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Preparing for D-Day

June 6, 1944: The Normandy Landings

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All Photos on the Invasion of Normandy

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Photo Galleries: Invasion of Normandy in 1944 appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17jkQeus3uQ

In this fascinating compilation of interviews, both German and American veterans from World War II describe their experiences of warfare on Omaha Beach during D-Day. Franz Gockel and Bruno Plota were German soldiers responsible for shooting U.S. soldiers as they dispatched from their boats onto the beach. Plota says, “The first ones to land were poor guys. The first ones almost didn’t…hardly any of them got through. None of them, you could say.” Veteran Bob Slaughter from the U.S. 29th Infantry Division talks about how American soldiers had to run about four yards of sand to attain cover from enemy fire. The highest amount of American casualties during the Normandy Landings occurred on Omaha Beach; Josef Schroder, a German machine gunner, describes the battle scene as “hell.”

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Germans & Americans Recall the ‘Hell’ That Was Omaha appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkb_462WxYU

Paratrooper Julius Eisner, pathfinder for the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division, describes his vital role during the Normandy Campaign on D-Day. Eisner explains that he and other pathfinders would parachute into Normandy and mark drop zones for other pilots. He describes all the chaos the operation entailed and the injury he suffered.

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One of the First on the Ground During D-Day appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB7D1YIlvrk

Warren E. Breniman was a U.S. Army staff sergeant and part of the 149th Engineering Combat Battalion that helped to invade Omaha Beach on D-Day. In this account, Breniman discusses the presidential citation his battalion received for their outstanding service during the invasion. He also talks about the obstacles that made it hard for them to reach the shores and the rough terrain that was constantly a problem.

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A Presidential Citation for Outstanding Duty appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgOQn-uHnjc

Dan Farley, part of the U.S. Company “A” 5th Ranger Battalion that landed on Omaha Beach during D-Day. He explains what it was like to be in combat and describes bullets whizzing by his body, as well as the lesson he learned that saved his life many times.

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A Lesson Learned on Omaha Beach appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b5ZTVVUJI0

Charles Sprowl, a veteran who served as an army technician in the U.S. First Unit Special Brigade, landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day with his unit. He describes the camaraderie that was created when landing on the beaches of Normandy during World War II. Sprowl explains that there was no such thing as segregation during times of battle because everybody was focused on working together for the common good of the country that they all love.

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WWII Vet: ‘When We Got to the Beach, There Was No Segregation’ appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ3F5FeF35Q

“I think adrenaline was such that you didn’t have the normal response to this kind of thing. You had an urgency…you had to start doing something and doing it quickly or you were in big trouble.” -Sergeant Bill Coleman

Paratroopers of the Easy “E” Company, 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, the “Screaming Eagles,” describe their D-Day jump around Utah Beach. Members of the Easy Company talk about the precarious jump and the confrontation that followed with the Nazis.

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Learn About the Elite ‘Screaming Angels’ on D-Day appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6Hx2zx0ZxE

Robert Baldridge, a corporal in the U.S. Army, describes what it was like to land on Utah Beach on June 6, 1944 and the days following the Normandy Landings. Baldridge explains what happened during the Battle of Mortain all the way to the Battle of the Falaise Pocket: “There were dead, wounded Germans all over the place…the stench of decomposing bodies that were laying all around you…” Tanks would have to go over these dead corpses in order to get around.

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From Utah Beach to Closing the Falaise Pocket appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO__qae2DgI

African-American soldiers reflect on the Normandy Invasion that took place on June 6, 1944. One veteran emotionally reacts to the cemetery that honors the Americans who fought on Omaha Beach at Pointe du Hoc hill. Allen Price describes being part of the 32 75th Quartermaster Company on D-Day: “Blood all over the place…You had nightmares. When I first came home, I had nightmares.” Price mentions how little Hollywood and other American cultural outlets have failed to highlight the brave service of African-American soldiers during the invasion of Normandy and World War II.

These interviews were conducted by makers of the 2008 Emmy-nominated documentary, “A Distant Shore: African Americans of D-Day,” produced by the History Channel.

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Two Thousand African-Americans Fought on D-Day appeared first on Witnify.

After hearing that decent weather may take place on the coasts of Normandy on June 6, 1944, Dwight D. Eisenhower–Supreme Commander of Allied Expeditionary Forces during World War II and future U.S. President–made the momentous choice to begin the Allied Forces advance into Europe on June 5. This invasion was called Operation Overlord and on that evening of June 5, Eisenhower composed the following message to be given to the soldiers the next day as D-Day began. He wrote: “We will accept nothing less than full Victory!”–Read the full statement below:

Eisenhower’s message to Normandy invaders. (June 1944). Source: World War II Database.

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[Text] Eisenhower’s Message to Normandy Invaders appeared first on Witnify.