Some great pieces you've posted Alex and I’m with you all the way on commemorating the bravery of all those who fought in what in Britain we call the Second World War that for us lasted from 1939 to 1945. However as a Brit could I be so bold to offer a comment.
D Day was an 'Allied' forces invasion of five Normandy beaches, not by the US alone at Omaha and Utah. Countries involved in the liberation of Europe in varying proportion and capacity were : Britain, Canada, USA, Poland, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Norway, Czech and several others.
Frederick Morgan was the British head of the department which drew up the original C.O.S.S.A.C. invasion plan for Normandy, which Montgomery later revised and expanded upon and after which was known as, B.I.G.O.T. to include American involvement on two extra beaches located further west than originally planned. The USA was certainly involved in the planning for D Day particularly regarding US forces, but to a lesser extent overall than the British due to the fact that everything relied on British intelligence and knowledge of our own theatre of war. The plan relied upon British knowledge of the seas and the European mainland, British intelligence, counter intelligence and espionage, British code breaking (from Bletchley Park), along with the British spy network, cross and double cross and subterfuge that were all part of Operation Bodyguard which also incorporated Operations Fortitude North and Fortitude South). 85% of the seaborne Operation Neptune used Royal Navy assets and personnel, roughly 60% of air operations used Royal Air Force assets and personnel. Let's also not overlook the British ingenuity on such things as the two Mulberry Harbours (huge portable docks for resupply shipping), Hobarts Funny’s (specialised tanks), PLUTO (undersea fuel pipeline) and the indispensable, ubiquitous Bailey bridge.
And let's also not forget that the the pre-invasion buildup and start point for the invasion came from a Britain that had held fast despite standing alone against Nazi aggression for two years.
Eisenhower as SAC was American, but his second in command Arthur Tedder was British and the chief commanders of all invasion forces : Air Marshal Trafford Leigh Mallory (Air forces), Admiral Bertram Ramsay (Naval forces), and General Bernard Montgomery (Land forces), were British.
The combined allied invasion took place on Normandy beaches covering a stretch of coast roughly 56 miles wide east to west, named, from the east : Sword (Brit), Juno (Can), Gold (Brit), Omaha (US), Utah (US). There were also three airborne landings to take place during the night of 5/6 June, by the British 6th airborne in the east, and by the US 101st & 82nd airborne in the west.
British and Canadian, and later also Polish, armoured divisions were tasked with containing and destroying the eight German armoured divisions located in the Pas de Calais to the east, which allowed US forces to take and occupy the Cotentin peninsular and the port of Cherbourg.
Many brave people,both those in uniform and civilians lost their lives in seeking to free Europe from Nazi domination and we in Europe will be forever grateful to the sacrifice of the US personnel who fought and in many cases died in achieving such freedom.
As we say in Britain... lest we forget .. and that includes the sacrifice of all, of whatever nation, sex, colour and creed … we must never forget all who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Some great pieces you've posted Alex and I’m with you all the way on commemorating the bravery of all those who fought in what in Britain we call the Second World War that for us lasted from 1939 to 1945. However as a Brit could I be so bold to offer a comment.
D Day was an 'Allied' forces invasion of five Normandy beaches, not by the US alone at Omaha and Utah. Countries involved in the liberation of Europe in varying proportion and capacity were : Britain, Canada, USA, Poland, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Norway, Czech and several others.
Frederick Morgan was the British head of the department which drew up the original C.O.S.S.A.C. invasion plan for Normandy, which Montgomery later revised and expanded upon and after which was known as, B.I.G.O.T. to include American involvement on two extra beaches located further west than originally planned. The USA was certainly involved in the planning for D Day particularly regarding US forces, but to a lesser extent overall than the British due to the fact that everything relied on British intelligence and knowledge of our own theatre of war. The plan relied upon British knowledge of the seas and the European mainland, British intelligence, counter intelligence and espionage, British code breaking (from Bletchley Park), along with the British spy network, cross and double cross and subterfuge that were all part of Operation Bodyguard which also incorporated Operations Fortitude North and Fortitude South). 85% of the seaborne Operation Neptune used Royal Navy assets and personnel, roughly 60% of air operations used Royal Air Force assets and personnel. Let's also not overlook the British ingenuity on such things as the two Mulberry Harbours (huge portable docks for resupply shipping), Hobarts Funny’s (specialised tanks), PLUTO (undersea fuel pipeline) and the indispensable, ubiquitous Bailey bridge.
And let's also not forget that the the pre-invasion buildup and start point for the invasion came from a Britain that had held fast despite standing alone against Nazi aggression for two years.
Eisenhower as SAC was American, but his second in command Arthur Tedder was British and the chief commanders of all invasion forces : Air Marshal Trafford Leigh Mallory (Air forces), Admiral Bertram Ramsay (Naval forces), and General Bernard Montgomery (Land forces), were British.
The combined allied invasion took place on Normandy beaches covering a stretch of coast roughly 56 miles wide east to west, named, from the east : Sword (Brit), Juno (Can), Gold (Brit), Omaha (US), Utah (US). There were also three airborne landings to take place during the night of 5/6 June, by the British 6th airborne in the east, and by the US 101st & 82nd airborne in the west.
British and Canadian, and later also Polish, armoured divisions were tasked with containing and destroying the eight German armoured divisions located in the Pas de Calais to the east, which allowed US forces to take and occupy the Cotentin peninsular and the port of Cherbourg.
Many brave people,both those in uniform and civilians lost their lives in seeking to free Europe from Nazi domination and we in Europe will be forever grateful to the sacrifice of the US personnel who fought and in many cases died in achieving such freedom.
As we say in Britain... lest we forget .. and that includes the sacrifice of all, of whatever nation, sex, colour and creed … we must never forget all who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Couldn’t agree more - I am based in States so most often writing for Yanks but I’m a Brit. Stay tuned for more Allied stuff!
Look forward to it - as I wrote, I much applaud your pieces so that we never forget the sacrifice of so many.
I’m reading your book now. Powerful stories.