Today, June 6, is the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings. See the Wikipedia article for an overview. Arthur Seltzer, who was there, describes his experiences.
Don Sensing points out that success was by no means assured: the pivot day of history.
Two earlier Photon Courier posts: before D-day, there was Dieppe and transmission ends.
See Bookworm’s post from 2012, and Michael Kennedy’s photos from 2007
A collection of D-day color photos from Life Magazine
Neptunus Lex: The liberation of France started when each, individual man on those landing craft as the ramp came down – each paratroop in his transport when the light turned green – made the individual decision to step off with the only life he had and face the fire.
The Battle of Midway took place from June 4 through June 7, 1942. Bookworm attended a Battle of Midway commemoration event in 2010 and also in 2011: Our Navy–a sentimental service in a cynical society.
See also Sgt Mom’s History Friday post today.
The photo of the abandoned German mg placement in the series of Life color photos is haunting. I looked at it for several minutes imagining the moment the crew fled/got killed.
Thanks, David.
Interesting: a contemporary German analysis of the “systematic, almost scientifically conducted” Allied invasion. LINK
It’ nice to see Madam Gondree still looks well. Scroll to see her photo on Mark Steyn’s column. She made our lunch when we were there in 2006.
An interesting side issue. Apparently, Obama chewed gum all through the ceremony . I might not have noticed but others did and are annoyed. Another PR triumph for the home team.
Thank you for the link. Speaking of Dieppe, it is a little-known fact that the main reason the Dieppe raid failed was because British intelligence actually, intentionally told the Germans the date and place of the landing ahead of time.
Details here: British intelligence told Germans in advance of Dieppe raid.
“the loss was not because of daylight; it was because of the postponement. German forces were fully alerted and aware of the coming raid before the first ships appeared over the horizon.”
My understanding was that Mountbatten insisted the raid go on in spite of the risk of the German preparations. Since he was royalty, he got his way. He was also, to my understanding, much less effective later in the war when he was commander of Combined Operations and then the CBI front.