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80th Anniversary of Normandy Landings.

Today marks the 80th Anniversary of the Normandy landings in France in World War 2. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history. This operation saw the liberation of France and laid the groundwork for the advance into Nazi Germany. Troops from these Countries all participated on the side of the allies and subsequently, lost men.

German casualties on D-Day have been estimated at 4,000 to 9,000 men. Allied casualties were documented for at least 10,000, with 4,414 confirmed dead.

Quote : The Normandy Invasion consisted of 5,333 Allied ships and landing craft embarking nearly 175,000 men. The British and Canadians put 75,215 troops ashore, and the Americans 57,500, for a total of 132,715, of whom about 3,400 were killed or missing, in contrast to some estimates of ten thousand.
The foregoing figures exclude approximately 20,000 Allied airborne troopers. Extensive planning was required to move all these troops.

The U.S. VII Corps sustained 22,119 casualties from 6 June to 1 July, including 2,811 killed, 13,564 wounded, 5,665 missing, and seventy-nine captured.

American personnel in Britain included 1,931,885 land, 659,554 air, and 285,000 naval—a total of 2,876,439 officers and men. While in Britain they were housed in 1,108 bases and camps.
The Allied forces for Operation Overlord comprised twenty-three infantry divisions (thirteen U.S., eight British, two Canadian); twelve armored (five U.S., four British, one each Canadian, French, and Polish); and four airborne (two each U.S. and British)—for a total of twenty American divisions, fourteen British, three Canadian, and one each French and Polish.

However, the assault forces on 6 June involved two U.S., two British, and one Canadian division.
Air assets included 3,958 heavy bombers (3,455 operational), 1,234 medium and light bombers (989 operational), and 4,709 fighters (3,824 operational), for 9,901 total and 8,268 operational. Allowing for aircrews, 7,774 U.S. and British Commonwealth planes were available for operations on 6 June, but these figures do not include transports and gliders.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy_landings

https://www.historyonthenet.com/d-day-statistics

To all of the allied Countries involved and their men who sacrificed their lives in the face of fierce resistance by the Germans in the cause of Freedom. :Kaleun_Salute:

Pvt Carlton W. Barrett

https://media.defense.gov/2024/Mar/1...D0439-013Y.JPG

Quote:

Medal of Honor citation
For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, in the vicinity of St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France. On the morning of D-day Pvt. Barrett, landing in the face of extremely heavy enemy fire, was forced to wade ashore through neck-deep water. Disregarding the personal danger, he returned to the surf again and again to assist his floundering comrades and save them from drowning. Refusing to remain pinned down by the intense barrage of small-arms and mortar fire poured at the landing points, Pvt. Barrett, working with fierce determination, saved many lives by carrying casualties to an evacuation boat lying offshore. In addition to his assigned mission as guide, he carried dispatches the length of the fire-swept beach; he assisted the wounded; he calmed the shocked; he arose as a leader in the stress of the occasion. His coolness and his dauntless daring courage while constantly risking his life during a period of many hours had an inestimable effect on his comrades and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.

:Kaleun_Salute: Sgt.(retired) Carlton W. Barrett was the only one (of 4) Medal of Honor Winners on D-Day to survive the war. He is buried in Chapel of the Chimes Cemetary at Napa,California.

In memory of all those brave men and women who risked their day that we might have a tomorrow.

I include my father who helped disembark the Canadians on Juno.

https://i.postimg.cc/HxQBh2KF/111.jpg

What is a little know but important fact in the D-Day Normandy landings?

One lesser-known but important fact about the D-Day Normandy landings is the critical role played by the weather forecast.
The Allied invasion was initially planned for June 5, 1944, but was postponed due to poor weather conditions.

https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIG1.GT6va...pid=ImgDetMain

The success of the landings hinged on precise conditions: a full moon for visibility, low tide for revealing German beach obstacles, and relatively calm seas for the amphibious landings. Group Captain James Stagg, the chief meteorologist for the Allies, advised General Eisenhower to delay the invasion by 24 hours, predicting a brief improvement in weather on June 6. This forecast was against the recommendations of some other meteorologists, but Stagg's accurate prediction allowed the invasion to proceed under better conditions than expected, playing a pivotal role in the success of the operation. If the weather had not improved, the landings might have faced even greater challenges, potentially altering the outcome of the war.

This year in particular, in retrospect it all seems like a huge waste. :sad: