Thursday, June 6, 2013

D-Day - Invasion of Normandy, France


        On June 6th, 1944 a group of 156,000 daring and heroic men from America, Britain, and Canada invaded  Normandy, France to liberate western Europe from Nazi Germany control.  The battle started a operation that was code named Operation Overload.  During this invasion the forces landed on five beaches along a 50 mile stretch of heavily fortified coast.  As the map shows, the US first Army led by Lieutenant General Bradley was split into two forces one that attacked Omaha beach and one that attacked Utah beach.  The Canadians and Britains attacked Gold, Juno and Sword Beach.  A part of this operation was that there were tons of troops that fought which helped the mission succeed.  This invasion of Normandy did succeed therefore pushed back the Germans (Nazis) to Paris.  By the next spring Germany  was defeated.  This invasion was known as one of the largest amphibious assaults in history.                           Last summer I went to France with the Honor's Program I am in at Molloy College, and one day we went to Omaha Beach which is actually American soil.  Me and my sister collected a container of sand from that beach and still have it.  It was beautiful and we walked through the part of the cemetery and one of the girls with me found one of their relatives grave their.  I thank all of the soldiers who helped out and who died for their country during this invasion.  Some say that this invasion was the beginning of the end of war in Europe.  Thank You brave soldiers!