6 June 1944
- Thread starter mandrill
- Start date
Speaking of technology, how did those troop and equipment carriers not get stuck when offloading at the shoreline? Was it like ramming a boat into the beach?
From the site page . "The invasion of Normandy was as much a triumph of technology as it was a feat of logistics or firepower."
One hope to make one day.
When/if I get there, especially Juno Beach and also see the graves in person, it will bring me to tears.
"Many men came here as soldiers"
"Many men are here to stay"
"Many men won't see the sunset"
"As they lived the LONGEST DAY!
JUNE 6 1944 Juno Beach THE CANADIANS landed!
God Bless Them ALL!
"Many men are here to stay"
"Many men won't see the sunset"
"As they lived the LONGEST DAY!
JUNE 6 1944 Juno Beach THE CANADIANS landed!
God Bless Them ALL!
In the weeks leading up to the invasion "navy frogmen" from both the U.S.N. and the R.N. (I don't know about the R.C.N.) took samples of the beaches at high tide (so they would be hidden underwater from German Troops) which enabled scientists/engineers to work out how firm the beaches would be for both troops and vehicles.
If I remember my history I think they only had a 3-4 day window to launch the invasion.
Omaha Beach in the American Sector was the bloodiest of the beaches, thank God that the other beaches did not nearly approach it in intensity.
What many people feel is the most realistic landing scene (Omaha Beach) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82RTzi5Vt7w
What many people feel is the most realistic landing scene (Omaha Beach) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82RTzi5Vt7w
That is my belief as well. As I recall among the critical factors were: A full moon which would provide illumination for aircraft pilots and have the highest tides. Also that the landings should take place shortly before dawn, and that it should be midway between low and high water on an incoming tide. There where also requirements for wind speed, visibility, and cloud cover.
It is in a beautiful location.
Both the CWGC and the ABMC manage these cemeteries with the utmost respect.
Both the CWGC and the ABMC manage these cemeteries with the utmost respect.
Not to derail the thread, but I've often wondered about the war cemeteries.
I've seen movies and pictures of the war dead being buried in mass graves. Just a bull dozer and trench and packed full of soldiers. They had no choice but to bury them as quickly as possible.
But then you see the cemeteries. It looks as if the headstones were laid out with a laser. And it the most remarkable places.
I can appreciate that a great many soldiers had "no known grave", but some definitely do.
What is the story behind this?
Did they dig up the mass graves at a later date?
I've seen movies and pictures of the war dead being buried in mass graves. Just a bull dozer and trench and packed full of soldiers. They had no choice but to bury them as quickly as possible.
But then you see the cemeteries. It looks as if the headstones were laid out with a laser. And it the most remarkable places.
I can appreciate that a great many soldiers had "no known grave", but some definitely do.
What is the story behind this?
Did they dig up the mass graves at a later date?
The Americans always brought their war deads home (or buried at sea) and their families can choose they be buried on that part of the Robert E. Lee estate known as Arlington Cemetery.
I don't know about mass graves.
But I can tell you that indeed individual graves were exhumed and those buried in them reburied both in ABMC Cemeteries and in CWGC Cemeteries. I know because I actually have photographs of the first temporary graves of relatives before they were exhumed and reburied in the current cemeteries.
