The Normandy Landings D Day

[dave]

I am sharing a post I made on the Alliance board.

The human cost of the Normandy Landings on June 6th are estimated at over 9,000 with about 2,500 fatalities.* Compare this fight with the destruction of Antietam^

Federal Casualties 12,400 and 2,100 fatalities

Confederate Casualties 10,320 and 1,550 fatalities





*http://www.ddaymuseum.co.uk/d-day/d-day-and-the-battle-of-normandy-your-questions-answered

^https://www.nps.gov/anti/learn/historyculture/casualties.htm



Read more: lbha.proboards.com/thread/5198/ww2-europe#ixzz4AqE6ldGY

[dave]

June 6, 1944 General Eisenhower's statement to the Allied Expeditionary Forces!

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Forces:

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944. Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned. The free men of the world are marching together to victory.

I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory.

Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

[carl]

For the home folks, the invasion removed all concerns
or doubts about the outcome of the war.

There are 2 days I can still recall with some details,
December 7, 1941 and June 6, 1944.

I was 13 and working at the Sioux Falls Swimming Pool
for $10.50 a week. At one of my days off, a friend
and I went to a movie in downtown Sioux Falls. As
we passed the shops and bars, the radios blared out
the news of the invasion. The people on the street
were in a happy mood.

I think the movie was "The Uninvited" with Ray Milland,
but couldn't swear to it.