December 2003      

D-day occurred on June 6, 1914. It was the attack on Normandy, France. According history, it was the largest single attack in the greatest military conflict. But people are interested in this battle for more than just that. Many people have fascination with this battle because of the surprise factor and the many disadvantage the Allies carrying out the attack had, the heroism involved in the attack and the precision it required to carry out such an event. In the first hours, thousands of troops were dropped on the shore. The British and Canadians on the Eastern shore, and the Americans on the West Beach. These were the first steps to victory.

OMAHA BEACH

Although the landing troops proved to be easy, German troops did not give them an easy time getting past the Atlantic Wall. Enemy positions that looked down from bluffs as high as 170 feet, and water and beach obstacles strewn across the narrow strip of beach, stopped the assault at the water's edge for much of the day. By mid-morning Lt. Gen. Omar Bradley, United States First Army commander, began to consider pulling back and landing the troops somewhere else, but by the night came the men had showed great bravery and initiative. However Bradley told them that they had to leave or stay and die. They all eventually did leave under the cover of allied fire. 

UTAH BEACH

They were dropped behind Utah Beach. However, many troopers missed their mark due to unforeseen problems. This caused them to be scattered across the Norman countryside. They then had to gather under the cover of darkness and get them selves organized. The scattering actually helped the attack in that with the paratroopers in so many places, the Germans never developed adequate responses to the air and water assaults. As in the OMAHA zone, at day's end the UTAH Beach forces had not gained all of their planned objectives. However, a lodgment was secured, and, most important, once again the American soldier's resourcefulness and initiative had rescued the operation from floundering along the Normandy coast.

Resources

Facts Sheet

The Normandy Invasion: The Story in Pictures

Markville American History
History Place Time Line