World War II Daily: DDay to VEDay
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I will be observing the day by serving as the guest speaker today at the UDC's Confederate Memorial Day observances today in Staunton, site of a hospital during the war and burial place of 1,777 Confederate dead from the war. Those who died in the hospital were buried there during the war. After the war, the Augusta Memorial Association Ladies Auxiliary raised money to exhume the bodies of Confederate solders from the battlefields of McDowell, Cross Keys, Port Republic and Piedmont and consolidate them in Thornrose Cemetery. 49 Alabama soldiers are buried there.
The monument says, "Virginia forgets not any who died in her defense."
Monday I will attend the local VFW/American Legion ceremony in the US veterans' section of the local cemetery.
The monument says, "Virginia forgets not any who died in her defense."
Monday I will attend the local VFW/American Legion ceremony in the US veterans' section of the local cemetery.
Thank you for your posts CA and Tidewater. Very impressive and much appreciated. A solemn occasion for myself and my family as well.
I always feel very humbled and your posts have helped reinforce that I am not alone.
God Bless our fallen service members and their loved ones.
I always feel very humbled and your posts have helped reinforce that I am not alone.
God Bless our fallen service members and their loved ones.
Re: WWII: European Theater daily - 1944 (was Normandy Daily)
I turned nineteen at the University of Alabama. My biggest challenges were drinking beer and chasing girls.
Check out those dates. This Marine was 18 years old when he was killed. His nineteenth birthday was will two months in the future. So young.Memorial Day weekend - a weekend of reflection for me. Those who know me know I'm an avid smoker / griller - I refuse to do either on Memorial Day weekend. Nor do I buy stuff on sale. It's a weekend to remember the sacrifice of those who have given all for all of us.
My wife's uncle, killed in the battle for Iwo Jima, February 24, 1945.
I turned nineteen at the University of Alabama. My biggest challenges were drinking beer and chasing girls.
Saw a Vietnam vet in church this morning without a lower left arm. We - including me - sometimes forget the ones who lived, but carry the scars with missing limbs, other wounds, and mental scars of serving this country. And THEIR families and loved ones, too.
Check out “The Fallen of World War II” - an amazing video discussing the numbers killed during WWII.
https://vimeo.com/128373915
https://vimeo.com/128373915
For those on Facebook, I've restarted these as of today on a page dedicated to telling this story daily: https://www.facebook.com/WW2daily
I'm adding more info than before, more pictures, etc, so it won't be jus the same thing reposted as it was here.
I'm adding more info than before, more pictures, etc, so it won't be jus the same thing reposted as it was here.
Seriously sobering. Thanks for posting.
It may not have been the "War to end all wars." As WWI was supposed to be, but it seriously caused the world to hesitate and avoid a repeat. Hopefully the knowledge gained and the information we have will keep that "long peace" going for a good while.
With Veterans Day approaching, it seems like a good time to resurrect this. One of , if not THE best thread on this site.EDITED TO ADD: For those on Facebook, I've restarted these as of today on a page dedicated to telling this story daily: https://www.facebook.com/WW2daily
I'm adding more info than before, more pictures, etc, so it won't be jus the same thing reposted as it was here.
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I'm a bit of a WWII buff, particularly the European theater following D-Day. As this year is the 70th anniversary of this invasion, I thought it would be nice to do a short daily Facebook post outlining what happened, as if it were real-time. Sadly, most people today know little about WWII, so if nothing else, remembering these brave men and women who laid it all on the line in order to save the world could be educational for some, if not simply enjoyable.
I started on June 2nd and have stayed current, this post will be a 'catch up' post and from here on I will copy-n-paste what I post daily on FB here in this thread. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have in doing it.
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June 2, 1944: the date for D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy, is fixed for June 5. Originally June 4, it was acknowledged by Allied strategists that bad weather would make keeping to any one day problematic. German General Karl von Rundstedt, intercepts an Allied radio signal relating the June 4 date, and is convinced that four consecutive days of good weather is necessary for the success of the invasion - there is no such pattern of good weather in sight. The general becomes convinced that D-Day would not come off within the first week of June at all.
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June 3, 1944: the allied invasion of Normandy was scheduled for June 5, but the weather isn’t good and the forecast isn’t favorable. However, on June 3rd, an Associated Press report announces the invasion had begun. The teletype operator in the London AP office, Joan Ellis, was just practicing, but didn’t realize the machine was connected. The message read: “FLASH … EISENHOWER’S HEADQUARTERS ANNOUNCES ALLIED LANDINGS IN FRANCE.”
The message reached US. news bureaus at 4:39 p.m. Eastern time. The news spread and within minutes, the message was being blasted out of loudspeakers at baseball parks. At the Polo Grounds in New York for example, where the New York Giants were playing the Pittsburgh Pirates, the announcer called out: “We interrupt this game to bring you a special announcement. The Allies have invaded France.” Pandemonium ensued, and then a minute of silent prayer.
The same news of course also reached Moscow and Berlin.
Within minutes, however, the message was retracted. Since the German radar stations, patrol boats, and reconnaissance aircraft all failed to pick up any mass movement of ships, the damage was contained. Nevertheless, they too knew an attack was imminent, hampered only by bad weather.
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June 4, 1944: the Germans know the invasion is coming; they just didn't know where or when. An elaborate deception (Operation Bodyguard - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Bodyguard) has kept them guessing. This effort is so successful that even after troops storm ashore at Normandy, Hitler believes it only a feint with the real invasion to take place at Pas de Calais. On June 4, the largest amphibious force ever assembled leaves its English ports for the French coast. The weather does not cooperate, however, and storms force General Eisenhower to delay the effort for one day.
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June 5, 1944: as night falls on June 5th, the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions, as well a British division, begin Operation Overloard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Overlord). They are dropped behind enemy lines overnight and are to secure the roads the Allied forces are to take once the beaches are taken. Despite thousands of troops being dropped off-target, they are able to capture key areas in preparation for the main attack.
Earlier in the day, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who has doubts in the face of a "well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened" enemy, has written an 'in case of failure' letter. If the invasion of Normandy failed, this is the message he would be relayed to the public. Here's what it said:
"Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that Bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone."
*He accidentally dated the letter July 5. It should have been June 5 - he had a lot on his mind.
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June 6, 1944: 70 years ago today, the largest seaborne invasion in history began. By dawn on June 6, thousands of paratroopers and glider troops were already on the ground behind enemy lines, securing bridges and exit roads. The amphibious invasions began at 6:30 a.m. The British and Canadians overcame light opposition to capture beaches codenamed Gold, Juno and Sword, as did the Americans at Utah Beach. U.S. forces faced heavy resistance at Omaha Beach, where there were over 2,000 American casualties. However, by day’s end, approximately 156,000 Allied troops had successfully stormed Normandy’s beaches. According to some estimates, more than 4,000 Allied troops lost their lives in the D-Day invasion, with thousands more wounded or missing.
Less than a week later, on June 11, the beaches were fully secured and over 326,000 troops, more than 50,000 vehicles and some 100,000 tons of equipment had landed at Normandy.
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June 7, 1944: June 7th dawns with the allies securely in control of all five beach heads; even if the initial objectives have not yet been achieved. To the west of Utah and Omaha beaches, the American 82nd and 101st airborne divisions have established at least nominal control of large sections of land between Utah beach and the Merderet - Douve river. These units, having been parachuted in on June 6 in the dead of night, have suffered heavy casualties and are severely dislocated. By the morning of June 7th these units are operating at an average of one-third of their original strength. Despite this, by evening, the paratroopers are able to fully link up with the 4th U.S Infantry Division; having landed on Utah Beach at dawn, of the previous day (without major problems).
At Omaha Beach, the situation of the 1st and 29th American divisions, having landed at dawn of the previous day, is more critical. By June 7th, these divisions control only a small amount of territory; as such, the risk of being pushed off the beaches from German counter attack remains high. To the east, at Sword, Juno and Gold, the British and Canadians, while their landings were also difficult, are having an easier time of things. The Canadians remain in control of Anisy and Cainet, having fought off a major counter attack by the 21st Pz Division the day before. By end of day, the 6th Airborne Division have managed to take bridges on the Orne river and have linked up with elements of the British 3rd Infantry Division at Sword Beach.
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June 8, 1944: The Americans at Omaha Beach,and British at Gold Beach, finally link up on June 8; after the British capture Port-en-Bessin, North of Bayeux. Reinforced by the 2nd Infantry Division, at Omaha, and the 90th Infantry Division at Utah, US forces launch new offensives deeper inland. By this point, the 1st and 29th Infantry divisions at Omaha, have suffered heavy losses; yet they continue to push forward. The 29th Infantry, en route to Isigny, relieves the remaining 90 members of the 2nd Rangers Battalion at Pointe du Hoc; the Rangers having been cut off, on a narrow strip of coastline, for almost 3 days now. They also manage to liberate the villages of Grandcamp and Maisy. This allows the US to finally silence the guns at Maisy; which have been pounding Omaha beach since the invasion began. Of note on this day, were the actions Frank Peregory; who personally captured several tens of German soldiers and a machine-gun nest. For his actions, Mr. Peregory would later be awarded the Medal of Honor. By end of day, the US goal of linking the beach forces at Omaha and Utah, still has many hurdles to overcome. Yet, it is a vital part of allied plans to form a united front against the Germans.
The 4th Infantry Division, at Utah, attacks north towards the town of Montebourg. The capture of Montebourg, will put US forces one step closer to their ultimate goal of capturing the port facilities at Cherbourg to the north. Both side know that the capture of Cherbourg will give the allies a permanent point of entry into France for allied troops and supplies. As such, battles here, in the days to come, will be extremely bloody and fierce.
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June 9, 1944: The Allied forces land a considerable number of men and material. On the British side, the Germans position three divisions North-West of Caen: the 21st Panzer Division, 12nd S.S. Panzer Division and the Panzer-Lehr. These divisions are fighting the British soldiers of the 2nd Army who are supported on the ground by anti-tank guns and in the sky by devastating allied aircraft, which worries the German generals.
The counter-attacks of the Luftwaffe in Normandy are thin and failing: on June 9, BF 109 German fighters are announced near the village of Lion-sur-Mer. Immediately, American P-51 Mustang fighters push them back.
The American troops of the 7th Corps continue to attack the village of Montebourg in Cotentin, savagely defended by the German soldiers - the losses are big. Other units capture the locality of Azeville and silence the German battery which opened fire on Utah Beach. The 1st American Infantry Division, which landed on June 6 at Omaha, launches an offensive West of Bayeux: the villages of Tour-en-Bessin, Etreham and Blay are liberated. The 29th American Infantry Division on the way towards Carentan and captures the town of Isigny-sur-Mer after a long day of fighting. South-west of Isigny, the Headquarters of the 2nd American Infantry Division settles in the village of Formigny. Its forces progress to the South in direction of the localities of Trévières and Rubercy which are reached in the evening.
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June 10, 1944: It's now Saturday, and the construction of the Arromanches and Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer artificial harbors begin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulberry_harbour). The Bazenville airfield close to Bayeux and that of Cardonville in the South of Grandcamp and Maisy becomes operational.
American troops continue their offensive in the Northwest towards Cherbourg and Southwest of Utah Beach in direction of Carentan, which represents a major objective for the Ally, being the crossroads linking the Calvados and Cotentin regions. The 506th regiment of the 101st Airborne ( is on the way towards Carentan, just like the 327th Glider Regiment which captures the village of Brevands in the North-West of Carentan. South of Omaha Beach, the troops of the 2nd American Infantry Division capture the localities of Trévières and Rubercy.
By the evening of June 10 the Allies have lost nearly 15,000 men: killed, wounded, missing or POWs.
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June 11, 1944: American forces that landed at Utah and Omaha move towards the crossroads city of Carentan. The city is defended by Major Von Heydte and his parachutists who hold and defend the city. The 506th regiment of the 101st Airborne approaches Carentan coming from the North and circumvents the city to the West - they must seize the city in order to allow the tanks of the 29th American Infantry Division to cross it without being worried about snipers.
The British attack from Tilly-sur-Seulles to Villers-Bocage on the Caen-Vire road. They are practically stopped by the first German Tiger tanks arriving in Normandy: the S.S. Panzerbataillon 101. The German counter-attacks are generally ineffective, however, because of the Allied air superiority.
The Canadians of the 6th Armored Regiment are stopped by the German tanks South-west of the Mesnil-Patry village. The soldiers of the 51 Highlanders, on the sides of the 6th Airborne Division, defend their positions from the day before the German counter-attacks. The front seems to be stabilized here.
North-West of Caen, the 6th Battalion of the Green Howards liberates the village of Ducy-Sainte-Marguerite. South of here, three other villages are still in the hands of the German Panzer Lehr forces: Chouain in the South-west, Brouay and Audrieu in the South-east. The 7th Battalion of the Green Howards tries to bore in the South-west but does not manage to cross the line of fire set up by the Panzer Lehr (who gathered the day before). The Panzers inflict very heavy losses on the British who are hole up near the hill 103.
The British and Canadian troops progress South of Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer towards the village of Cairon, in the valley of the Mue. The men of the 46 Royal Navy Commando liberate the city after furious combat against the fanaticized German soldiers of the 12nd SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend. In the wake of the battle they liberate the villages of Lasson, Rots and Rosel.
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June 12, 1944: after a day of difficult street fighting, the 502nd and 506th regiments of the 101st Airborne (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/101st_Airborne_Division#World_War_II)manage to control a part of the town of Carentan by early evening. The American forces that landed in Utah and Omaha are now joined, in fact the five beachheads are now joined together and represent a 50 mile long zone from Sainte-Mère-Eglise in the West and to Ouistreham in the East, varying from 5-20 miles of depth from the shoreline. See map below.
The 1st American Infantry Division liberates the village of Caumont, 18 miles South of Omaha, gaining the benefit of high ground.
The British continue battling their way to Villers-Bocage on the Caen-Vire road. The majority of the German armoured divisions equipped with Tiger tanks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_I) are gathered North and North-West of Caen, and the British suffer heavy losses due to this particularly well-equipped tank.
As of midnight, June 12, 18 Ally divisions (8 American divisions, 10 British and Canadian divisions) are present in Normandy, representing a total of 326,547 soldiers, 54,186 vehicles and 104,428 tons of materials.
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June 13, 1944: overnight, the first V-1 rockets are launched on London.
The 502nd and 506th regiments of the 101st Airborne Division manage to liberate the totality of Carentan. To the south-west, the 175th American Infantry Division must control the high ground above the road connecting Bayeux to Saint-Lô - its units are pinned there by mortars and shootings of heavy machine guns which slow down their progression. The battleship Texas shelled the area with its 16-inch batteries without hitting the task force.
The 90th American Infantry Division liberates the locality of Pont-L’Abbe, while at the edge of the American and the British sectors, the soldiers of the 1st U.S. Infantry Division liberate the village of Caumont where the Americans fight the 2nd German SS Panzer Division.
On the British front, the battlefield sees a short lull. Montgomery uses this to reinforce his positions and he slows down the progression of his troops to the North of Caen (which is still not under Allied control). The "Desert Rats" (7th English Armoured Division) are attacked close to Villers-Bocage by the heavy tanks led by Michael Wittman. The British losses are so high that they abandon Villers-Bocage and retreat to the North.
The Germans, benefiting from this victory, counter-attack in direction of Tilly-on-Seulles and of Lingevres. But the British of the 49th and 50th infantry divisions fight back hard and the German armoured tanks of the Panzer Lehr Division are scattered. The counter-attack is transformed into an organized retreat, but Caen is still not captured and it seems that many days of intense fightings will be necessary for its liberation.
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June 14, 1944: the American forces begin to move towards the North of Utah Beach. The 9th Infantry Division, near the 4th Infantry Division, is ordered to liberate the town of Quineville - the German Regional Headquarters. They take it rather quickly, slowed only by German artillery. Cherbourg, which needed to be under the Ally control on June 14th according to the plans made back in May, is still held by the Germans. The 9th American Infantry Division progresses towards Valognes, despite heavy losses. The men of the 82nd Airborne Division attack in direction of the village of Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte.
North-East of Bayeux, on the beach of Courseulles (Juno Beach), General de Gaulle, chief of the Free French Army, lands after crossing the English Channel aboard destroyer "La Combattante", a ship of the Free French Navy. He meets General Montgomery at his Headquarters at the castle of Creuilly, then goes to Bayeux, which was liberated on June 7, where an immense crowd acclaims him and sings the "Marseillaise". He goes then to the towns of Isigny-sur-Mer and Grandcamp at the end of the afternoon, pressed by the Allies to come back as fast as possible.
The new government of the French Republic, called the Provisional Government, is installed in Bayeux.
Pictured below: General de Gaulle's return
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June 15, 1944: the rapid progression by US forces in the days following the D-Day landing has now slowed down in the face of solid German resistance. The principal objective of the Americans in the Cotentin peninsula is to capture the town of Cherbourg and its deep water harbor; even with the artificial harbours of Arromanches and Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer being operational on June 15, Allied High Command feels they will be insufficient to supply the campaign. It is absolutely necessary to capture a deep water harbor which will allow to accomodate huge transport ships of supplies, therefore Cherbourg is the objective number one in Cotentin. But the Germans understand the strategic importance of this city and its harbor and the reinforcements of their defense of Cherbourg start.
Before attacking Cherbourg in the North, the Americans decide to join the other end of Cotentin peninsula in order to cut the German reinforcements between the North and the South of Cotentin. They need sufficient soldiers to travel in the East all while maintaining the pressure towards North.
In Utah, the fourth American Army corps estimates that manpower is sufficient: the 7th Corps of the General Collins can divide Cotentin in two.
The British try to stop the German retreats by systematically bombarding the areas located on and behind the front line (which seems to remain more or less fixed). A line of cities and villages are attacked by the allied bombers, such as Evrecy and Noyers-Bocage. Benefitting from the effect of devastation of the bombardments, the British armoured units attack in the Villers-Bocage direction, but they are once again pushed back by the German Tiger tanks.
Below: the artificial harbour of Arromanches
To place this perspective, the Soviets lost 15,000 killed (military and civilian) per day, every day, for four years.
Between Sept 1939 and May 1944, the Wehrmacht lost 1,038,303 KIA.
Between June 1944 and May 1945, they lost 2,752,476 KIA.
In other words, many more killed in the last year of the war that the first four years.
German civilians dead from the air war (410,000), the fighting within Germany in 1945 (20,000) and, surprisingly, the expulsion and deportation civilians dead/missing (1,260,000).*
That war was a catastrophe for humanity.
* Wirtschaft und Statistik October 1956, Journal published by Statistisches Bundesamt Deutschland. (German government Statistical Office)
Between Sept 1939 and May 1944, the Wehrmacht lost 1,038,303 KIA.
Between June 1944 and May 1945, they lost 2,752,476 KIA.
In other words, many more killed in the last year of the war that the first four years.
German civilians dead from the air war (410,000), the fighting within Germany in 1945 (20,000) and, surprisingly, the expulsion and deportation civilians dead/missing (1,260,000).*
That war was a catastrophe for humanity.
* Wirtschaft und Statistik October 1956, Journal published by Statistisches Bundesamt Deutschland. (German government Statistical Office)
The one with the family is from Winfield, AL and was the first KIA from the invasion of Afghanistan. I grew up in Hamilton, which is close to Winfield, so I guess that's why the name was familiar to me: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Micheal_SpannYes.....have to remember the loved ones......
i've seen signs up around that area with his name on them. did they name a section of highway for him?
Maybe. We are typically on I22 the whole way, so I haven't been on 78 or other roads in the area is several years.
ill keep an eye out next time im up that way. i know i have seen his name around the haleyville area, but cant remember exactly where.
he graduated winfield the same year i graduated from haleyville
I remember it being all over the news in B'ham when he died. I had forgotten about the CIA part of it until I checked out that wiki link.
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