Monday, June 06, 2011

From the other side of the channel .....

6 comments:

ewok40k said...

This vid is unavailable...
Still, nice to think about the longest day... And young people that jumped from tha planes and from the landing craft into the channel waters to bring freedom to Europe.
Lady luck was with Allies if for not other reason that Rommel  choose that day for a home visit to family in Germany. Had he been in place, he would sent the panzers thundering down the beaches regardless of sleeping fuhrer. Would that be enough to turn the tide? maybe not, but it would make Omaha beach look like walk in the park.

Dave Navarre said...

The bad weather was a god-send for the Allies as it allowed not only Rommel to feel comfortable leaving Normandy, but also a significant number of lower-level commanders, who were assembling in Rennes for wargames. In particular, the commander of the 91st Luftlande Infanterie-Division, Wilhelm Falley, was killed in an ambush by American paratroopers when trying to return from those wargames. Thus, the strongest unit able to oppose the 82nd seizure of Ste-Mere-Eglise was leaderless for critical hours....

Love the video, Sal. I think it must be a mix of Dieppe and Normandy film, as the gliders do have the distinctive invasion striping, but no Germans were walking on Omaha with cameras. Even the "Beast of Omaha", Hein Severloh, would be in American hands by nightfall. The Nazi's had some darn good propaganda - even better than Baghdad Bob.

CDR Salamander said...

Sure it is .... Poland blocking Nazi prop films perhaps?

ewok40k said...

no idea, possibly... message was in english though.

sid said...

Fluttered into Bruxelles on Sunday...

As we crossed the channel (it was a shame it was cloudy), I offered up a meager prayer for those brave souls who crossed it in far less comfort lo those many years ago...In particular for those who remained Forever Young.

Wondering about this pretty city admiring the spectacular architecture that escaped that long violence (and admiring the earthy beauty of its fairer inhabitants), I just hoped that someway, somehow, those Souls can see it wasn't in vain....

SCOTTtheBADGER said...

Went over to McDonald's Monday night, to have a Rollo Flurry, and I commented to the woman in her 20's at the counter that it was the 67th Anniversary od D Day, and then I had to explain what the Invasion of Europe was.  Sigh.  I then went out to Super Valu to buy a frozen pizza for lunch,( being a night shifter, I stay up late on my days off, so Super Valu closes at midnight, and lunch is at 3:00), and mentioned what had happened to the 30 something at the cash register, and had to explain to her what the Invasion of Europe was.. Double sigh.

If anyone wants me, I'll be under the porch, drinking root beer, and mourning.