70 years ago the Allies launched the
Normandy invasion to retake Europe from Hitler’s 3rd Reich. This was the largest amphibious assault ever
staged by modern armies. 130,000 Allied
troops took part in the initial
report. By 4 July1944 over 1,300,000 had
been poured into Normandy.
They
were opposed by over 380,000 German troops Allied losses were computed at 120,000 killed
and wounded. German losses were
calculated to be 113,059 killed and wounded.
The
landing was in doubt for much of the first day.
Assaulting units were stopped by heavy German fire. Entire units became non-functional due to
casualties.
The numbers
can only begin to detail the courage and determination of the men who made the
long slog into the beaches in deep cold water, under continuous shelling and
nearly solid walls of small arms fire from an enemy well dug in and protected
by natural and man-made bunkers and shelters.
The courage
it took for men to leave the meager shelter of their landing craft and begin
the long walk to the beach head carrying 80 pounds of equipment in water neck
deep or deeper is beyond measure.
The men who
fought at Normandy and/or other amphibious assaults, are true American
Heroes. It is unlikely we’ll see their
match again.
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