Power point by Robert L. Martinez
Primary Content Source: Speaking of America: Vol. II, by Laura Belmonte
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On June 6, 1944, the Allied Invasion of
western Europe (known as D-Day or
Operation Overlord) began.
http://www.poorwilliam.net/al-060605.html
U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower
coordinated a huge force of 2,000 ships,
10,000 planes, 4,126 landing craft, and
hundreds of tanks and other vehicles in an
attack on the shores of Normandy, France.
http://www.old-picture.com/defining-moments/Eisenhower-Paratroopers-D-Day.htm
One hundred and thirty-two thousand
American, British, and Canadian troops
were transported across the English
Channel.
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They assaulted five beaches code-named
Utah, Gold, Juno, Sword, and Omaha.
http://www.bartcop.com/dday.htm
While the British and Canadian contingents
met little opposition, American forces
encountered fierce resistance, especially at
Omaha Beach.
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-eur/normandy/nor4o5.htm
U.S. soldiers from the 1st and 29th Infantry
Divisions, along with Army Rangers and
amphibious tanks, were ordered to secure
Omaha Beach.
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They sustained heavy casualties, but
succeeded in completing their mission.
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By late August, more than 1 million Allied
troops had landed at Normandy and swept
through France.
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After liberating Paris, they headed toward
the German border.
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Although supply problems and a reorganized
German army soon stopped the Allied
offensive, the D-Day operation turned the
tide of the war in Europe.
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In the following reading, Bob Slaughter, a
member of the 29th Infantry Division, recalls
landing at Omaha Beach.
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“We saw the bomb explosions…We were
twelve miles offshore…”
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“Prior to landing, friends said their so longs
and good lucks…The feeling amongst
most of the men was that the landing
would be a ‘walk-in affair’ …later we could
expect a stiff counterattack.”
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/s100000/s189986t.jpg
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“The [English] Channel was extremely rough,
and it wasn’t long before we had to help the
craft’s pumps by bailing with our
helmets…we were soaking wet.”
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“As the sky lightened…the smoking and
burning French shoreline also became
more defined…the huge guns of the Allied
navies opened up with what must have
been one of the greatest artillery barrages
ever.”
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“Twin-fuselaged P-38 fighter bombers were
also overhead protecting us from the
Luftwaffe [German air force] and giving us
a false sense of security.”
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“About two or three hundred yards from
shore we encountered artillery fire. Near
misses sent water skyward and then it
rained back on us…I thought, if this boat
doesn’t hurry…I’ll die from seasickness.”
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“About 150 yards from shore, I raised my
head despite the warning…Tracer bullets
were bouncing and skipping off the ramp
and sides as the enemy zeroed in on the
boat which had beached a few minutes
before us.”
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“Great plumes of water from enemy artillery
and mortars sprouted close by…We
expected A and B Companies to have the
beach secured by the time we landed.”
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“The ramp went down while shells exploded
on land and in the water. Unseen snipers
were shooting down from the cliffs, but the
most havoc came from automatic
weapons.”
http://www.worldwar2history.info/D-Day/images/d-day-med.jpg
“When I did get out, I was in the water. It was
very difficult to shed the sixty pounds of
equipment, and if one were a weak swimmer
he could drown before he inflated his Mae
West [life vest]. Many hit in the water and
drowned, good swimmers or not.”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88413766@N00/257668573/
“I noticed a G.I. running, trying to get across
the beach…an enemy gunner shot him. He
screamed for a medic. An aidman moved
quickly to him and he was also shot…both
of them screaming…both died in minutes.”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hawk914/533570705/
http://worshippingchristian.org/images/blog/d_day/dday6.jpg
“Boys turned into men…any who survived
would be frightened men…Discipline and
training took over.”
http://www.historynet.com/magazines/world_war_2/3029701.html
“For me it was time to get the hell away from
the killing zone and across the beach…I
gathered my courage and started running
as fast as I my long legs would carry me. I
ran low as I could to lessen the target…”
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“It was a long way to go, one hundred yards
or more. We were loaded with gear, our
shoes full of water…I tripped in a tidal pool
of a few inches of water, began to stumble,
and accidentally fired my rifle, barely
missing my foot. But I made it…”
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“I had gotten sand in my rifle, so I don’t
believe we had a weapon that could fire. I
felt like a naked morsel on a giant sandy
platter.”
http://www.29th.co.uk/photos/2006/normandy
“I took off my assault jacket and spread out
my raincoat so I could clean my rifle. It was
then I saw bullet holes in my jacket and
raincoat.”
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“I lit my first cigarette; I had to rest and
compose myself because I became weak in
the knees.”
- Bob Slaughter
29th Infantry Division
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