View Full Version : Good Morning...OVERLORD
Okla-homey
6/6/2006, 05:54 AM
June 6, 1944 Operation OVERLORD
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/2324/temp0uq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
62 years ago on this day in 1944, Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower gives the go-ahead for largest amphibious military operation in history: Operation OVERLORD, aka: "D-Day," the Allied invasion of northern France.
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/6906/88199eu0dk.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
By daybreak, 18,000 British and American paratroopers and glider troops were already on the ground. At 6:30 a.m., American troops came ashore at Utah and Omaha beaches.
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/8618/70x233x30lf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
British soldier reads Ike's letter provided to all invading troops after they had embarked for Normandy
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/6373/eisenhowerddayorder8nv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The letter he's reading
At Omaha, the U.S. First Division battled high seas, mist, mines, burning vehicles-and German coastal batteries, including an elite infantry division, which spewed heavy fire. Many wounded Americans ultimately drowned in the high tide.
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/3047/dday1thumb3qc.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
British divisions, which landed at Gold, and Sword beaches, and Canadian troops, landing at Juno beach, also met with heavy German fire, but by the end of the day they were able to push inland.
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/596/pp154155rev8qe.th.jpg (http://img147.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pp154155rev8qe.jpg)
Despite the German resistance, Allied casualties overall were relatively light. The United States and Britain each lost about 1,000 men, and Canada 355. Before the day was over, 155,000 Allied troops would be in Normandy. However, the United States managed to get only half of the 14,000 vehicles and a quarter of the 14,500 tons of supplies they intended on shore.
Three factors were decisive in the success of the Allied invasion. First, German counterattacks were firm but sparse, enabling the Allies to create a broad bridgehead, or advanced position, from which they were able to build up enormous troop strength.
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/1833/dday01klein1bq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Second, Allied air cover, which destroyed bridges over the Seine, forced the Germans to suffer long detours, and naval gunfire proved decisive in protecting the invasion troops.
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/7953/p47dday1hv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/3235/410260vf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
All Allied aircraft taking part were painted with black&white "invasion stripes" so troops on the ground would know at a glance they were "good guys"
And third, division and confusion within the German ranks as to where the invasion would start and how best to defend their position helped the Allies. (Hitler, convinced another invasion was coming the next day east of the Seine River, refused to allow reserves to be pulled from that area.)
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/4715/dsc000098bf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
WWII reenactor portraying one of the world's most dangerous men in 1944. A paratrooper of the 101st Airborne Division
While the operation was a decided success, considering the number of troops put ashore and relatively light casualties, improvisation by courageous and quick-witted commanders also played an enormous role.
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/5681/eveningstandard7pi.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The D-Day invasion has been the basis for several movies, from The Longest Day (1962), which boasted an all-star cast that included Richard Burton, Sean Connery, John Wayne, Robert Mitchum and pop star Fabian, to Saving Private Ryan (1998), which includes some of the most grippingly realistic war scenes ever filmed, captured in the style of the famous Robert Capa still photos of the actual invasion.
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7240/insane7zo9xr.jpg
walkoffsooner
6/6/2006, 06:02 AM
Good info. Thanks:)
TUSooner
6/6/2006, 07:02 AM
A Great Day in history. I think we tend to forget what a gigantic undertaking it was.
My soon to be f-i-l's dad jumped in with the 82nd, he was relating some good stories the other day. Props to all who serve!
I remember hearing much more about this as a kid growing up. This morning, there were stories on illegal immigration, same-sex marriage and the coincidental date in relation to biblical prophecy.
Not one word of our heros on the beaches of France.
Great post. Any chance of providing a weekly "this week in history" post? I would ask for day, but we all have to work (or some of us do). :D
I also recently read Dick Winters' latest book, what a leader he was.
TheHumanAlphabet
6/6/2006, 08:54 AM
June 6, 1944 Operation OVERLORD
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/6906/88199eu0dk.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/1833/dday01klein1bq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
My Dad was here...One of those LSTs offloading could have been the ship he was on. Dad said that the worst memory was when he was ordered to point his twin 50-cal. at the soldiers to make them disembark onto the landing crafts (a new revelation). The third or 4th wave was balking at loading up to go into Omaha beach. Don't say I blame them, but a 17-year old pointing a gun at soldiers, that's Fffed up.
Okla-homey
6/6/2006, 08:57 AM
My Dad was here...One of those LSTs offloading could have been the ship he was on. Dad said that the worst memory was when he was ordered to point his twin 50-cal. at the soldiers to make them disembark onto the landing crafts (a new revelation). The third or 4th wave was balking at loading up to go into Omaha beach. Don't say I blame them, but a 17-year old pointing a gun at soldiers, that's Fffed up.
No disrespect intended, but I doubt that was a lawful order if he was indeed told to do that.
TheHumanAlphabet
6/6/2006, 09:06 AM
No disrespect intended, but I doubt that was a lawful order if he was indeed told to do that.
It was an order (don't know if it was lawful from a courts martial point of view), the people were balking at going over the scramble nets. I don't think they would have fired, but the thought of turning guns on people...apparently after that, the people went down the nets...
BeetDigger
6/6/2006, 09:22 AM
A good friend of my parents was a paratrooper who took part in this. He took part in the 50th anniversary celebration 12 years ago. He was 70 at the time and he and a bunch of other paratroopers parachuted into France that day. Pretty cool that a bunch of 70 year olds were jumping. There were very few injuries to them. Remarkable considering their ages.
SoonerBorn68
6/6/2006, 10:45 AM
Damn, I knew Homey would have a great thread today & I slept in...
Here's a link to some WWII audio I put together.
http://www.geocities.com/soonerborn91/ww2/index.html
GottaHavePride
6/6/2006, 10:46 AM
My granddad was a paratrooper then. I'm not sure which division, though - he never, EVER talked about it.
picasso
6/6/2006, 11:06 AM
those pathfinders had some major brass wobblers. I'm talking about the guys who jumped before anyone else!
what a night and day that was.
mikeelikee
6/6/2006, 11:15 AM
Thanks Okla-homey, for that excellent reminder of this significant day in history. If you all haven't had a chance to see the series "Band of Brothers", I hope you can in the near future. It chronicles the exploits of "EZ Company", a brave group of paratroopers from the 101st Airborne Division, from training camp, through D-Day, all the way to Hitler's Eagle's Nest.
White House Boy
6/6/2006, 11:16 AM
May God bless all who have served.
King Crimson
6/6/2006, 11:42 AM
thanks Homey. i re-read about 100 pages of the Longest Day last night before hitting the hay.
Okla-homey
6/6/2006, 11:59 AM
I also recently read Dick Winters' latest book, what a leader he was.
Me too. Its superb. I think he was interested in correcting some stuff he didn't agree with in Ambrose's "Band of Brothers" -- not least of which was Ambrose's extremely negative treatment of Capt Sobel. Winters is no fan of the late Herbert Sobel, but he does give him credit for being the guy who got Easy comapny ready for its subsequent heroics. Like all of us, Sobel had strengths and weaknesses. His strength lay in his ability to get the most out of people. Unfortunately for him, his talents didn't include combat leadership...and even by Winter's account, he was an amazingly annoying and irritable guy.
picasso
6/6/2006, 12:09 PM
Me too. Its superb. I think he was interested in correcting some stuff he didn't agree with in Ambrose's "Band of Brothers" -- not least of which was Ambrose's extremely negative treatment of Capt Sobel. Winters is no fan of the late Herbert Sobel, but he does give him credit for being the guy who got Easy comapny ready for its subsequent heroics. Like all of us, Sobel had strengths and weaknesses. His strength lay in his ability to get the most out of people. Unfortunately for him, his talents didn't include combat leadership...and even by Winter's account, he was an amazingly annoying and irritable guy.
I looked through it the other night. Some great pics!
Ambrose tends to get picked on a little much. HE'S the frickin reason for the series!
The only real impression I got about Sobel is that he trained the men well, was a lousy field officer and a first class chicken****.
sooneron
6/6/2006, 12:28 PM
May God bless all who have served.
Here here!:)
1stTimeCaller
6/6/2006, 12:36 PM
Why is D-Day called D-Day?
Me too. Its superb. I think he was interested in correcting some stuff he didn't agree with in Ambrose's "Band of Brothers" -- not least of which was Ambrose's extremely negative treatment of Capt Sobel. Winters is no fan of the late Herbert Sobel, but he does give him credit for being the guy who got Easy comapny ready for its subsequent heroics. Like all of us, Sobel had strengths and weaknesses. His strength lay in his ability to get the most out of people. Unfortunately for him, his talents didn't include combat leadership...and even by Winter's account, he was an amazingly annoying and irritable guy.
That's why they got the dork from Friends to play him in Band of Brothers, spot-on casting.
Vaevictis
6/6/2006, 01:55 PM
No disrespect intended, but I doubt that was a lawful order if he was indeed told to do that.
Hmm. I was under the impression that at the time, summary execution was an option for cowardace in combat. (which that scenario could easily be construed as)
(I don't think it is under the UCMJ, but the UCMJ wasn't passed until 1950)
Hmm. I was under the impression that at the time, summary execution was an option for cowardace in combat. (which that scenario could easily be construed as)
(I don't think it is under the UCMJ, but the UCMJ wasn't passed until 1950)
In Winters' book he mentions an officer summarily shooting two soldiers who refused an order, and he wasn't punished for it.
Okla-homey
6/6/2006, 02:09 PM
Hmm. I was under the impression that at the time, summary execution was an option for cowardace in combat. (which that scenario could easily be construed as)
(I don't think it is under the UCMJ, but the UCMJ wasn't passed until 1950)
Even long before the advent of the UCMJ, the accused got a hearing. These were often styled 'drumhead courts martial" b/c they occured in the field and the drum was used as a writing surface for the hearing officer. I happen to own an original copy of a US Manual for Infantry published right after the War of 1812 in 1819 and there's nothing there empowering commanders to shoot guys who won't fight or desert BEFORE they get a court martial/hearing.
That said, I think I'm pretty safe in stating American forces have never summarily executed any American accused. Not even during the Civil War.
Now, we have popped a cap in a few "prisoners" a time or two -- although I don't endorse that sort of thing.
Vaevictis
6/6/2006, 02:11 PM
In Winters' book he mentions an officer summarily shooting two soldiers who refused an order, and he wasn't punished for it.
A lack of punishment doesn't by any means imply that an action is legal; we just assume it does. :)
Vaevictis
6/6/2006, 02:15 PM
I happen to own an original copy of a US Manual for Infantry published right after the War of 1812 in 1819 and there's nothing there empowering commanders to shoot guys who won't fight or desert BEFORE they get a court martial/hearing.
Neato. Good to know that.
Okla-homey
6/6/2006, 03:25 PM
In Winters' book he mentions an officer summarily shooting two soldiers who refused an order, and he wasn't punished for it.
Sometimes crimes aren't reported and stuff. Sometimes suspects aren't charged. Go figure.
1stTimeCaller
6/6/2006, 03:26 PM
seriously, why is it called D-Day? What's the D stand for?
Here.....now STFU. :D
Why was it called D-Day?
The 'D' in D-Day does not stand for anything, it's a just a name the military use when planning an event.
The military started planning the details of the invasion before they knew the date when it would take place. In order to organise things like when the troop ships should leave England they referred to it as D-Day.
Here's how it worked
In May 1944 they couldn't say:
"Captain Smith will set sail for France on 5 June" because they didn't yet know that the invasion was on 6 June.
So they said:
'Captain Smith will set sail at D-Day minus one.' Then all Captain Smith had to do was wait until someone told him the date of D-Day. He just deducted one day to work out the date he should sail for France.
The name D-Day has been used for many military operations, but it is now firmly associated with the Allied invasion of Normandy.
TUSooner
6/6/2006, 03:35 PM
Here.....now STFU. :D
Why was it called D-Day?
The 'D' in D-Day does not stand for anything, it's a just a name the military use when planning an event.
The military started planning the details of the invasion before they knew the date when it would take place. In order to organise things like when the troop ships should leave England they referred to it as D-Day.
Here's how it worked
In May 1944 they couldn't say:
"Captain Smith will set sail for France on 5 June" because they didn't yet know that the invasion was on 6 June.
So they said:
'Captain Smith will set sail at D-Day minus one.' Then all Captain Smith had to do was wait until someone told him the date of D-Day. He just deducted one day to work out the date he should sail for France.
The name D-Day has been used for many military operations, but it is now firmly associated with the Allied invasion of Normandy.
And the hour of the attack was "H-Hour"
Penguin
6/6/2006, 03:49 PM
What was the name of the minute of the attack?
What was the name of the minute of the attack?
M-Minute but nobody really knows what the M stands for.
1stTimeCaller
6/6/2006, 03:57 PM
:les: WHAT DOES 'VE DAY' STAND FOR????
just kidding. Everyone knows that VE Day is Victory over the Emperor Day and VJ Day is Victory over Jermany day.
TUSooner
6/6/2006, 03:59 PM
What was the name of the minute of the attack?
Some called it....
Tim
1stTimeCaller
6/6/2006, 04:00 PM
it's a meal, sometimes referred to as a Sader.
According to what Dick Winters has said, I think BOB nailed it. It was obvious he was a jerk, but they made the point in the series that Easy was far and away the most fit company in the 101st. They got that way b/c he drove them. Obviously the guy wasn't a good battle commander, but he was one heck of a drill seargent.
Okla-homey
6/6/2006, 05:02 PM
Here.....now STFU. :D
Why was it called D-Day?
The 'D' in D-Day does not stand for anything, it's a just a name the military use when planning an event.
The military started planning the details of the invasion before they knew the date when it would take place. In order to organise things like when the troop ships should leave England they referred to it as D-Day.
Here's how it worked
In May 1944 they couldn't say:
"Captain Smith will set sail for France on 5 June" because they didn't yet know that the invasion was on 6 June.
So they said:
'Captain Smith will set sail at D-Day minus one.' Then all Captain Smith had to do was wait until someone told him the date of D-Day. He just deducted one day to work out the date he should sail for France.
The name D-Day has been used for many military operations, but it is now firmly associated with the Allied invasion of Normandy.
I was taught D-day= "Deployment" day. "D+1," etc, are the days subsequent to the deployment of forces. The airborne forces went in on D(-)1. I have no idea why they tagged D-day to the amphibious assault, but they did. H-hour for this invasion was the hour planned for the initial wave of landing craft to drop their ramps and disembark the guys spearheading the assault.
Just saying.
Vaevictis
6/6/2006, 05:20 PM
I have no idea why they tagged D-day to the amphibious assault, but they did. H-hour for this invasion was the hour planned for the initial wave of landing craft to drop their ramps and disembark the guys spearheading the assault.
If I had to guess, it was because everything else that was being done was in order to support and ensure the success of the amphibious assault. Without securing the beach head, all you have is a glorified raid.
fadada1
6/7/2006, 07:43 AM
all i know, is that regardless of which d-day these gents participated in (normandy, sicily, iwo jima, anzio), they must've been scared ****less. it's hard to look back 60+ years ago and put yourself in that situation. even the guys that crawled up in a ball on the beach deserve more credit than most of us will ever deserve, receive, or achieve.
I was taught D-day= "Deployment" day. "D+1," etc, are the days subsequent to the deployment of forces. The airborne forces went in on D(-)1. I have no idea why they tagged D-day to the amphibious assault, but they did. H-hour for this invasion was the hour planned for the initial wave of landing craft to drop their ramps and disembark the guys spearheading the assault.
Just saying.
Why are you picking on me? Talk to the boys at the BBC. :D
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/find_out/guides/world/d-day_/newsid_3769000/3769413.stm
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