70th Anniversary of D-Day - June 6, 1944
On this day 70 years ago Allied forces crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, beginning the liberation of Europe from Nazi control during World War II. As history.com describes it:
On the morning of June 5, 1944, U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the supreme commander of Allied forces in Europe gave the go-ahead for Operation Overlord, the largest amphibious military operation in history. On his orders, 6,000 landing craft, ships and other vessels carrying 176,000 troops began to leave England for the trip to France. That night, 822 aircraft filled with parachutists headed for drop zones in Normandy. An additional 13,000 aircraft were mobilized to provide air cover and support for the invasion.
By dawn on June 6, 18,000 parachutists were already on the ground; the land invasions began at 6:30 a.m. The British and Canadians overcame light opposition to capture Gold, Juno and Sword beaches; so did the Americans at Utah. The task was much tougher at Omaha beach, however, where 2,000 troops were lost and it was only through the tenacity and quick-wittedness of troops on the ground that the objective was achieved. By day's end, 155,000 Allied troops--Americans, British and Canadians--had successfully stormed Normandy’s beaches.
Check out one or more of the many books or documentaries about D-Day from your Milwaukee Public Library or borrow a copy of one of the fictionalized film portrayals recommended by USA Today film critic Claudia Puig in her article "5 great movies about D-Day, to remember June 6, 1944":
- Saving Private Ryan (1998)
- The Longest Day (1962)
- Where Eagles Dare (1968)
- Eye of the Needle (1981)
- The Americanization of Emily (1964)
and she also recommends a bonus TV miniseries:
- Band of Brothers (2001)