just the sheer sacrifice and waste on the beach that day is captured by Ambrose perfectly.

Made it my mission to visit the cemetery in Vierville at some point before the 75 year anniversary, if nothing else just to stand at the front of the graves and pay my sincere respects to those thousands of men who were a million times braver than I will ever be even in the face of almost certain death on Omaha.

June 6th always sits in my mind as a sombre day every year.
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Im just curious as to why you think its the only that gives perspective to the scale of the operation? Theres loads of great books on the subject, I didnt think D-Day (while it was a great book), did anything different from other authors who have tackled the subject.
 
My great grandad was a bomb disposal expert in ww2.

Rip to all the lives lost...

Lest we forget.
 
Magnificent achievement to get this done. Especially with the diversionary elements that went on as well. I have the deepest respect for all of them.

It's well worth a visit to Normandy around this time of the year. I did it a few years ago now and would love to do it again. The number of veterans who go is rapidly decreasing, so the opportunity to talk to some of these magnificent gents is going.

Things to do:
Pegasus Bridge - Amazing success story.
Omaha Beach Cemetery - Gobsmackingly huge
Arromanches - The Mulberry Harbour. In the evening they have a parade through the town. It's great. All the veterans get slightly boozed up too.
Bayeux Cemetery - British cemetery, but there are German graves there as well.
Caen Memorial Museum - One of the best museums that I've been do. Covers the cold war as well.
 
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