The Great Crusade: 70 Years after Normandy

[Kaptlt.Endrass]

"You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, towards which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you...- Supreme Commander of the AEF, General Eisenhower

70 years later, this quote remains famous as the quote that started D-Day. It still inspires me as it must have the 160000 American, British, Canadian, Polish, and French that hit the beaches that fateful day. In rememberance of those who fought as the AEF, thank you; your actions and sacrifice have done what few would do.Your courage cannot be forgotten.

To the German troops and sailors; Your courage in the face of adversity is remarkable. Many did not fight for Hitler that day, but for your homes and families. May you rest in peace.

[Feuer Frei!]

the American, British, Canadian, Polish, and French
Netherlands, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, New Zealand, Norway, Australia to add.
cannot be forgotten.
See added countries.

10% of the invaders ended up casualties.

[Jimbuna]

"You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, towards which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you...- Supreme Commander of the AEF, General Eisenhower



....In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!

I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory! Good luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

6 June 1944

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-Supreme/USA-E-Supreme-F.html

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

While the D-Day Landings where the beginning of the end for the Third Reich, how many remember the Double Cross team and their double agents who before, during and after the landings at Normandy made the landings even possible? These men and women spread the web of lies and deception which made in what was known as Operation Bodyguard which was for the most part been largely forgotten due to the enormous scale of Operation Overlord but was one of the most critical parts of the whole operation. While both operations where successful, the Normandy landings could of been every different or even might have failed where it not for Operation Bodyguard. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Bodyguard

[Kaptlt.Endrass]

....In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!

I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory! Good luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

Thanks Jim. Couln't remember the rest at the time.

To Feuer Frei, I just named the main ones. I think it might take awhile@ to name EVERY single country that had a part.

[TarJak]

What's your definition of main? Having the greatest number does not mean having the greatest effect.

[Feuer Frei!]

To Feuer Frei, I just named the main ones. I think it might take awhile@ to name EVERY single country that had a part.

It didn't take long. I added them further down. :salute:

[HunterICX]

While the D-Day Landings where the beginning of the end for the Third Reich.

Operation Barbarossa marked the beginning of the end for the Third Reich, made obvious in Stalingrad and the nail in the coffin being the battle of Kursk.

However it did mark the beginning of Western Europe being liberated from the Third Reich and without their sacrifice probably the whole of Europe would've fallen behind an iron curtain.

A heads up for people with NGC today starts the 70th Anniversary Documentary for D-Day Called ''D-Day Sacrifice''

[Jimbuna]

While the D-Day Landings where the beginning of the end for the Third Reich, how many remember the Double Cross team and their double agents who before, during and after the landings at Normandy made the landings even possible? These men and women spread the web of lies and deception which made in what was known as Operation Bodyguard which was for the most part been largely forgotten due to the enormous scale of Operation Overlord but was one of the most critical parts of the whole operation. While both operations where successful, the Normandy landings could of been every different or even might have failed where it not for Operation Bodyguard. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Bodyguard

Operation Mincemeat was always of great interest to me:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Mincemeat

[Schroeder]

What's your definition of main? Having the greatest number does not mean having the greatest effect.
Let's not start nit picking over this topic please. It is clear that his post was meant for all participants.

Even I am grateful for the sacrifices that those men (and women) made as I would have wanted to live neither in a Nazi nor a communist state. :salute:

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

Operation Mincemeat was always of great interest to me:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Mincemeat I read the book by Ben Macintyre on that subject, he also recently released a book called Double Cross The True Story of the D-Day Spies which is a great read as well as Agent Zigzag.

@HunterICX Yes your right the battles of the Eastern Front where the beginning of the end for the Third Reich, I suppose I should of said that the Normandy landing helped put the some more nails in the Nazi coffin.

[Jimbuna]

I read the book by Ben Macintyre on that subject, he also recently released a book called Double Cross The True Story of the D-Day Spies which is a great read as well as Agent Zigzag.



Will look them up thanks.

[HunterICX]

@HunterICX Yes your right the battles of the Eastern Front where the beginning of the end for the Third Reich, I suppose I should of said that the Normandy landing helped put the some more nails in the Nazi coffin.

and made sure freedom and democracy where restored in most of Europe :salute:

[Oberon]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BpRkQnlCAAAdRdC.jpg

[Betonov]

One more interesting and not known fact.

Yugoslav partisans intensified their sabotages and raids weeks before the invasion to fool the Germans the invasion might come from an allied landing in the Yugoslav Adriatic coast, the soft underbelly of the reich.

I don't think the ploy was really that successefull but the intensified raids managed to occupy a division or two that could be put to better use in the East of Italy

[Oberon]

http://i.imgur.com/JrYzvfQ.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

That is Awesome! :rock:

[Kaptlt.Endrass]

What's your definition of main? Having the greatest number does not mean having the greatest effect.

By main I meant the major powers, not size. A wise man once said "I would rather have an army of sheep led by a lion behind me rather than an army of lions led by a sheep.

[Jimbuna]

Nice one Jamie :sunny:

[Oberon]

Right now, seventy years ago, US, British and Canadian airbourne units, along with their Rupert decoys, were dropping across the French countryside.

http://www.freeallimages.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/d-day-paratroopers-2.jpg

[Oberon]

And, on that related topic:
http://news.sky.com/story/1275656/veteran-89-recreates-d-day-parachute-jump

:salute:

[Oberon]

70 years ago right now, the bombardment of the beach defences has been going on for over half an hour, and there are signs of problems at Omaha already as the DD duplex tanks start to sink in rough seas.
In a few moments the venerable USS Texas will open fire, followed soon by the Arkansas, whilst over 300 RAF Liberator bombers fly overhead.

Die Invasion, sie kommen!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngKJMf3F6jo

[Jimbuna]

I felt sorry for that horse having to carry Goldfinger:)

[Biggles]

http://vcepinc.org/D-Day_files/image040.jpg

[Onkel Neal]

Let's not start nit picking over this topic please. It is clear that his post was meant for all participants.

Even I am grateful for the sacrifices that those men (and women) made as I would have wanted to live neither in a Nazi nor a communist state. :salute:

Well said.

One more interesting and not known fact.

Yugoslav partisans intensified their sabotages and raids weeks before the invasion to fool the Germans the invasion might come from an allied landing in the Yugoslav Adriatic coast, the soft underbelly of the reich.

I don't think the ploy was really that successefull but the intensified raids managed to occupy a division or two that could be put to better use in the East of Italy

Nice, thanks for that bit of info.


I want to throw in a special salute to the French. When Hitler invaded Poland, the French stood with Britain in declaring war on Hitler. France knew they would bear the brunt of the land war, and indeed they did, when Germany overwhelmed the French and British forces in 1940. The British had the Channel to retreat to so they might live to fight another day. America had the Atlantic (and were sitting it out as spectators in the great fight against totalitarianism), and Russia was too busy finishing off Poland and Finland to be bothered. But the French had nowhere to go. Can you imagine how hard it was to see Hitler in the City of Lights? Imagine if Hitler was cockily strutting around in Time Square or Hyde Park. Or Red Square.

Yes, I am proud of our forces, very proud. It swells my heart to think about the D-Day forces helping the French to recover their beloved land.

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

A little something I whipped up in IL-2. Airborne all the way!!:salute:
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1280x1024q90/840/k0jj.jpg

[HunterICX]

For me something that always stuck in my memories are the thoughts when I looked down the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc.

''Did they really climb up here to knock out the German here, they must've been mad''

They wheren't mad...they where the brave men of the 2nd Ranger Group, isolated from the rest of the Allied Forces and held of the German Counter attacks for 2 days.

http://i.imgur.com/bQLiOg7.jpg

:salute:

[Alex]

Alex

This thread was created in honour of all those (your own countrymen included) who took part in freeing Europe of tyrannical rule. In honour of all those who made the ultimate sacrifice and never returned home to their families and loved ones.

Many here (myself included) have family who actually took part and are rightly proud of them.

I suspect you knew before posting there would be a reaction from members here and in response to that I have deleted your post and hope you will come to the realisation this is not the time or place to post what you have.

If you feel strongly enough about what happened on this day or what has happened since I think it best if you start a new thread and the moderation rules will be applied equitably as they do to all threads and posts in this forum.

Respect is a two way street and on this day rightly so.

[Dread Knot]

Being the 70th anniversary, I imagine it's possibly the last return for these cull'd and choice drawn-cavaliers. Salute. :salute:

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/75342000/jpg/_75342503_022565727-1.jpg

[vienna]

A local university (USC) library recently found some old local radio recordings in its collection and a local radio station has aired a couple of D-Day transmissions:

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/06/06/knx-1070-newsradio-airs-d-day-recordings-for-1st-time-since-original-broadcast/


<O>

[Oberon]

A little something I whipped up in IL-2. Airborne all the way!!:salute:


That is fantastic. :yep:

[Mittelwaechter]

Engelbert, what happened to the girl at your school?

[Schroeder]

Engelbert, what happened to the girl at your school?
Should I understand this?:hmm2:

[mapuc]

The Danish Queen said said someting important in her speech

Every year we have honored the Danish Resistance men. We have, however, forgotten those who gave their lives in the cold North Atlantic ocean by transporting weapons and ammo.

Markus

[mapuc]

A friend of mine posted a picture with a related text it had a F-word in it so I can't post it here.

A shame

I can give you the text cleaned

"An 83 year old British Gentleman arrived in Paris by plane. As he was fumbling in his bag for his passport. A stern French Lady asked if he had been to France before. He admitted he had indeed been previously. The Lady sarcastically said then you should known to have your Passport out and waiting Sir.

The Gentle man said I didn't have to show it last time. Impossible the Lady said you British have always had to show your Passport to get through here.

The man responded by whispering

"Well when I came ashore on the beach on D-Day in 1944 I couldn't find any Frenchmen to Show it to."

The last sentence said it

First you do show respect for the elder and furthermore if you meet an so old Englishman you can be sure that he have probably been fighting in WWII

Markus

[Alex]

Alex

This thread was created in honour of all those (your own countrymen included) who took part in freeing Europe of tyrannical rule. In honour of all those who made the ultimate sacrifice and never returned home to their families and loved ones.

Many here (myself included) have family who actually took part and are rightly proud of them.

I suspect you knew before posting there would be a reaction from members here and in response to that I have deleted your post and hope you will come to the realisation this is not the time or place to post what you have.

If you feel strongly enough about what happened on this day or what has happened since I think it best if you start a new thread and the moderation rules will be applied equitably as they do to all threads and posts in this forum.

Respect is a two way street and on this day rightly so.
Aw, too bad, really...
And yet everything I said was told in a correct and respectful way... :hmm2:


Had I known that my post would be just deleted the way you did, I'd have gone all the way and would have mentioned sexual exactions of the GI's on the french womankind, since Americans were allowed to use and abuse of their position of liberators to enjoy french females in some not so recommendable ways.

Some of those liberators acted fairly with women in here.
But what's totally unbearable is the way those at the top in that so-called country of freedom basically used the free sex argument as a fair mean of recruitment to hire more people in the army, to the point quite a bit still keep bad memories of the american presence in France. Conduct your own researches, some american historians dared to destroy the myth of liberators. Many boys were just sure that french flesh was very frivolous, and the US high command kind of sold the landings in Normandy like erotic adventures, pretty much the only way to galvanize little soldiers to be sent on the beaches to face that hellish german steel storm which so much poor young men just have not been able to cope with and resist on the beaches...

And let's not forget to mention racism existed already at the time, so american headquarters decided to hang publicly black soldiers accused of raping - scapegoats of an army based on racial segregation, at the time at least - and...

Well, that's enough for now, I guess.
I can't put up with the way people see it all nowadays, I'm just tired to hear about that crap getting romanticized more and more as time goes by, each and every year.
But well.

[Stealhead]

Uh yeah what ever buddy.

I wish to congratulate you for your addition to the ignore list (you are the only one on it).

[u crank]

But what's totally unbearable is the way those at the top in that so-called country of freedom basically used the free sex argument as a fair mean of recruitment to hire more people in the army, to the point quite a bit still keep bad memories of the american presence in France. Conduct your own researches, some american historians dared to destroy the myth of liberators. Many boys were just sure that french flesh was very frivolous, and the US high command kind of sold the landings in Normandy like erotic adventures, pretty much the only way to galvanize little soldiers to be sent on the beaches to face that hellish german steel storm which so much poor young men just have not been able to cope with and resist on the beaches...


Alex, could you provide some proof for these claims. Links to credible and non biased sources if you please. If you can't some people might think you are making this stuff up.

[Kaptlt.Endrass]

Engelbert, what happened to the girl at your school?

We are currently in contact, but can't ask her out. I was very (un)intelligent as sign up for USMC summer boot camp.

[HunterICX]

I wish to congratulate you for your addition to the ignore list.

+1
Some just can't resist to post their bull on a day like this, ah well good riddance.

[Red October1984]

We are currently in contact, but can't ask her out. I was very (un)intelligent as sign up for USMC summer boot camp.

With the Young Marines? Or does the Corps run it? :hmmm:

EDIT: Sorry for the off-topic...

[Stealhead]

Pretty sure he means to say that he enlisted in the USMC and is going to boot camp some time this summer.

Probably did like me graduated high school and went to boot camp a few days later.

He is not there yet though he'd not be posting here if he where. He is regretting choosing to enlist at a point which requires attendance of basic training during the summer.

Actually this is a benefit as in the summer portions of days will assuredly get black flagged due to heat index in other words a little bit less PT still it will suck but it is what it is.

[Red October1984]

Pretty sure he means to say that he enlisted in the USMC and is going to boot camp some time this summer.

Probably did like me graduated high school and went to boot camp a few days later.

He is not there yet though he'd not be posting here if he where. He is regretting choosing to enlist at a point which requires attendance of basic training during the summer.

Actually this is a benefit as in the summer portions of days will assuredly get black flagged due to heat index in other words a little bit less PT still it will suck but it is what it is.

I doubt it since he's told me he's not done with high school yet.

Figured it would be something like what I do.... :ping:

[TarJak]

I doubt it since he's told me he's not done with high school yet.

Figured it would be something like what I do.... :ping:

I'd assume it will be one of these: https://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110515001936AA68Xhd

IIRC he said he was 14 yo so unlikely that he'd be accepted into the Corps yet.

[Red October1984]

I'd assume it will be one of these: https://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110515001936AA68Xhd

IIRC he said he was 14 yo so unlikely that he'd be accepted into the Corps yet.

Never heard of the Devil Pups. Heh. Nice naming.

Looks like a more boy-scoutish version of what I do. Cool though! :arrgh!:

I'd like to get out and do more of this kind of thing. I've been looking at Pathfinder School that's reopened for Civil Air Patrol here at Ft. Leonard Wood....or Hawk Mountain Ranger School... And at some point I'm going to go back to "our" boot camp and staff it as an NCO.

[Stealhead]

I have been reading a book containing the accounts of members of the 101st Airborne(entire division) during the Battle of the Bulge it is actually a 3 part series Normandy,Holland and Bulge. But reading it just makes me realize just how strange things turn out for one person to another in combat.

I saw a Marine officer who had been in Afghanistan say that war is all about centimeters and millimeters just a little difference one way or the other is the difference between surviving and dying victory and defeat.

Every major battle in history could have gone either way.

One of the most interesting aspects of D-Day was the general scattering of the airborne forces this was actually not the plan at all but in the end it worked out for the better that they did get scattered because it confused the Germans to some extent.A good fighting force can adapt when things do not go according to plan. which is about 75% of the time.

[Kaptlt.Endrass]

Pretty sure he means to say that he enlisted in the USMC and is going to boot camp some time this summer.

Probably did like me graduated high school and went to boot camp a few days later.

He is not there yet though he'd not be posting here if he where. He is regretting choosing to enlist at a point which requires attendance of basic training during the summer.

Actually this is a benefit as in the summer portions of days will assuredly get black flagged due to heat index in other words a little bit less PT still it will suck but it is what it is.

No, just in Devil Pups. If I had joined, I would not be looking forward to Parris Island this summer. Add the fact that I'll be trying for the SEALs first, I won't be going to that island.

Not that I disrespect the Corps.

[STEED]

From the other side..
The German soldier 'liberated' by D-Day

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-27730193

The events of D-Day are often recounted by Allied troops who took part in the invasion. But what was it like for a German soldier surprised by the sudden - and completely unexpected - arrival of the enemy?
Eighteen-year-old Private Helmut Roemer was the first German soldier to face the Allied invasion of mainland Europe. He was not on the beaches on the day itself, but inland on the night before, when the first airborne British troops attacked.

[Jimbuna]

Then Roemer and his comrades were shipped across the Atlantic to Halifax, Nova Scotia before being taken across Canada by steam train to a camp near Calgary.

This, Roemer says, was marvellous - like being on holiday.

I doubt many allied prisoners thought similarly.

[Schroeder]

I doubt many allied prisoners thought similarly.
I don't want to derail this but my grandfather almost starved as an American POW some time after D-Day so the feeling might be mutual.:-?

[Jimbuna]

I don't want to derail this but my grandfather almost starved as an American POW some time after D-Day so the feeling might be mutual.:-?

Herr Roemer appears to be the exception.

[Oberon]

Funny old world, part of my great-grandfathers duties when he (finally) got to Africa, was, as a MP to work at a POW camp, he wasn't there long but somehow he managed to get a Hitler Jugend knife and a Luger pistol which he brought back with him.

I just found this whilst reading up on POW camps in N.Africa, un-sure how true it is, but one of those interesting little tales, although I suspect the gentleman in question has since died:

There is today in England an extraordinary case of Fallschirmjäger Obergefreiter Hans Teske who still remains a PoW to this day! He was taken prisoner in Tunisia in 1943 and imprisoned in HillHall Camp (Camp 116) near Epping, Essex and during his time there made several escape attempts. At the war's end he did not want to return to Germany as his home was now in Soviet held territory so the British allowed him to live outside the camp on a 12 monthly parole basis. In June he applied for a transfer to Kent and the officials removed his name from the list in Epping but for some reason did not put his name on their records in Kent. When he discovered the error he asked for his name to be put on the repatriation list but was refused. He continued his protests and lobbied his local Member of Parliament and several German ambassadors but to no avail and in 1970 decided not to pursue the matter so technically he is still a prisoner of war to this day!
Oh, and to keep the thread on topic, here's a picture I found on my twitter today:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bpd8VCkCAAACtMX.jpg
Gliders passing over HMS Ramilles and Warspite

[Kaptlt.Endrass]

This is what I dislike about history. When the war is won and the treaty signed, few think of the defeated sides' account, and, though unbiased writers do it, the History texts I read glorify the 'good guys' or victor's wins, and the loser's (aka, 'bad guy') are simple two sentence paragraphs.

As Treyarch put it:
"History is written by the victor."- Capt. Price.

[Stealhead]

No, just in Devil Pups. If I had joined, I would not be looking forward to Parris Island this summer. Add the fact that I'll be trying for the SEALs first, I won't be going to that island.

Not that I disrespect the Corps.

Well first you have to complete Navy or Marine Corps Basic before you can try out for BUDs so that would be your second step.

[Red October1984]

Well first you have to complete Navy or Marine Corps Basic before you can try out for BUDs so that would be your second step.

Another thing is...living out on the West Coast he wouldn't go to Parris Island anyway.

MCRD San Diego is where he'd go. Parris Island is for the guys East of the Mississippi River.

[Alex]

Alex, could you provide some proof for these claims. Links to credible and non biased sources if you please. If you can't some people might think you are making this stuff up.
:(

http://img11.hostingpics.net/pics/4016284328.jpg


▶▶▶▶ http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_13?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=mary%20louise%20roberts&sprefix=mary+louise+r%2Caps%2C421 :yep:
(http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_13?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=mary%20louise%20roberts&sprefix=mary+louise+r%2Caps%2C421)

[u crank]

@ Alex. Thank you for that link.