D-Day - June 6, 1944

From History.com:

Although the term D-Day is used routinely as military lingo for the day an operation or event will take place, for many it is also synonymous with June 6, 1944, the day the Allied powers crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, beginning the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control during World War II. Within three months, the northern part of France would be freed and the invasion force would be preparing to enter Germany, where they would meet up with Soviet forces moving in from the east.

With Hitler's armies in control of most of mainland Europe, the Allies knew that a successful invasion of the continent was central to winning the war. Hitler knew this too, and was expecting an assault on northwestern Europe in the spring of 1944. He hoped to repel the Allies from the coast with a strong counterattack that would delay future invasion attempts, giving him time to throw the majority of his forces into defeating the Soviet Union in the east. Once that was accomplished, he believed an all-out victory would soon be his.

On the morning of June 5, 1944, U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the supreme commander of Allied forces in Europe gave the go-ahead for Operation Overlord, the largest amphibious military operation in history. On his orders, 6,000 landing craft, ships and other vessels carrying 176,000 troops began to leave England for the trip to France. That night, 822 aircraft filled with parachutists headed for drop zones in Normandy. An additional 13,000 aircraft were mobilized to provide air cover and support for the invasion.

By dawn on June 6, 18,000 parachutists were already on the ground; the land invasions began at 6:30 a.m. The British and Canadians overcame light opposition to capture Gold, Juno and Sword beaches; so did the Americans at Utah. The task was much tougher at Omaha beach, however, where 2,000 troops were lost and it was only through the tenacity and quick-wittedness of troops on the ground that the objective was achieved. By day's end, 155,000 Allied troops--Americans, British and Canadians--had successfully stormed Normandy’s beaches.

For their part, the Germans suffered from confusion in the ranks and the absence of celebrated commander Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, who was away on leave. At first, Hitler, believing that the invasion was a feint designed to distract the Germans from a coming attack north of the Seine River, refused to release nearby divisions to join the counterattack and reinforcements had to be called from further afield, causing delays. He also hesitated in calling for armored divisions to help in the defense. In addition, the Germans were hampered by effective Allied air support, which took out many key bridges and forced the Germans to take long detours, as well as efficient Allied naval support, which helped protect advancing Allied troops.

Though it did not go off exactly as planned, as later claimed by British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery--for example, the Allies were able to land only fractions of the supplies and vehicles they had intended in France--D-Day was a decided success. By the end of June, the Allies had 850,000 men and 150,000 vehicles in Normandy and were poised to continue their march across Europe.

The heroism and bravery displayed by troops from the Allied countries on D-Day has served as inspiration for several films, most famously The Longest Day (1962) and Saving Private Ryan (1998). It was also depicted in the HBO mini-series Band of Brothers (2001).


[Image via Theodoresworld.net] 

Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima – Uncommon Valor Was A Common Virtue

Today marks the anniversary of the flag raising on Iwo Jima. Here is a clip from a World War II documentary showing video of the soldiers raising the flag. At the time, the photographer didn’t know he was capturing an image that would become so symbolic of the war itself. Sadly, he was tragically killed later that same day.

We take for granted that we can see images of men and women in uniform fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan on our evening news as part of a 24 hour news cycle. During World War II, most images of the war were relayed in newspapers or newsreels.

After the battle of Iwo Jima, Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN said, “The battle of Iwo Jima has been won.  Among the Americans who served on Iwo, uncommon valor was a common virtue.” Surely this is true of those who carry on the tradition and responsibility of military service today. Thank you to all the men and women who serve our country.

[Image via Sligocameraclub]

This Land is Your Land...Unless You're Japanese in America in 1942

On December 17, 1944 the U.S. Army announced it would be ending its policy of holding Japanese Americans in internment camps, allowing “evacuees” to return home.

President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942 which began the process of rounding up 120,000 Americans of Japanese heritage to be funneled into camps (Executive Order 9066). These Americans were sent to “relocation centers” in California, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado and Arkansas.

The call to push Japanese Americans into internment camps was fueled by farmers who competed against the Japanese for labor, politicians who catered to anti-Japanese constituencies, and the panic that resulted from the attack on Pearl Harbor. At a time when Norman Rockwell was painting his “Four Freedoms” the American government was denying basic freedoms to thousands of its own citizens.

In 1988, Congress passed legislation which repaid the remaining 60,000 camp survivors reparations of $20,000.00 each. I doubt that made any great difference to the survivors, who lost something in those years that can never really be quantified, namely, their dignity.

For more information on Japanese internment, including the condition of the U.S. camps and legal challenges to internment, click here.

For information on a PBS documentary on the subject, and more information on the camps, click here.

[Image via lasanddisorder.org]

Glenn Miller Disappears...

During the era of World War II, Glenn Miller and his band were one of the biggest musical acts in the world. He famously wrote such songs as “In the Mood” and “Moonlight Serenade” and was in high demand from the years 1939-1944. With the onset of the war, Miller disbanded his act and joined the army. He was put in charge of a band of service members whose job it was to entertain the troops. On December 15, 1945, Glenn Miller was ordered to fly from London to Paris to join his band. Miller was to lead his band in a performance for the opening of a new allied headquarters in Versailles. In the company of two crew members, Glenn Miller boarded a single engine plane to fly across the English Channel and was never seen again. His disappearance has become the source of much controversy and mystery.

Here is the BBC announcement of Glenn Miller’s disappearance.

There have been numerous explanations of Glenn Miller’s disappearance in the years since the end of the war. One explanation, generally acknowledged by the British military, is that Miller’s plane was probably struck down by friendly fire. When British bombers were returning home, they had to dump whatever bombs they had left over the channel in order to land safely. Some have argued that a fleet of English bombers were returning from an aborted air raid on Germany the same night that Glenn Miller and his crew were flying out from London. Since Miller was flying in a single engine plane, he would have been flying much lower than the bombers, putting him in harm’s way when the bombers dumped their unused bombs over the channel. Read more about this theory here.

Another theory suggests that Glenn Miller and his crew went down off the coast of France. Read more about this theory here.

For more information on Glenn Miller’s disappearance check out this site.

Take a listen to some of Glenn Miller’s best known songs including “Moonlight Serenade”

[Image via wikimedia]

A Day That Lives in Infamy: The 68th Anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor

On the morning of December 7, 1941, Japanese aircraft launched a surprise attack on the American base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The first wave of Japanese aircraft hit Pearl Harbor at 7:51 a.m. The shocking attack nearly devastated the American navy, as nine ships were destroyed and 21 were severely damaged. The most awful losses that day were not measured in steel tonnage, however, as the attack also resulted in an incredible loss of human life. Specifically, the attack resulted in 2,350 casualties.

I was not alive during the attack on Pearl Harbor, but I think all of us who witnessed the September 11^th attacks can relate to the feeling of panic that rises when Americans are attacked on our own soil. Today, I am thinking of those who served our country during World War II, including my grandfather, and all those who have continued to serve our country. I honor you today and everyday.

Here is some footage of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The site of the attack, which includes the final resting place of the U.S.S. Arizona, is now part of the National Park Service. Check out the park's website for more history of the attack and information about the preservation of Pearl Harbor.

[Image via rememberingpearlharbor]

Fighter Plane in Lake Michigan

Check out this great story reported by the Daily Mail (with great photos) of a World War II fighter plane that was pulled from Lake Michigan on December 1. The plane had been underwater since January 5, 1944, when pilot Walter Elcock crash landed in the lake during a training exercise. The 89 year old pilot was teary eyed when his grandson showed him footage of the plane when it was still underwater saying "I can remember it like it was yesterday." Now that the plane has been raised, it will be restored and exhibited.

[Image via NextstopDecatur]

Holocaust survivors reunite with their rescuers

This week a history teacher facilitated a reunion of Holocaust survivors with some of the World War II veterans who liberated their camp. Many had not seen one another since the day the concentration camp was liberated. Follow the link to read this incredible story.

Holocaust survivors reunite with their rescuers :: Today :: PostStar.com

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[Image via USAtoday]

American Airman's bracelet lost in World War II returns home

Check out this great story about American Airman Jack Glenn's bracelet that was found in Germany during World War II after his plane crashed. After so many years, it is finally being returned to his relatives. The story of the man who kept the bracelet all of these years is equally interesting.

Airman's bracelet lost in World War II returns home

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[Image via Flickr]

Happy V-J Day!

On August 15, 1945, the Japanese government announced that they would be surrendering, effectively ending World War II (the European Axis powers surrendered three months earlier). With this news, one of the bloodiest wars in our nation's history came to a close. On September 2, 1945, the Japanese and American officials gathered on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay where the Japanese signed the formal terms of surrender. President Truman declared September 2, 1945 to be the official V-J Day (Victory over Japan Day).

The news of Japan's surrender resonated around the world. Due to time zone differences, Japan's August 15th announcement reached the United States on August 14th. One of Life magazine's most famous photographs was taken on August 14th as news of Japan's surrender reached New York City. Photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt was wandering around Times Square taking candid photos of people reacting to the news of the war ending. Supposedly, he saw a sailor “running along the street grabbing any and every girl in sight . . . Then suddenly, in a flash, I saw something white being grabbed. I turned around and clicked the moment the sailor kissed the nurse." Eisenstaedt took four exposures of the kiss and printed what he believed to be the best one. This photo has come to represent the relief people felt at the end of one of the most violent and destructive conflicts in history, which resulted in roughly 300,000 American casualties. While most people probably aren’t aware of the terms of Japanese surrender, or can name those present at its signing, many people are familiar with this photograph. Eisenstaedt attempted to identify the nurse and sailor of this photo, but was unable to confirm either’s identity. A nurse named Edith Cullen Shain later contacted Eisenstaedt saying she was the nurse in the photo, and Life magazine believed her claim. The magazine then tried to find the sailor, which resulted in 20 readers claiming to be the man in the photo. To this day, the identity of the sailor is unknown. I think the photo is more interesting if we don’t know the identities or personal histories of the two people involved. That way, we can all be stands in for this moment in history, and imagine what it must have been like to either fight the war on the front or serve as a civilian at home, and to feel the relief of knowing that the war was finally over.

Images via Lest We Forget, NY Times, and Americanimage.net (Photographer: Alfred Eisenstaedt)