D-Day in Summary
D-Day occurred on June 6, 1944, and it is marked as the turning point in the war. On this day the Allies attacked Normandy, France to open a more direct attack to Germany. After D-Day, the Allies had a direct line of attack to Germany. Prior to D-Day, the only nation that could directly attack Germany was Russian but the Nazi's were taking a defensive position. "More than 11,000 planes prepared the way, attempting to destroy German communication and transportation networks and soften Nazi beach defenses." (Lapsansky-Werner, Levy, Roberts, and Taylor 687). After the air attack, the Allies attacked from the English Channel. Many of the troops did not die from gunfire but instead from drowning; several of the landing crafts dumped their occupants too far from shore and the soldiers drowned from the weight of their packs. As the troops ran to the beach several hit mines the Germans had previously planted and were killed. If the troops survived the the swim to the beach and the mines spread throughout they were met with gun fire. The Germans had put in place mounted machine guns along with mobile artillery.
A Quiet Place
It's quiet here ... so quiet
Standing on this hill
But if I stand here too much longer
My eyes with tears will fill
Looking down ... I'm there again
On that beach ... just down below
Far different ... to that morning
That I remember so
That beach ... it was a hell on earth
Where no man ... should ever go
I remember
I was down there
I should know
Don't cry now ... dear old soldier
That was many years ago
It's quiet here ... so quiet
Standing on this hill
But if I stand here too much longer
My eyes with tears will fill
Looking down ... I'm there again
On that beach ... just down below
Far different ... to that morning
That I remember so
That beach ... it was a hell on earth
Where no man ... should ever go
I remember
I was down there
I should know
Don't cry now ... dear old soldier
That was many years ago