This day in History - Operation Overlord, 6th June 1944
 

59 years ago today, the largest military operation is history took place. It is hard to conceive the epic scope of this decisive battle that foreshadowed the end of Hitler's dream of Nazi domination. Overlord was the largest air, land, and sea operation undertaken before or since June 6, 1944. The landing included over 5,000 ships, 11,000 airplanes, and over 150,000 service men.

After years of meticulous planning and seemingly endless training, for the Allied Forces, it all came down to this: The boat ramp goes down, then jump, swim, run, and crawl to the cliffs. Many of the first young men (most not yet 20 years old) entered the surf carrying eighty pounds of equipment. They faced over 200 yards of beach before reaching the first natural feature offering any protection. Blanketed by small-arms fire and bracketed by artillery, they found themselves in hell.

When it was over, the Allied Forces had suffered nearly 10,000 casualties; more than 4,000 were dead. Yet somehow, due to planning and preparation, and due to the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice of the Allied Forces, Fortress Europe had been breached.

http://search.eb.com/normandy/art/oomahaa003p1.jpg

"As our boat touched sand and the ramp went down, I became a visitor to Hell." -- Pvt. Charles Neighbor, 29th Division

thanks, a very good read.

That's what won the war right there.

I'm not trying to start a debate, but we certainly did enter the war a bit late.

today is my b-day...not that it really matters. But yeah it was pretty bad back then and that wasnt the only event the allies had to deal with. I recall hearing that there were many ver very dangerous operations taht took place although none lost so many men at one time. I would thank those people who fought for the US.

well, just another overly glorified battle involve US.
The Soviets would have won anyways
Moving along

Interesting question: What would France and Germany be like today if D-Day had failed and we never opened a western front, and USSR 'liberated' them?

Not to pick nits, but the decisive battles for Europe were the Battle of Britain, the Battle of the Atlantic, Kursk. D-Day was impressive, but not decisive.

I would add Stalingrad to that list.

Stalingrad was the begining of when Germany began to loose the war and the Russians started to win.

D-day was a major event of WW2 that I can't imagine what it must have been like.

Kursk must have been completely insane however; 1 million Russians squaring off against 1 million Germans in a field with no quarter asked or offered.

"The scale of the Reich's losses in veteran soldiers, weaponry and equipment in the Battle Of Kursk was a decisive strategic blow to that nation. It made destruction of the Third Reich a certainty. Germany took 700,000 casualties at Kursk, Soviet casualties are uncertain, but an estimate of 1,000,000 may be accurate. The Soviets had quickly replenished their forces, and applied constant and menacing pressure on the retreating Ostheer inflicting further losses and misery. Germany could not replace its military losses. The Wehrmacht would never again be able to replace the quality forces it had squandered against the Kursk salient. The Third Reich was now incapable of defending her multiple borders."

Incredible