On June 6, 1944, more than 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline, to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which, “we will accept nothing less than full victory.”
More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day’s end, the Allies gained a foot-hold in Continental Europe. The cost in lives on D-Day was high. More than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded, but their sacrifice allowed more than 100,000 Soldiers to begin the slow, hard slog across Europe, to defeat Adolf Hitler’s troops.
This was a unique, never to be equalled day in history. It is good that you remind us of its significance. Too many people now living are shamefully ignorant about D-Day, its scope, and its implications. George Santana told us about the importance of knowing and understanding history. Americans are, I fear, ignoring his warnings.
ReplyDeleteCorrection: Santayana.
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