tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21673409428435680002024-03-05T11:32:53.200-08:00WarAbout D-Day, wars, world war 2, civil war, vietnam war, war, revolutionary war weapons, civil war weapons, world war 1, gears of war 2, union flag during the civil war, what country did we fight during the revolutionary war, star wars theme, cold war, civil war uniformsKaton Tin Tonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461029036338123501noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167340942843568000.post-53431313365431301872009-12-09T05:42:00.000-08:002009-12-09T05:45:21.857-08:00Tunku Anom a freedom fighter<div><br /></div><div><b>Helped win Kedah's independence from Siam</b></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73aw3MQw9oxJHdzGIp2sFL7mQN7hSQQ3JprlVLaQZJZQyP6NRGGXMuQJ690GIMV1ja2hIpx5XO-p8PyAKFA-V3cw9mqQxKSh8_EMk2U5FCXZwsXNFnYUM3K2d_K_DKXETRRLI4biRY5HA/s1600-h/makamtunkuanomti5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 350px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73aw3MQw9oxJHdzGIp2sFL7mQN7hSQQ3JprlVLaQZJZQyP6NRGGXMuQJ690GIMV1ja2hIpx5XO-p8PyAKFA-V3cw9mqQxKSh8_EMk2U5FCXZwsXNFnYUM3K2d_K_DKXETRRLI4biRY5HA/s400/makamtunkuanomti5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413231737656548802" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">A Hero's Resting Place -- Tunku Anom's tomb at the edge of Kampung Pulau Pisang</div><br /><br /><br />Story by Elizabeth John<br /><br /><br />ABOUT eight kilometres from Kubang Pasu's present administrative centre of Jitra lies the rustic Kampung Pulau Pisang where clusters of rambutan hang red and tantalising from tall trees and feisty cockerels rule the narrow lanes that wind and find their way between old wooden houses.<br /><br />Given this scene it might be almost unbelievable that this village was once the capital of a State called Negeri Kubang Pasu Darul Qiyam whose ruler is credited with winning Kedah's freedom from the Siamese.<br /><br />The story goes that when the Ligor (now Nakhorn Sri Tammarat) army of Siam attacked and took over Kedah in 1821, the Sultan of Kedah Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Halim Shah II (1804-1845) was forced to flee first to Penang and then to Malacca. Several unsuccessful rebellions later, there did not seem much hope to wrestthe State from the Siamese until Tunku Anom hatched a clever plan.<br /><br />Tunku Anom Tunku Abdul Rahman, the grandson of Tunku Ibrahim, Regent of Limbang and the nephew of Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin became well known after being selected as the chief of the delegation that sent tributes of Bunga Mas. In trying to recapture Kedah, the first step Tunku Anom took was to win the friendship of Phya Sina Nunchit who was the Siamese administrator of Kedah and the Ligor ruler's son. This Tunku Anom achieved by pretending to support Siam and Tunku Anom even gained a letter from the unsuspecting administrator recommending him to the ruler of Ligor.<br /><br />While he was gaining the trust of Phya Sina Nunchit, Tunku Anom was also training Malay fighters in Gua Kerbau, Bukit Keplu which is located in present day Kodiang. Then, leaving his fighters to prepare for an assault on the Siamese in Kedah, Tunku Anom, armed with his recommendation letter, presented himself at the Ligor Court. Proving a loyal servant to the Ligor ruler and impressing with his skills, Tunku Anom also won the trust and admiration of the ruler.<br /><br />While he was in Ligor, the Malay fighters launched their attack against the Siamese who were based in Alor Ganu, near Anak Bukit in Kedah. A struggling Nunchit despatched a letter to his father in Ligor seeking his assistance to put down the uprising. While support was sent to the aid of his son, the Ligor ruler offered to make Tunku Anom his representative in Kedah in the hopes of quelling the unrest there.<br /><br />However Tunku Anom refused the offer, afraid that if he accepted the position, Kedah would forever be under the control of Siam. As the fighting continued, the Siamese army in Kedah again requested help but due to the rising cost of the war, the loss of lives and the onset of disease in the Siamese camp, the Ligor ruler finally relented and gave Kedah its freedom.<br /><br />The tradition of sending Bunga Mas and Bunga Perak however continued but only as a sign of friendship.<br /><br />Tunku Anom returned to Kedah a hero and for his bravery, was given control of 24 districts in the State, in an area called Kubang Pasu. He named it Negeri Kubang Pasu Darul Qiyam and Pulau Pisang the administrative capital.<br /><br />Over the years, Tunku Anom developed a reputation for being a just and kind leader and Pulau Pisang flourished as a centre of trade and the padi industry. Unfortunately little remains to remind us of the old Negeri Kubang Pasu Darul Qiyam. Research papers in the State Library and Museum speak of a textile manufacturing centre that was set up near Pulau Pisang. Now this area is called Pulau Kain but there are no traces of the centre.<br /><br />While Tunku Anom's tomb is well marked, Kampung Pulau Pisang has not been given the honour of a signboard telling of its part in the State's history. The Sungai Tunku Anom which was widened during Tunku Anom's reign also does not have a special signboard or markings to indicate that it is part of this fascinating story. Fortunately we still have some reminders in the form of old land grants issued during the existence of the State.<br /><br />Tunku Anom ruled Kubang Pasu for 17 years and died in 1853. He was buried in Pulau Pisang, where his tomb can be seen to this day. It is said that Tunku Anom's grief over the death of his son, who had died before him, hastened the death of the ruler of Negeri Kubang Pasu Darul Qiyam.<br /><br />Upon his death, Tunku Anom's grandson Tunku Ishak was installed as the new ruler of Kubang Pasu. However Tunku Ishak turned out to be cruel and refused to listen to his advisers. As support from the people waned, Tunku Ishak was forced to return Kubang Pasu to Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Mukarram Shah III, Kedah's 23rd Sultan.Katon Tin Tonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461029036338123501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167340942843568000.post-61845592725373735952009-06-06T03:52:00.000-07:002009-06-06T03:56:49.580-07:00D-dayThe Normandy Landings were the first operations of the Allied invasion of Normandy, also known as Operation Neptune and Operation Overlord, during World War II. The landings commenced on June 6, 1944 (D-Day), beginning at 6:30 British Double Summer Time (H-Hour). In planning, D-Day was the term used for the day of actual landing, which was dependent on final approval. The assault was conducted in two phases: an air assault landing of American, British and Canadian airborne troops shortly after midnight, and an amphibious landing of Allied infantry and armoured divisions on the coast of France commencing at 6:30. The invasion required the transport of soldiers and materiel from the United Kingdom by troop carrying aircraft and ships, the assault landings, air support, naval interdiction of the English Channel and naval fire-support. There were also subsidiary 'attacks' mounted under the codenames Operation Glimmer and Operation Taxable to distract the Kriegsmarine and the German army from the real landing areas.[3] The operation was the largest single-day amphibious invasion of all time, with 160,000[4] troops landing on June 6, 1944. 195,700[5] Allied naval and merchant navy personnel in over 5,000[4] ships were involved. The landings took place along a 50-mile (80 km) stretch of the Normandy coast divided into five sectors: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. The Allies had previously invaded mainland Europe September 3, 1943 with the landings in Italy.<h2><span class="mw-headline">Operations</span></h2> <p>The Allied invasion was detailed in several overlapping operational plans according to the D-Day museum:</p> <dl><dd>"The armed forces use codenames to refer to the planning and execution of specific military operations. Operation Overlord was the codename for the Allied invasion of northwest Europe. The assault phase of Operation Overlord was known as Operation Neptune.Operation Neptune began on D-Day ( June 6, 1944) and ended on June 30,1944. By this time, the Allies had established a firm foothold in Normandy. Operation Overlord also began on D-Day, and continued until Allied forces crossed the River Seine on 19 August."<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-5" title=""><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup></dd></dl> <p><a name="Weather" id="Weather"></a></p> <h2><span class="mw-headline">Weather</span></h2> <p>Only a few days in each month were suitable for launching the operation, because both a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_moon" title="Full moon">full moon</a> and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_tide" title="Spring tide" class="mw-redirect">spring tide</a> were required: the former to illuminate navigational landmarks for the crews of aircraft, gliders and landing craft, and the latter to provide the deepest possible water to help safe navigation over defensive obstacles placed by the Germans in the surf on the seaward approaches to the beaches. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Headquarters_Allied_Expeditionary_Force" title="Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force">Allied Expeditionary Force Supreme Commander</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_D._Eisenhower" title="Dwight D. Eisenhower">Dwight D. Eisenhower</a> had tentatively selected 5 June as the date for the assault. Most of May had fine weather, but this deteriorated in early June. On 4 June, conditions were clearly unsuitable for a landing; wind and high seas would make it impossible to launch landing craft, and low clouds would prevent aircraft finding their targets. The Allied troop convoys already at sea were forced to take shelter in bays and inlets on the south coast of Britain for the night.</p> <p>It seemed possible that everything would have to be cancelled and the troops returned to their camps (a vast undertaking because the enormous movement of follow-up formations was already proceeding). The next full moon period would be nearly a month away. At a vital meeting on 5 June, Eisenhower's chief meteorologist (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_Captain" title="Group Captain">Group Captain</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.M._Stagg" title="J.M. Stagg" class="mw-redirect">J.M. Stagg</a>) forecast a brief improvement for 6 June. General <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Montgomery,_1st_Viscount_Montgomery_of_Alamein" title="Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein">Bernard Montgomery</a> and Eisenhower's Chief of Staff General <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Bedell_Smith" title="Walter Bedell Smith">Walter Bedell Smith</a> wished to proceed with the invasion. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leigh_Mallory" title="Leigh Mallory" class="mw-redirect">Leigh Mallory</a> was doubtful, but <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admiral" title="Admiral">Admiral</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertram_Ramsay" title="Bertram Ramsay">Bertram Ramsay</a> believed that conditions would be marginally favorable. On the strength of Stagg's forecast, Eisenhower ordered the invasion to proceed.</p> <p>The Germans meanwhile took comfort from the existing poor conditions, which were worse over Northern France than over the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Channel" title="English Channel">Channel</a> itself, and believed no invasion would be possible for several days. Some troops stood down, and many senior officers were away for the weekend. General <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erwin_Rommel" title="Erwin Rommel">Erwin Rommel</a>, for example, took a few days' leave to celebrate his wife's birthday,<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-6" title=""><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup> while dozens of division, regimental, and battalion commanders were away from their posts at war games.</p> <p><a name="Allied_Order_of_Battle" id="Allied_Order_of_Battle"></a></p> <h2><span class="mw-headline">Allied Order of Battle</span></h2> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Allied_Invasion_Force.jpg" class="image" title="D-day assault routes into Normandy."><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Allied_Invasion_Force.jpg/180px-Allied_Invasion_Force.jpg" class="thumbimage" width="180" border="0" height="137" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Allied_Invasion_Force.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><img src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" alt="" width="15" height="11" /></a></div> D-day assault routes into Normandy.</div> </div> </div> <p>The order of battle for the landings was approximately as follows, east to west:</p> <p><a name="British_Second_Army" id="British_Second_Army"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline">British Second Army</span></h3> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6th_Airborne_Division_%28United_Kingdom%29" title="6th Airborne Division (United Kingdom)">6th Airborne Division</a> was delivered by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parachute" title="Parachute">parachute</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_glider" title="Military glider">glider</a> to the east of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Orne" title="River Orne" class="mw-redirect">River Orne</a> to protect the left flank. The division contained 7,900 men, including one Canadian battalion.<sup id="cite_ref-DDayFAQ_7-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-DDayFAQ-7" title=""><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="noprint Inline-Template" title="This citation requires a reference to the specific page or range of pages at in which the material appears." style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources">page needed</a></i>]</sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_1st_Special_Service_Brigade" title="British 1st Special Service Brigade" class="mw-redirect">1st Special Service Brigade</a> comprising No. 3, No. 4, No. 6 and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/45_Commando" title="45 Commando">No. 45 (RM)</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Commandos" title="British Commandos">Commandos</a> landed at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouistreham" title="Ouistreham">Ouistreham</a> in <i>Queen Red</i> sector (leftmost). No.4 Commando were augmented by 1 and 8 Troop (both French) of No. 10 (Inter Allied) Commando.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Corps_%28United_Kingdom%29" title="I Corps (United Kingdom)">I Corps</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3rd_Infantry_Division_%28United_Kingdom%29" title="3rd Infantry Division (United Kingdom)">3rd Infantry Division</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/27th_Armoured_Brigade_%28United_Kingdom%29" title="27th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)" class="mw-redirect">27th Armoured Brigade</a> on <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sword_Beach" title="Sword Beach">Sword Beach</a></b>, from Ouistreham to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion-sur-Mer" title="Lion-sur-Mer">Lion-sur-Mer</a>.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/41_Commando" title="41 Commando">No. 41 (RM) Commando</a> (part of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_Special_Service_Brigade" title="4th Special Service Brigade">4th Special Service Brigade</a>) landed on the far West of Sword Beach.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-8" title=""><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3rd_Canadian_Infantry_Division" title="3rd Canadian Infantry Division">3rd Canadian Infantry Division</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Canadian_Armoured_Brigade" title="2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade">2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=48_Commando&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="48 Commando (page does not exist)">No.48 (RM) Commando</a> on <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juno_Beach" title="Juno Beach">Juno Beach</a></b>, from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer,_Calvados" title="Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, Calvados">Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer</a> to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courseulles-sur-Mer" title="Courseulles-sur-Mer">Courseulles-sur-Mer</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-DDayFAQ_7-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-DDayFAQ-7" title=""><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=46_Commando&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="46 Commando (page does not exist)">No. 46 (RM) Commando</a> (part of 4th Special Service Brigade) at <i>Juno</i> to scale the cliffs on the left side of the Orne River estuary and destroy a battery. (Battery fire proved negligible so No.46 were kept off-shore as a floating reserve and landed on D+1).</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XXX_Corps_%28United_Kingdom%29" title="XXX Corps (United Kingdom)">XXX Corps</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50th_Infantry_Division_%28United_Kingdom%29" title="50th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)" class="mw-redirect">50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8th_Armoured_Brigade_%28United_Kingdom%29" title="8th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)">8th Armoured Brigade</a>, consisting of 25,000 men landing on <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Beach" title="Gold Beach">Gold Beach</a></b>,<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-9" title=""><span>[</span>10<span>]</span></a></sup> from Courseulles to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arromanches" title="Arromanches" class="mw-redirect">Arromanches</a>.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=47_Commando&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="47 Commando (page does not exist)">No. 47 (RM) Commando</a> (part of 4th Special Service Brigade) on the West flank of Gold beach.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/79th_Armoured_Division" title="79th Armoured Division" class="mw-redirect">79th Armoured Division</a> operated specialist armour ("<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobart%27s_Funnies" title="Hobart's Funnies">Hobart's Funnies</a>") for mine-clearing, recovery and assault tasks. These were distributed around the Anglo-Canadian beaches.</li><li>4th <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_French" title="Free French" class="mw-redirect">Free French</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Air_Service" title="Special Air Service">Special Air Service</a> Battalion from the British SAS Brigade, by parachute in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittany" title="Brittany">Brittany</a>.</li></ul> <p>Overall, the 2nd Army contingent consisted of 83,115 troops (61,715 of them British).<sup id="cite_ref-DDayFAQ_7-2" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-DDayFAQ-7" title=""><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup> In addition to the British and Canadian combat units, two troops of No. 10 Commando were employed, manned by Frenchmen, and eight Australian officers were attached to the British forces as observers.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-10" title=""><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup> The nominally British air and naval support units included a large number of crew from Allied nations, including several RAF squadrons manned almost exclusively by foreign flight crew.</p> <p><a name="U.S._First_Army" id="U.S._First_Army"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline">U.S. First Army</span></h3> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_Corps_%28United_States%29" title="V Corps (United States)">V Corps</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._1st_Infantry_Division" title="U.S. 1st Infantry Division" class="mw-redirect">1st Infantry Division</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._29th_Infantry_Division" title="U.S. 29th Infantry Division" class="mw-redirect">29th Infantry Division</a> making up 34,250 troops for <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omaha_Beach" title="Omaha Beach">Omaha Beach</a></b>, from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte-Honorine-des-Pertes" title="Sainte-Honorine-des-Pertes">Sainte-Honorine-des-Pertes</a> to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vierville-sur-Mer" title="Vierville-sur-Mer">Vierville-sur-Mer</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-DDayFAQ_7-3" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-DDayFAQ-7" title=""><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-TOCTWW2c_11-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-TOCTWW2c-11" title=""><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li>2nd and 5th <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Rangers" title="United States Army Rangers">Ranger</a> Battalions at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointe_du_Hoc" title="Pointe du Hoc">Pointe du Hoc</a> (The 5th diverted to Omaha).<sup id="cite_ref-TOCTWW2c_11-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-TOCTWW2c-11" title=""><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VII_Corps_%28United_States%29" title="VII Corps (United States)">VII Corps</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._4th_Infantry_Division" title="U.S. 4th Infantry Division" class="mw-redirect">4th Infantry Division</a> and the 359th <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regimental_Combat_Team" title="Regimental Combat Team" class="mw-redirect">RCT</a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._90th_Infantry_Division" title="U.S. 90th Infantry Division" class="mw-redirect">90th Infantry Division</a> comprising of 23,250 men landing on <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_Beach" title="Utah Beach">Utah Beach</a></b>, around Pouppeville and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Madeleine" title="La Madeleine">La Madeleine</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-TOCTWW2c_11-2" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-TOCTWW2c-11" title=""><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/101st_Airborne_Division_%28United_States%29" title="101st Airborne Division (United States)">101st Airborne Division</a> by parachute around <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vierville" title="Vierville">Vierville</a> to support Utah Beach landings.<sup id="cite_ref-TOCTWW2c_11-3" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-TOCTWW2c-11" title=""><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a></sup></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/82nd_Airborne_Division_%28United_States%29" title="82nd Airborne Division (United States)">82nd Airborne Division</a> by parachute around <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte-M%C3%A8re-%C3%89glise" title="Sainte-Mère-Église">Sainte-Mère-Église</a>, protecting the right flank. They had originally been tasked with dropping further west, in the middle part of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotentin_Peninsula" title="Cotentin Peninsula">Cotentin</a>, allowing the sea-landing forces to their east easier access across the peninsula, and preventing the Germans from reinforcing the north part of the peninsula. The plans were later changed to move them much closer to the beachhead, as at the last minute the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/91st_Infantry_Division_%28Germany%29" title="91st Infantry Division (Germany)">German 91st Air Landing Division</a> was determined to be in the area.<sup id="cite_ref-TOCTWW2c_11-4" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-TOCTWW2c-11" title=""><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-johnhbradley1_12-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-johnhbradley1-12" title=""><span>[</span>13<span>]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <p>In total, the First Army contingent totalled approximately 73,000 men, including 15,500 from the airborne divisions.<sup id="cite_ref-DDayFAQ_7-4" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-DDayFAQ-7" title=""><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p><a name="German_Order_of_Battle" id="German_Order_of_Battle"></a></p> <h2><span class="mw-headline">German Order of Battle</span></h2> <p>The number of military forces at the disposal of Nazi Germany reached its peak during 1944. By D-Day, 157 German divisions were stationed in the Soviet Union, 6 in Finland, 12 in Norway, 6 in Denmark, 9 in Germany, 21 in the Balkans, 26 in Italy and 59 in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-13" title=""><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup> However, these statistics are somewhat misleading since a significant number of the divisions in the east were depleted due to intensity of fighting; German records indicate that the average personnel complement was at about 50% in the spring of 1944.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-14" title=""><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p><a name="German_Defenses" id="German_Defenses"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline">German Defenses</span></h3> <p>The German defenses used an interlocking firing style, so they could protect areas that were receiving heavy fire. They had large bunkers, sometimes intricate concrete ones containing machine guns and high caliber weapons. Their defense also integrated the cliffs and hills overlooking the beach. The defenses were all built and honed over a four year period.</p> <p><a name="Atlantic_Wall" id="Atlantic_Wall"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline">Atlantic Wall</span></h3> <div class="rellink noprint relarticle mainarticle">Main articles: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Wall" title="Atlantic Wall">Atlantic Wall</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Channel" title="English Channel">English Channel</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Atlantic-Wall.gif" class="image" title="A map of the Atlantic Wall, shown in green. German Reich, allies and occupied zones Allies"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/da/Atlantic-Wall.gif" class="thumbimage" width="180" border="0" height="236" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Atlantic-Wall.gif" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><img src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" alt="" width="15" height="11" /></a></div> A map of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Wall" title="Atlantic Wall">Atlantic Wall</a>, shown in green. <span style="margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; font-size: 90%; display: block;"><span style="border: 1px solid rgb(82, 122, 195); background-color: rgb(82, 122, 195); color: rgb(82, 122, 195);"> </span> German Reich, allies and occupied zones</span><span style="margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; font-size: 90%; display: block;"><span style="border: 1px solid rgb(206, 98, 98); background-color: rgb(206, 98, 98); color: rgb(206, 98, 98);"> </span> Allies</span></div> </div> </div> <p>Standing in the way of the Allies was the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Channel" title="English Channel">English Channel</a>, a crossing which had eluded the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Armada" title="Spanish Armada">Spanish Armada</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_Bonaparte" title="Napoleon Bonaparte" class="mw-redirect">Napoleon Bonaparte</a>'s Navy. Compounding the invasion efforts was the extensive <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Wall" title="Atlantic Wall">Atlantic Wall</a>, ordered by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler" title="Adolf Hitler">Hitler</a> in his Directive 51. Believing that any forthcoming landings would be timed for high tide (this caused the landings to be timed for low tide), Rommel had the entire wall fortified with tank top turrets and extensive barbed wire, and laid a million mines to deter landing craft. The sector which was attacked was guarded by four divisions.</p> <p><a name="Divisional_Areas" id="Divisional_Areas"></a></p> <h4><span class="mw-headline">Divisional Areas</span></h4> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_716th_Static_Infantry_Division" title="German 716th Static Infantry Division" class="mw-redirect">716th Infantry Division (Static)</a> defended the Eastern end of the landing zones, including most of the British and Canadian beaches. This division, as well as the 709th, included <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germans" title="Germans">Germans</a> who were not considered fit for active duty on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Front_%28World_War_II%29" title="Eastern Front (World War II)">Eastern Front</a>, usually for medical reasons, and soldiers of various other nationalities (from conquered countries, often drafted by force) and former Soviet prisoners-of-war who had agreed to fight for the Germans rather than endure the harsh conditions of German <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner_of_war#World_War_II" title="Prisoner of war">POW</a> camps (among them so called <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiwi_%28volunteer%29" title="Hiwi (volunteer)">hiwis</a></i>). These "volunteers" were concentrated in "Ost-Bataillonen" (East Battalions) that were of dubious loyalty.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_352nd_Infantry_Division" title="German 352nd Infantry Division" class="mw-redirect">352nd Infantry Division</a> was a well-trained and equipped formation defending the area between approximately Bayeux and Carentan, including Omaha beach. The division had been formed in November 1943 with the help of cadres from the disbanded 321st Division, which had been destroyed in the Soviet Union that same year. The 352nd had many troops who had seen action on the eastern front and on the 6th, had been carrying out anti-invasion exercises.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_91st_Infantry_Division" title="German 91st Infantry Division" class="mw-redirect">91st Air Landing Division</a> (<i>Luftlande</i>–air transported) (Generalmajor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Falley" title="Wilhelm Falley">Wilhelm Falley</a>), comprising the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_1057th_Infantry_Regiment&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="German 1057th Infantry Regiment (page does not exist)">1057th Infantry Regiment</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_1058th_Infantry_Regiment&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="German 1058th Infantry Regiment (page does not exist)">1058th Infantry Regiment</a>. This was a regular infantry division, trained, and equipped to be transported by air (i.e. transportable artillery, few heavy support weapons) located in the interior of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotentin_Peninsula" title="Cotentin Peninsula">Cotentin Peninsula</a>, including the drop zones of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_airborne_landings_in_Normandy" title="American airborne landings in Normandy">American parachute landings</a>. The attached <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_6th_Parachute_Regiment&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="German 6th Parachute Regiment (page does not exist)">6th Parachute Regiment</a> (Oberstleutnant <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_August_Freiherr_von_der_Heydte" title="Friedrich August Freiherr von der Heydte">Friedrich August Freiherr von der Heydte</a>) had been rebuilt as a part of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Parachute_Division_%28Germany%29" title="2nd Parachute Division (Germany)">2nd Parachute Division</a> stationed in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittany" title="Brittany">Brittany</a>.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_709th_Static_Infantry_Division" title="German 709th Static Infantry Division" class="mw-redirect">709th Infantry Division (Static)</a> (Generalleutnant <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl-Wilhelm_von_Schlieben" title="Karl-Wilhelm von Schlieben">Karl-Wilhelm von Schlieben</a>), comprising the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_729th_Infantry_Regiment&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="German 729th Infantry Regiment (page does not exist)">729th Infantry Regiment</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_739th_Infantry_Regiment&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="German 739th Infantry Regiment (page does not exist)">739th Infantry Regiment</a> (both with four battalions, but the 729th 4th and the 739th 1st and 4th being Ost, these two regiments had no regimental support companies either), and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_919th_Infantry_Regiment&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="German 919th Infantry Regiment (page does not exist)">919th Infantry Regiment</a>. This coastal defense division protected the eastern, and northern (including Cherbourg) coast of the Cotentin Peninsula, including the Utah beach landing zone. Like the 716th, this division comprised a number of "Ost" units who were provided with German leadership to manage them.</li></ul> <p><a name="Adjacent_Divisional_Areas" id="Adjacent_Divisional_Areas"></a></p> <h4><span class="mw-headline">Adjacent Divisional Areas</span></h4> <p>Other divisions occupied the areas around the landing zones, including:</p> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_243rd_Static_Infantry_Division" title="German 243rd Static Infantry Division" class="mw-redirect">243rd Infantry Division (Static)</a> (Generalleutnant <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinz_Hellmich" title="Heinz Hellmich">Heinz Hellmich</a>), comprising the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_920th_Infantry_Regiment&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="German 920th Infantry Regiment (page does not exist)">920th Infantry Regiment</a> (two battalions), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_921st_Infantry_Regiment&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="German 921st Infantry Regiment (page does not exist)">921st Infantry Regiment</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_922nd_Infantry_Regiment&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="German 922nd Infantry Regiment (page does not exist)">922nd Infantry Regiment</a>. This coastal defense division protected the western coast of the Cotentin Peninsula.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_711th_Static_Infantry_Division&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="German 711th Static Infantry Division (page does not exist)">711th Infantry Division (Static)</a>, comprising the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_731th_Infantry_Regiment&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="German 731th Infantry Regiment (page does not exist)">731th Infantry Regiment</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_744th_Infantry_Regiment&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="German 744th Infantry Regiment (page does not exist)">744th Infantry Regiment</a>. This division defended the western part of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pays_de_Caux" title="Pays de Caux">Pays de Caux</a>.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_30th_Mobile_Brigade&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="German 30th Mobile Brigade (page does not exist)">30th Mobile Brigade</a> (Oberstleutnant Freiherr von und zu Aufsess), comprising three <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_infantry" title="Bicycle infantry">bicycle</a> battalions.</li></ul> <p><a name="Armoured_reserves" id="Armoured_reserves"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline">Armoured reserves</span></h3> <p>Rommel's defensive measures were also frustrated by a dispute over armoured doctrine. In addition to his two army groups, von Rundstedt also commanded the headquarters of <i>Panzer Group West</i> under General <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Geyr_von_Schweppenburg" title="Leo Geyr von Schweppenburg">Leo Geyr von Schweppenburg</a> (usually referred to as <i>von Geyr</i>). This formation was nominally an administrative HQ for von Rundstedt's armoured and mobile formations, but it was later to be renamed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Panzer_Army" title="Fifth Panzer Army" class="mw-redirect">Fifth Panzer Army</a> and brought into the line in Normandy. Von Geyr and Rommel disagreed over the deployment and use of the vital Panzer divisions.</p> <p>Rommel recognised that the Allies would possess air superiority and would be able to harass his movements from the air. He therefore proposed that the armoured formations be deployed close to the invasion beaches. In his words, it was better to have one Panzer division facing the invaders on the first day, than three Panzer divisions three days later when the Allies would already have established a firm beachhead. Von Geyr argued for the standard doctrine that the Panzer formations should be concentrated in a central position around Paris and Rouen, and deployed <i>en masse</i> against the main Allied beachhead when this had been identified.</p> <p>The argument was eventually brought before Hitler for arbitration. He characteristically imposed an unworkable compromise solution. Only three Panzer divisions were given to Rommel, too few to cover all the threatened sectors. The remainder, nominally under Von Geyr's control, were actually designated as being in "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberkommando_der_Wehrmacht" title="Oberkommando der Wehrmacht">OKW</a> Reserve". Only three of these were deployed close enough to intervene immediately against any invasion of Northern France, the other four were dispersed in southern France and the Netherlands. Hitler reserved to himself the authority to move the divisions in OKW Reserve, or commit them to action. On 6 June, many Panzer division commanders were unable to move because Hitler had not given the necessary authorization, and his staff refused to wake him upon news of the invasion.</p> <ul><li>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_21st_Panzer_Division" title="German 21st Panzer Division" class="mw-redirect">21st Panzer Division</a> (Generalmajor Edgar Feuchtinger) was deployed near <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caen" title="Caen">Caen</a> as a mobile striking force as part of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_Group_B" title="Army Group B">Army Group B</a> reserve. However, Rommel placed it so close to the coastal defenses that, under <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standing_order" title="Standing order">standing orders</a> in case of invasion, several of its infantry and anti-aircraft units would come under the orders of the fortress divisions on the coast, reducing the effective strength of the division.</li></ul> <p>The other mechanized divisions capable of intervening in Normandy were retained under the direct control of the German Armed Forces HQ (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OKW" title="OKW" class="mw-redirect">OKW</a>) and were initially denied to Rommel.</p> <p><a name="Coordination_with_the_French_Resistance" id="Coordination_with_the_French_Resistance"></a></p> <h2><span class="mw-headline">Coordination with the French Resistance</span></h2> <p>The various factions and circuits of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Resistance" title="French Resistance">French Resistance</a> were included in the plan for <i>Overlord</i>. Through a London-based headquarters which supposedly embraced all resistance groups, État-major des <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forces_Fran%C3%A7aises_de_l%27Int%C3%A9rieur" title="Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur" class="mw-redirect">Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur</a> (EMFFI), the British <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Operations_Executive" title="Special Operations Executive">Special Operations Executive</a> orchestrated a massive campaign of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabotage" title="Sabotage">sabotage</a> tasking the various Groups with attacking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway" title="Railway" class="mw-redirect">railway</a> lines, ambushing roads, or destroying <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_exchange" title="Telephone exchange">telephone exchanges</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_substation" title="Electrical substation">electrical substations</a>. The resistance was alerted to carry out these tasks by means of the <i>messages personnels</i>, transmitted by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC" title="BBC">BBC</a> in its French service from London. Several hundred of these were regularly transmitted, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steganography" title="Steganography">masking</a> the few of them that were really significant.</p> <p>Among the stream of apparently meaningless messages broadcast by the BBC at 21:00 CET on 5 June, were coded instructions such as <i>Les carottes sont cuites</i> ("The carrots are cooked") and <i>Les dés sont jetés</i> ("The dice have been thrown").<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-15" title=""><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p>One famous pair of these messages is often mistakenly stated to be a general call to arms by the Resistance. A few days before D-Day, the (slightly misquoted) first line of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Verlaine" title="Paul Verlaine">Verlaine's</a> poem, <i>Chanson d'Automne</i>, was transmitted. <i>"Les sanglots longs des violons de l'automne"</i><sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-16" title=""><span>[</span>17<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Foot143_17-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-Foot143-17" title=""><span>[</span>18<span>]</span></a></sup> (<i>Long sobs of autumn violins</i>) alerted the resistance of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOE_F_Section_networks#Ventriloquist" title="SOE F Section networks"><i>Ventriloquist</i></a> network in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orl%C3%A9ans" title="Orléans">Orléans</a> region to attack rail targets within the next few days. The second line, <i>"Bercent mon coeur d'une langueur monotone"</i> ("soothe my heart with a monotonous languor"), transmitted late on 5 June, meant that the attack was to be mounted immediately.</p> <p>Josef Götz, the head of the signals section of the German intelligence service (the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicherheitsdienst" title="Sicherheitsdienst">SD</a>) in Paris, had discovered the meaning of the second line of Verlaine's poem, and no fewer than fourteen other executive orders they heard late on 5 June. His section rightly interpreted them to mean that invasion was imminent or underway, and they alerted their superiors and all Army commanders in France. However, they had issued a similar warning a month before, when the Allies had begun invasion preparations and alerted the Resistance, but then stood down because of a forecast of bad weather. The SD having given this false alarm, their genuine alarm was ignored or treated as merely routine. Fifteenth Army HQ passed the information on to its units; Seventh Army ignored it.<sup id="cite_ref-Foot143_17-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-Foot143-17" title=""><span>[</span>18<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p>In addition to the tasks given to the Resistance as part of the invasion effort, the Special Operations Executive planned to reinforce the Resistance with three-man liaison parties, under <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Jedburgh" title="Operation Jedburgh">Operation Jedburgh</a>. The <i>Jedburgh</i> parties would coordinate and arrange supply drops to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maquis" title="Maquis">Maquis</a> groups in the German rear areas. Also operating far behind German lines and frequently working closely with the Resistance, although not under SOE, were larger parties from the British, French and Belgian units of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Air_Service" title="Special Air Service">Special Air Service</a> brigade.</p> <p><a name="Naval_activity" id="Naval_activity"></a></p> <h2><span class="mw-headline">Naval activity</span></h2> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lci-convoy.jpg" class="image" title="Large landing craft convoy crosses the English Channel on 6 June 1944."><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4b/Lci-convoy.jpg/180px-Lci-convoy.jpg" class="thumbimage" width="180" border="0" height="144" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lci-convoy.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><img src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" alt="" width="15" height="11" /></a></div> Large landing craft <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convoy" title="Convoy">convoy</a> crosses the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Channel" title="English Channel">English Channel</a> on 6 June 1944.</div> </div> </div> <p>The Invasion Fleet was drawn from 8 different navies, comprising 6,939 vessels: 1,213 warships, 4,126 transport vessels (landing ships and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landing_craft" title="Landing craft">landing craft</a>), and 736 ancillary craft and 864 merchant vessels.<sup id="cite_ref-DDayFAQ_7-5" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-DDayFAQ-7" title=""><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p>The overall commander of the Allied Naval Expeditionary Force, providing close protection and bombardment at the beaches, was Admiral Sir <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertram_Ramsay" title="Bertram Ramsay">Bertram Ramsay</a> who had been responsible for the planning of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_North_Africa" title="Invasion of North Africa" class="mw-redirect">invasion of North Africa</a> in 1942 and one of the two fleets carrying troops for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Husky" title="Operation Husky" class="mw-redirect">invasion of Sicily</a> in the following year. The Allied Naval Expeditionary Force was divided into two Naval Task Forces: Western (Rear-Admiral <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_G_Kirk" title="Alan G Kirk" class="mw-redirect">Alan G Kirk</a>) and Eastern (Rear-Admiral Sir <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Vian" title="Philip Vian">Philip Vian</a> – another veteran of the Italian landings).</p> <p>The warships provided cover for the transports against the enemy whether in the form of surface warships, submarines or as an aerial attack and gave support to the landings through shore bombardment. These ships included the Allied Task Force "O". A small part of the naval operation was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Gambit" title="Operation Gambit">Operation Gambit</a>, when British <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_class_submarine" title="X class submarine">midget submarines</a> supplied navigation beacons to guide landing craft.</p> <p><a name="Naval_screen" id="Naval_screen"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline">Naval screen</span></h3> <p>An important part of <i>Neptune</i> was the isolation of the invasion routes and beaches from any intervention by the German Navy – the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kriegsmarine" title="Kriegsmarine">Kriegsmarine</a>. The responsibility for this was assigned to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Navy" title="Royal Navy">Royal Navy</a>'s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Fleet" title="Home Fleet">Home Fleet</a>. There were two principal perceived German naval threats. The first was surface attack by German capital ships from anchorages in Scandinavia and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltic_Sea" title="Baltic Sea">Baltic Sea</a>. This did not materialise since, by mid-1944, the battleships were damaged, the cruisers were used for training and the Kriegsmarine's fuel allocation had been cut by a third. The inactivity may also have resulted from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler" title="Adolf Hitler">Hitler's</a> disillusion with the Kriegsmarine.<sup class="noprint Template-Fact" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from February 2009" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed">citation needed</a></i>]</sup> In any case, the Royal Navy had strong forces available to repel any attempts, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiel_Canal" title="Kiel Canal">Kiel Canal</a> area was mined (Operation <i>Bravado</i>)<a href="http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/rep/Normandy/ComNavEu/ComNavEu-410.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/rep/Normandy/ComNavEu/ComNavEu-410.html" rel="nofollow">[1]</a> as a precaution.</p> <p>The second perceived major threat was that of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U-boats" title="U-boats" class="mw-redirect">U-boats</a> transferred from the Atlantic. Air surveillance from three <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escort_carriers" title="Escort carriers" class="mw-redirect">escort carriers</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Coastal_Command" title="RAF Coastal Command">RAF Coastal Command</a> maintained a cordon well west of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land%27s_End" title="Land's End">Land's End</a>. Few U-boats were spotted, and most of the escort groups were moved nearer to the landings.</p> <p>Further efforts were made to seal the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Approaches" title="Western Approaches">Western Approaches</a> against German naval forces from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittany" title="Brittany">Brittany</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Biscay" title="Bay of Biscay">Bay of Biscay</a>. Minefields were laid (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Maple" title="Operation Maple">Operation <i>Maple</i></a>) to force enemy ships away from air protection where they could be attacked by Allied destroyer flotillas. Again, enemy activity was minor, but on 4 July four German <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destroyers" title="Destroyers" class="mw-redirect">destroyers</a> were either sunk or forced back to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brest,_France" title="Brest, France">Brest</a>.</p> <p>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straits_of_Dover" title="Straits of Dover" class="mw-redirect">Straits of Dover</a> were closed by minefields, naval and air patrols, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar" title="Radar">radar</a>, and effective bombing raids on enemy ports. Local German naval forces were small but could be reinforced from the Baltic. Their efforts, however, were concentrated on protecting the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pas_de_Calais" title="Pas de Calais" class="mw-redirect">Pas de Calais</a> against expected landings there, and no attempt was made to force the blockade.</p> <p>The screening operation destroyed few German ships, but the objective was achieved. There were no U-boat attacks against Allied shipping and few attempts by surface ships.</p> <p><a name="Bombardment" id="Bombardment"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline">Bombardment</span></h3> <p>Warships provided supporting fire for the land forces. During <i>Neptune</i>, it was given a high importance, using ships from battleships to destroyers and landing craft. For example, the Canadians at Juno beach had fire support many times greater than they had had for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dieppe_Raid" title="Dieppe Raid">Dieppe Raid</a> in 1942. The old battleships <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ramillies_%2807%29" title="HMS Ramillies (07)">HMS <i>Ramillies</i></a> and <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Warspite_%2803%29" title="HMS Warspite (03)">Warspite</a></i> and the monitor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Roberts_%28F40%29" title="HMS Roberts (F40)">HMS <i>Roberts</i></a> were used to suppress shore batteries east of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orne" title="Orne">Orne</a>; cruisers targeted shore batteries at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ver-sur-Mer" title="Ver-sur-Mer">Ver-sur-Mer</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moulineaux" title="Moulineaux">Moulineaux</a>; eleven destroyers for local fire support. In addition, there were modified landing-craft: eight "Landing Craft Gun", each with two 4.7-inch guns; four "Landing Craft Support" with automatic cannon; eight <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landing_Craft_Tank" title="Landing Craft Tank" class="mw-redirect">Landing Craft Tank</a> (Rocket), each with a single salvo of 1,100 5-inch rockets; eight <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landing_Craft_Assault" title="Landing Craft Assault">Landing Craft Assault</a> (Hedgerow), each with twenty-four bombs intended to detonate beach mines prematurely. Twenty-four Landing Craft Tank carried <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M7_Priest" title="M7 Priest">Priest</a> self-propelled <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howitzer" title="Howitzer">howitzers</a> which also fired while they were on the run-in to the beach. Similar arrangements existed at other beaches.</p> <p>Fire support went beyond the suppression of shore defenses overlooking landing beaches and was also used to break up enemy concentrations as the troops moved inland. This was particularly noted in German reports: Field-Marshall <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerd_von_Rundstedt" title="Gerd von Rundstedt">Gerd von Rundstedt</a> reported that:</p> <blockquote class="templatequote"> <div> <p>... The enemy had deployed very strong Naval forces off the shores of the bridgehead. These can be used as quickly mobile, constantly available artillery, at points where they are necessary as defence against our attacks or as support for enemy attacks. During the day their fire is skillfully directed by . . . plane observers, and by advanced ground fire spotters. Because of the high rapid-fire capacity of Naval guns they play an important part in the battle within their range. The movement of tanks by day, in open country, within the range of these naval guns is hardly possible.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-18" title=""><span>[</span>19<span>]</span></a></sup></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Just prior to the invasion, General Eisenhower transmitted a now-historic message to all members of the Allied Expeditionary Force. It read, in part, "You are about to embark upon the great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months."<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-19" title=""><span>[</span>20<span>]</span></a></sup> In his pocket was an unused statement to be read in case the invasion failed.<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-20" title=""><span>[</span>21<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p><a name="The_landings" id="The_landings"></a></p> <h2><span class="mw-headline">The landings</span></h2> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 252px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:D-Day5.jpg" class="image" title="Twelfth United States Army Group situation map for 2400 hours, 6 June 1944."><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/D-Day5.jpg/250px-D-Day5.jpg" class="thumbimage" width="250" border="0" height="226" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:D-Day5.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><img src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" alt="" width="15" height="11" /></a></div> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelfth_United_States_Army_Group" title="Twelfth United States Army Group">Twelfth United States Army Group</a> situation map for 2400 hours, 6 June 1944.</div> </div> </div> <p><a name="Airborne_operations" id="Airborne_operations"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline">Airborne operations</span></h3> <p>The success of the amphibious landings depended on the establishment of a secure lodgment from which to expand the beachhead to allow the build up of a well-supplied force capable of breaking out. The amphibious forces were especially vulnerable to strong enemy counterattacks before the build up of sufficient forces in the beachhead could be accomplished. To slow or eliminate the enemy's ability to organize and launch counterattacks during this critical period, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airborne_forces" title="Airborne forces">airborne operations</a> were used to seize key objectives, such as bridges, road crossings, and terrain features, particularly on the eastern and western flanks of the landing areas. The airborne landings some distance behind the beaches were also intended to ease the egress of the amphibious forces off the beaches, and in some cases to neutralize German coastal defence batteries and more quickly expand the area of the beachhead. The U.S. 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions were assigned to objectives west of Utah Beach. The British 6th Airborne Division was assigned to similar objectives on the eastern flank. 530 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_French" title="Free French" class="mw-redirect">Free French</a> paratroopers from the British <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Air_Service" title="Special Air Service">Special Air Service</a> Brigade, were assigned to objectives in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittany" title="Brittany">Brittany</a> from 5 June to August.<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-21" title=""><span>[</span>22<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-22" title=""><span>[</span>23<span>]</span></a></sup>(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Dingson" title="Operation Dingson">Operation Dingson</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Samwest" title="Operation Samwest">Operation Samwest</a>).</p> <p><a name="British_airborne_landings" id="British_airborne_landings"></a></p> <h4><span class="mw-headline">British airborne landings</span></h4> <div class="rellink noprint relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Tonga" title="Operation Tonga">Operation Tonga</a></div> <p>East of the landing area, the open, flat, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floodplain" title="Floodplain">floodplain</a> between the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orne_River" title="Orne River">Orne</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dives_River" title="Dives River">Dives</a> Rivers was ideal for counterattacks by German armour. However, the landing area and floodplain were separated by the Orne River, which flowed northeast from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caen" title="Caen">Caen</a> into the bay of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seine_River" title="Seine River" class="mw-redirect">Seine</a>. The only crossing of the Orne River north of Caen was 7 kilometres (4.5 mi) from the coast, near <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9nouville" title="Bénouville">Bénouville</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranville" title="Ranville">Ranville</a>. For the Germans, the crossing provided the only route for a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flanking_maneuver" title="Flanking maneuver">flanking attack</a> on the beaches from the east. For the Allies, the crossing also was vital for any attack on Caen from the east.</p> <p>The tactical objectives of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_6th_Airborne_Division" title="British 6th Airborne Division" class="mw-redirect">British 6th Airborne Division</a> were (a) to capture intact the bridges of the Bénouville-Ranville crossing, (b) to defend the crossing against the inevitable armoured counter-attacks, (c) to destroy German artillery at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merville" title="Merville">Merville</a> battery, which threatened Sword Beach, and (d) to destroy five bridges over the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dives_River" title="Dives River">Dives River</a> to further restrict movement of ground forces from the east.</p> <p>Airborne troops, mostly paratroopers of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_3rd_Parachute_Brigade" title="British 3rd Parachute Brigade" class="mw-redirect">3rd</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_5th_Parachute_Brigade" title="British 5th Parachute Brigade" class="mw-redirect">5th Parachute Brigades</a>, including the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Airborne_Regiment" title="Canadian Airborne Regiment" class="mw-redirect">1st Canadian Parachute Battalion</a>, began landing after midnight, 6 June and immediately encountered elements of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_716th_Static_Infantry_Division" title="German 716th Static Infantry Division" class="mw-redirect">German 716th Infantry Division</a>. At dawn, the Battle Group <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_von_Luck" title="Hans von Luck">von Luck</a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_21st_Panzer_Division" title="German 21st Panzer Division" class="mw-redirect">21st Panzer Division</a> counterattacked from the south on both sides of the Orne River. By this time the paratroopers had established a defensive perimeter surrounding the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridgehead" title="Bridgehead">bridgehead</a>. Casualties were heavy on both sides, but the airborne troops held. Shortly after noon, they were reinforced by commandos of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Special_Service_Brigade" title="1st Special Service Brigade">1st Special Service Brigade</a>. By the end of D-Day, 6th Airborne had accomplished each of its objectives. For several days, both British and German forces took heavy casualties as they struggled for positions around the Orne bridgehead. For example, the German 346th Infantry Division broke through the eastern edge of the defensive line on 10 June. Finally, British paratroopers overwhelmed entrenched <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzergrenadier" title="Panzergrenadier">panzergrenadiers</a> in the Battle of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Br%C3%A9ville" title="Bréville">Bréville</a> on 12 June. The Germans did not seriously threaten the bridgehead again. 6th Airborne remained on the line until it was evacuated in early September</p> <p><a name="American_airborne_landings" id="American_airborne_landings"></a></p> <h4><span class="mw-headline">American airborne landings</span></h4> <div class="rellink noprint relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_airborne_landings_in_Normandy" title="American airborne landings in Normandy">American airborne landings in Normandy</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Knockeoutpanzer.jpg" class="image" title="US troops of the 3rd Armored Division examine a knocked out German Sturmgeschütz III with a dead German crewman on the gun barrel."><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Knockeoutpanzer.jpg/180px-Knockeoutpanzer.jpg" class="thumbimage" width="180" border="0" height="140" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Knockeoutpanzer.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><img src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" alt="" width="15" height="11" /></a></div> US troops of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3rd_Armored_Division" title="3rd Armored Division" class="mw-redirect">3rd Armored Division</a> examine a knocked out German <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturmgesch%C3%BCtz_III" title="Sturmgeschütz III">Sturmgeschütz III</a> with a dead German crewman on the gun barrel.</div> </div> </div> <p>The U.S. 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, numbering 13,000 paratroopers and delivered by 12 troop carrier groups of the IX Troop Carrier Command, were less fortunate in quickly completing their main objectives. To achieve surprise, the drops were routed to approach Normandy from the west. Numerous factors affected their performance, but the primary one was the decision to make a massive parachute drop at night (a tactic not used again for the rest of the war). As a result, 45% of units were widely scattered and unable to rally. Efforts of the early wave of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathfinders_%28military%29" title="Pathfinders (military)">pathfinder</a> teams to mark the landing zones were largely ineffective, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca/Eureka_transponding_radar" title="Rebecca/Eureka transponding radar">Rebecca/Eureka transponding radar</a> beacons used to guide in the waves of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-47_Skytrain" title="C-47 Skytrain">C-47 Skytrains</a> to the drop zones were a flawed system.</p> <p>Three regiments of 101st Airborne paratroopers were dropped first, between 00:48 and 01:40, followed by the 82nd Airborne's drops between 01:51 and 02:42. Each operation involved approximately 400 C-47 aircraft. Two pre-dawn glider landings brought in anti-tank guns and support troops for each division. On the evening of D-Day two additional glider landings brought in two battalions of artillery and 24 howitzers to the 82nd Airborne. Additional glider operations on 7 June delivered the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment to the 82nd Airborne, and two large supply parachute drops that date were ineffective.</p> <p>After 24 hours, only 2,500 troops of the 101st and 2,000 of the 82nd were under the control of their divisions, approximating a third of the force dropped. The dispersal of the American airborne troops, however, had the effect of confusing the Germans and fragmenting their response. In addition, the Germans' defensive flooding, in the early stages, also helped to protect the Americans' southern flank.</p> <p>Paratroopers continued to roam and fight behind enemy lines for days. Many consolidated into small groups, rallied with NCOs or junior officers, and usually were a hodgepodge of men from different companies, battalions, regiments, or even divisions. The 82nd occupied the town of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte-M%C3%A8re-%C3%89glise" title="Sainte-Mère-Église">Sainte-Mère-Église</a> early in the morning of 6 June, giving it the claim of the first town liberated in the invasion.</p> <p><a name="Sword_Beach" id="Sword_Beach"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline">Sword Beach</span></h3> <div class="rellink noprint relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sword_Beach" title="Sword Beach">Sword Beach</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Infantry_waiting_to_move_off_%27Queen_White%27_Beach.jpg" class="image" title="British troops take cover after landing on Sword Beach."><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Infantry_waiting_to_move_off_%27Queen_White%27_Beach.jpg/180px-Infantry_waiting_to_move_off_%27Queen_White%27_Beach.jpg" class="thumbimage" width="180" border="0" height="139" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Infantry_waiting_to_move_off_%27Queen_White%27_Beach.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><img src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" alt="" width="15" height="11" /></a></div> British troops take cover after landing on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sword_Beach" title="Sword Beach">Sword Beach</a>.</div> </div> </div> <p>The assault on Sword Beach began at about 03:00 with an aerial bombardment of the German coastal defences and artillery sites. The naval bombardment began a few hours later. At 07:30, the first units reached the beach. These were the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DD_tank" title="DD tank">DD tanks</a> of 13th/18th Hussars followed closely by the infantry of 8th Brigade.</p> <p>On Sword Beach, the regular British infantry came ashore with light casualties. They had advanced about 8 kilometres (5 mi) by the end of the day but failed to make some of the deliberately ambitious targets set by Montgomery. In particular, Caen, a major objective, was still in German hands by the end of D-Day, and would remain so until the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_for_Caen" title="Battle for Caen">Battle for Caen</a>, 8 August.</p> <p>1st Special Service Brigade, under the command of Brigadier The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Fraser,_15th_Lord_Lovat" title="Simon Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat">Lord Lovat</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Service_Order" title="Distinguished Service Order">DSO</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MC" title="MC" class="mw-redirect">MC</a>, went ashore in the second wave led by No.4 Commando with the two French Troops first, as agreed amongst themselves. The 1st Special Service Brigade's landing is famous for having been led by Piper <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Millin" title="Bill Millin">Bill Millin</a>. The British and French of No.4 Commando had separate targets in Ouistreham: the French, a blockhouse and the Casino, the British, two German batteries which overlooked the beach. The blockhouse proved too strong for the Commandos' <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PIAT" title="PIAT">PIAT</a> (<b>P</b>rojector <b>I</b>nfantry <b>A</b>nti <b>T</b>ank) weapons, but the Casino was taken with the aid of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaur_tank" title="Centaur tank" class="mw-redirect">Centaur tank</a>. The British Commandos achieved both battery objectives only to find the gun mounts empty and the guns removed. Leaving the mopping-up procedure to the infantry, the Commandos withdrew from Ouistreham to join the other units of their brigade (Nos.3, 6 and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_No._45_Commando" title="British No. 45 Commando" class="mw-redirect">45</a>), moving inland to join-up with the 6th Airborne Division.</p> <p><a name="Juno_Beach" id="Juno_Beach"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline">Juno Beach</span></h3> <div class="rellink noprint relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juno_Beach" title="Juno Beach">Juno Beach</a></div> <p>The Canadian forces that landed on Juno Beach faced 14 heavy batteries of 155 mm guns and 9 medium batteries of 75 mm guns, as well as machine-gun nests, pillboxes, other concrete fortifications, and a seawall twice the height of the one at Omaha Beach. The first wave suffered 50% casualties, the second highest of the five D-Day beachheads. The use of armour was successful at Juno, in some instances actually landing ahead of the infantry as intended and helping clear a path inland.<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-23" title=""><span>[</span>24<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Canada_JunoBeach_1_RCNCOMMANDO.jpg" class="image" title="Personnel of Royal Canadian Navy Beach Commando "W" landing on Mike Beach, Juno sector of the Normandy beachhead. 6 June 1944."><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/65/Canada_JunoBeach_1_RCNCOMMANDO.jpg/180px-Canada_JunoBeach_1_RCNCOMMANDO.jpg" class="thumbimage" width="180" border="0" height="139" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Canada_JunoBeach_1_RCNCOMMANDO.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><img src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" alt="" width="15" height="11" /></a></div> Personnel of Royal Canadian Navy Beach Commando "W" landing on Mike Beach, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juno_beach" title="Juno beach" class="mw-redirect">Juno sector</a> of the Normandy beachhead. 6 June 1944.</div> </div> </div> <p>Despite the obstacles, the Canadians were off the beach within hours and beginning their advance inland. The 6th Canadian Armoured Regiment (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Hussars" title="1st Hussars">1st Hussars</a>) and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Queen%27s_Own_Rifles_of_Canada" title="The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada">The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada</a> achieved their 6 June objectives, when they crossed the Caen–<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayeux" title="Bayeux">Bayeux</a> highway over 15 kilometres (9 mi) inland.<sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_note-24" title=""><span>[</span>25<span>]</span></a></sup> The Canadians were the only units to reach their D-Day objectives, although most units fell back a few kilometres to strengthen defensive positions. In particular, the Douvres Radar Station was still in German hands, and no link had been established with Sword Beach.</p> <p>By the end of D-Day, 15,000 Canadians had been successfully landed, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3rd_Canadian_Infantry_Division" title="3rd Canadian Infantry Division">3rd Canadian Infantry Division</a> had penetrated further into France than any other Allied force, despite having faced strong resistance at the water's edge and later counterattacks on the beachhead by elements of the German 21st and 12th SS <i>Hitlerjugend</i> (Hitler Youth) Panzer divisions on June 7 and June 8.</p> <p><a name="Gold_Beach" id="Gold_Beach"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline">Gold Beach</span></h3> <div class="rellink noprint relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Beach" title="Gold Beach">Gold Beach</a></div> <p>At Gold Beach, the casualties were also quite heavy, partly because the swimming Sherman DD tanks were delayed, and the Germans had strongly fortified a village on the beach. However, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50th_%28Northumbrian%29_Infantry_Division" title="50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division">50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division</a> (UK) overcame these difficulties and advanced almost to the outskirts of Bayeux by the end of the day. With the exception of the Canadians at Juno Beach, no division came closer to its objectives than the 50th.</p> <p>No.47 (RM) Commando was the last British Commando unit to land and came ashore on <i>Gold</i> east of La Hamel. Their task was to proceed inland then turn right (west) and make a 16-kilometre (10 mi) march through enemy territory to attack the coastal harbour of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_en_Bessin" title="Port en Bessin" class="mw-redirect">Port en Bessin</a> from the rear. This small port, on the British extreme right, was well sheltered in the chalk cliffs and significant in that it was to be a prime early harbour for supplies to be brought in including fuel by underwater pipe from tankers moored offshore.</p> <p><a name="Omaha_Beach" id="Omaha_Beach"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline">Omaha Beach</span></h3> <div class="rellink noprint relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omaha_Beach" title="Omaha Beach">Omaha Beach</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1944_NormandyLST.jpg" class="image" title="U.S. Army troops wade ashore on Omaha Beach during the landings, 6 June 1944. They were brought to the beach by a Coast Guard manned LCVP."><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/1944_NormandyLST.jpg/180px-1944_NormandyLST.jpg" class="thumbimage" width="180" border="0" height="136" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1944_NormandyLST.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><img src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" alt="" width="15" height="11" /></a></div> U.S. Army troops wade ashore on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omaha_Beach" title="Omaha Beach">Omaha Beach</a> during the landings, 6 June 1944. They were brought to the beach by a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Coast_Guard" title="U.S. Coast Guard" class="mw-redirect">Coast Guard</a> manned <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LCVP" title="LCVP">LCVP</a>.</div> </div> </div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Normandy5.jpg" class="image" title="Survivors of a sunken troop transport wade ashore on Omaha Beach."><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Normandy5.jpg/180px-Normandy5.jpg" class="thumbimage" width="180" border="0" height="145" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Normandy5.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><img src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" alt="" width="15" height="11" /></a></div> Survivors of a sunken troop transport wade ashore on Omaha Beach.</div> </div> </div> <p>Elements of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Infantry_Division_%28United_States%29" title="1st Infantry Division (United States)">1st Infantry Division</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/29th_Infantry_Division_%28United_States%29" title="29th Infantry Division (United States)">29th Infantry Division</a> (US) faced the veteran German 352nd Infantry Division, one of the best trained on the beaches. Allied intelligence failed to realize that the relatively low-quality <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/716th_Static_Infantry_Division_%28Germany%29" title="716th Static Infantry Division (Germany)">716th Infantry Division (static)</a> had been replaced by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/352nd_Infantry_Division_%28Germany%29" title="352nd Infantry Division (Germany)">352nd</a> the previous March. Omaha was also the most heavily fortified beach, with high bluffs defended by funneled mortars, machine guns, and artillery, and the pre-landing aerial and naval bombardment of the bunkers proved to be ineffective. Difficulties in navigation caused the majority of landings to drift eastwards, missing their assigned sectors and the initial assault waves of tanks, infantry and engineers took heavy casualties. Of the 16 tanks that landed upon the shores of Omaha Beach only 2 survived the landing. The official record stated that "within 10 minutes of the ramps being lowered, [the leading] company had become inert, leaderless and almost incapable of action. Every officer and sergeant had been killed or wounded […] It had become a struggle for survival and rescue". Only a few gaps were blown in the beach obstacles, resulting in problems for subsequent landings. The heavily defended draws, the only vehicular routes off the beach, could not be taken and two hours after the first assault the beach was closed for all but infantry landings. Commanders (including General Omar Bradley) considered abandoning the beachhead, but small units of infantry, often forming <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hoc" title="Ad hoc">ad hoc</a> groups, supported by naval artillery and the surviving tanks, eventually infiltrated the coastal defenses by scaling the bluffs between strongpoints. Further infantry landings were able to exploit the initial penetrations and by the end of the day two isolated footholds had been established. American casualties at Omaha on D-Day numbered around 5,000 out of 50,000 men, most in the first few hours, while the Germans suffered 1,200 killed, wounded or missing. The tenuous beachhead was expanded over the following days, and the original D-Day objectives were accomplished by D+3.</p> <p><a name="Pointe_du_Hoc" id="Pointe_du_Hoc"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline">Pointe du Hoc</span></h3> <div class="rellink noprint relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointe_du_Hoc" title="Pointe du Hoc">Pointe du Hoc</a></div> <p>The massive concrete cliff-top gun emplacement at Pointe du Hoc was the target of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, commanded by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Earl_Rudder" title="James Earl Rudder">James Earl Rudder</a>. The task was to scale the 30 meter (100 ft) cliffs under enemy fire with ropes and ladders, and then attack and destroy the German coastal defense guns, which were thought to command the Omaha and Utah landing areas. The infantry commanders did not know that the guns had been moved prior to the attack, and they had to press farther inland to find them and eventually found and destroyed them. However, fortifications themselves were still vital targets since a single artillery forward observer based there could have called down accurate fire on the U.S. beaches. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Ranger" title="United States Army Ranger" class="mw-redirect">Rangers</a> were eventually successful, and captured the fortifications. They then had to fight for two days to hold the location, losing more than 60% of their men.</p> <p><a name="Utah_Beach" id="Utah_Beach"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline">Utah Beach</span></h3> <div class="rellink noprint relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_Beach" title="Utah Beach">Utah Beach</a></div> <p>Casualties on Utah Beach, the westernmost landing zone, were the lightest of any beach, with 197 out of the roughly 23,000 troops that landed. The 4th Infantry Division troops landing at Utah Beach found themselves in the wrong positions because of a current that pushed their landing craft to the southeast. Instead of landing at Tare Green and Uncle Red sectors, they came ashore at Victor sector, which was lightly defended, and as a result, relatively little German opposition was encountered. The 4th Infantry Division was able to press inland relatively easily over beach exits that had been seized from the inland side by the 502nd and 506th Parachute Infantry Regiments of the 101st Airborne Division. This was partially by accident, because their planned landing was further down the beach (Brig. Gen. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt_Jr" title="Theodore Roosevelt Jr" class="mw-redirect">Theodore Roosevelt Jr</a>, the Asst. Commander of 4th Division, upon discovering the landings were off course, was famous for stating "We will start the war from right here.") . By early afternoon, the 4th Infantry Division had succeeded in linking up with elements of the 101st. American casualties were light, and the troops were able to press inward much faster than expected, making it a near-complete success.</p> <p><a name="War_memorials_and_tourism" id="War_memorials_and_tourism"></a></p> <h2><span class="mw-headline">War memorials and tourism</span></h2> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Beny-sur-Mer_Cemetary.jpg" class="image" title="The Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery."><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Beny-sur-Mer_Cemetary.jpg/180px-Beny-sur-Mer_Cemetary.jpg" class="thumbimage" width="180" border="0" height="53" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Beny-sur-Mer_Cemetary.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><img src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" alt="" width="15" height="11" /></a></div> The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9ny-sur-Mer_Canadian_War_Cemetery" title="Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery">Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery</a>.</div> </div> </div> <p>The beaches at Normandy are still referred to on maps and signposts by their invasion codenames. There are several vast <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cemetery" title="Cemetery">cemeteries</a> in the area. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy_American_Cemetery_and_Memorial" title="Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial">American cemetery</a>, in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colleville-sur-Mer" title="Colleville-sur-Mer">Colleville-sur-Mer</a>, contains row upon row of identical white <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_cross" title="Christian cross">crosses</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_David" title="Star of David">Stars of David</a>, immaculately kept, commemorating the American dead. Commonwealth graves, in many locations, use white headstones engraved with the person's religious symbol and their unit insignia. The largest cemetery in Normandy is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Cambe_German_war_cemetery" title="La Cambe German war cemetery">La Cambe German war cemetery</a>, which features granite stones almost flush with the ground and groups of low-set crosses. There is also a Polish cemetery.</p> <div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 352px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cimeti%C3%A8re_allemand_de_La_Cambe_-_pano.jpg" class="image" title="The German War cemetery in La Cambe"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Cimeti%C3%A8re_allemand_de_La_Cambe_-_pano.jpg/350px-Cimeti%C3%A8re_allemand_de_La_Cambe_-_pano.jpg" class="thumbimage" width="350" border="0" height="125" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cimeti%C3%A8re_allemand_de_La_Cambe_-_pano.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><img src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" alt="" width="15" height="11" /></a></div> The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Cambe_German_war_cemetery" title="La Cambe German war cemetery">German War cemetery in La Cambe</a></div> </div> </div> <p>Streets near the beaches are still named after the units that fought there, and occasional markers commemorate notable incidents. At significant points, such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointe_du_Hoc" title="Pointe du Hoc">Pointe du Hoc</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegasus_Bridge" title="Pegasus Bridge">Pegasus Bridge</a>, there are plaques, memorials or small museums. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulberry_harbour" title="Mulberry harbour">Mulberry harbour</a> still sits in the sea at Arromanches. In Sainte-Mère-Église, a dummy paratrooper hangs from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte-M%C3%A8re-%C3%89glise#D-Day_Battle" title="Sainte-Mère-Église">church spire</a>. On Juno Beach, the Canadian government has built the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juno_Beach_Centre" title="Juno Beach Centre">Juno Beach Information Centre</a>, commemorating one of the most significant events in Canadian military history. In Caen is a large <a href="http://www.memorial.fr/indexgb.htm" class="external text" title="http://www.memorial.fr/indexgb.htm" rel="nofollow">Museum for Peace</a>, which is dedicated to peace generally, rather than only to the battle.</p> <p><a name="See_also" id="See_also"></a></p> <h2><span class="mw-headline">See also</span></h2> <div class="noprint tright portal" style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0.5em 0pt 0.5em 0.5em;"> <table style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 85%; line-height: 110%;"> <tbody><tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Portal.svg" class="image" title="Portal.svg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Portal.svg/28px-Portal.svg.png" width="28" border="0" height="28" /></a></td> <td style="padding: 0pt 0.2em;"><i><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:World_War_II" title="Portal:World War II">World War II portal</a></b></i></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Normandy" title="Invasion of Normandy">Invasion of Normandy</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Allied_warships_in_the_Normandy_Landings" title="List of Allied warships in the Normandy Landings">List of Allied warships in the Normandy Landings</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Longest_Day_%28film%29" title="The Longest Day (film)"><i>The Longest Day</i></a>, the 1962 Oscar-winning film dramatization of the event</li></ul> <p><a name="References" id="References"></a></p> <h2><span class="mw-headline">References</span></h2> <div class="references-small"> <ol class="references"><li id="cite_note-0"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-0" title="">^</a></b> <a href="http://www.ddaymuseum.co.uk/faq.htm#casualties" class="external text" title="http://www.ddaymuseum.co.uk/faq.htm#casualties" rel="nofollow">Frequently Asked Questions for D-Day and the Battle of Normandy (casualties).</a></li><li id="cite_note-1"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-1" title="">^</a></b> <a href="http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=history/secondwar/canada2/normandy" class="external text" title="http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=history/secondwar/canada2/normandy" rel="nofollow">The Landings in Normandy - Veterans Affairs Canada</a></li><li id="cite_note-2"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-2" title="">^</a></b> <cite style="font-style: normal;" class="book" id="CITEREFHakim1995">Hakim, Joy (1995). <i><span>A History of Us: War, Peace and all that Jazz</span></i>. New York: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_University_Press" title="Oxford University Press">Oxford University Press</a>. pp. 157–161. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0195095146" class="internal">ISBN 0-19-509514-6</a>.</cite><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=A+History+of+Us%3A+War%2C+Peace+and+all+that+Jazz&rft.aulast=Hakim&rft.aufirst=Joy&rft.au=Hakim%2C+Joy&rft.date=1995&rft.pages=pp.%26nbsp%3B157%E2%80%93161&rft.place=New+York&rft.pub=%5B%5BOxford+University+Press%5D%5D&rft.isbn=0-19-509514-6&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Normandy_Landings"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li id="cite_note-USMil-3">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-USMil_3-0" title=""><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-USMil_3-1" title=""><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite style="font-style: normal;" class="web"><a href="http://www.army.mil/d-day/" class="external text" title="http://www.army.mil/d-day/" rel="nofollow">"D-Day June 6, 1944"</a>. <i><span>www.army.mil US Army Official website</span></i><span class="printonly">. <a href="http://www.army.mil/d-day/" class="external free" title="http://www.army.mil/d-day/" rel="nofollow">http://www.army.mil/d-day/</a></span><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved on 2009-05-14</span>.</cite><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.btitle=D-Day+June+6%2C+1944&rft.atitle=www.army.mil+US+Army+Official+website&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.army.mil%2Fd-day%2F&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Normandy_Landings"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li id="cite_note-4"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-4" title="">^</a></b> <cite style="font-style: normal;" class="book" id="CITEREFAmbrose1994"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Ambrose" title="Stephen Ambrose">Ambrose, Stephen E.</a> (1994). <i><span>D-Day</span></i>. New York: Simon & Schuster. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/068480137X" class="internal">ISBN 0-684-80137-X</a>.</cite><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=D-Day&rft.aulast=Ambrose&rft.aufirst=Stephen+E.&rft.au=Ambrose%2C+Stephen+E.&rft.date=1994&rft.place=New+York&rft.pub=Simon+%26+Schuster&rft.isbn=0-684-80137-X&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Normandy_Landings"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li id="cite_note-5"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-5" title="">^</a></b> <a href="http://www.ddaymuseum.co.uk/faq.htm#overlord" class="external text" title="http://www.ddaymuseum.co.uk/faq.htm#overlord" rel="nofollow">Frequently Asked Questions for D-Day and the Battle of Normandy.</a></li><li id="cite_note-6"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-6" title="">^</a></b> <cite style="font-style: normal;" class="web"><a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dday/peopleevents/p_rommel.html" class="external text" title="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dday/peopleevents/p_rommel.html" rel="nofollow">"D-Day, People & Events: Erwin Rommel (1891-1944)"</a>. American Experience, PBS<span class="printonly">. <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dday/peopleevents/p_rommel.html" class="external free" title="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dday/peopleevents/p_rommel.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dday/peopleevents/p_rommel.html</a></span><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved on 2009-06-05</span>.</cite><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.btitle=D-Day%2C+People+%26+Events%3A+Erwin+Rommel+%281891-1944%29&rft.atitle=&rft.pub=American+Experience%2C+PBS&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fwgbh%2Famex%2Fdday%2Fpeopleevents%2Fp_rommel.html&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Normandy_Landings"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li id="cite_note-DDayFAQ-7">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-DDayFAQ_7-0" title=""><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-DDayFAQ_7-1" title=""><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-DDayFAQ_7-2" title=""><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-DDayFAQ_7-3" title=""><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-DDayFAQ_7-4" title=""><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-DDayFAQ_7-5" title=""><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a> <cite style="font-style: normal;" class="web"><a href="http://www.britannica.com/dday/article-236192" class="external text" title="http://www.britannica.com/dday/article-236192" rel="nofollow">"Britannica guide to D-Day 1944"</a><span class="printonly">. <a href="http://www.britannica.com/dday/article-236192" class="external free" title="http://www.britannica.com/dday/article-236192" rel="nofollow">http://www.britannica.com/dday/article-236192</a></span><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved on 2007-10-30</span>.</cite><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.btitle=Britannica+guide+to+D-Day+1944&rft.atitle=&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.britannica.com%2Fdday%2Farticle-236192&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Normandy_Landings"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span> Also <i>Keegan, John:The Second World War</i><sup class="noprint Inline-Template" title="This citation requires a reference to the specific page or range of pages at in which the material appears." style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources">page needed</a></i>]</sup>.</li><li id="cite_note-8"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-8" title="">^</a></b> <cite style="font-style: normal;" class="web"><a href="http://www.britannica.com/dday/article-236192" class="external text" title="http://www.britannica.com/dday/article-236192" rel="nofollow">"Britannica guide to D-Day 1944"</a><span class="printonly">. <a href="http://www.britannica.com/dday/article-236192" class="external free" title="http://www.britannica.com/dday/article-236192" rel="nofollow">http://www.britannica.com/dday/article-236192</a></span><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved on 2007-10-30</span>.</cite><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.btitle=Britannica+guide+to+D-Day+1944&rft.atitle=&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.britannica.com%2Fdday%2Farticle-236192&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Normandy_Landings"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li id="cite_note-9"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-9" title="">^</a></b> <cite style="font-style: normal;" class="web"><a href="http://www.britannica.com/dday/article-9389939" class="external text" title="http://www.britannica.com/dday/article-9389939" rel="nofollow">"Britannica guide to D-Day 1944"</a><span class="printonly">. <a href="http://www.britannica.com/dday/article-9389939" class="external free" title="http://www.britannica.com/dday/article-9389939" rel="nofollow">http://www.britannica.com/dday/article-9389939</a></span><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved on 2007-10-30</span>.</cite><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.btitle=Britannica+guide+to+D-Day+1944&rft.atitle=&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.britannica.com%2Fdday%2Farticle-9389939&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Normandy_Landings"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li id="cite_note-10"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-10" title="">^</a></b> <i>Vet Affairs</i>, 21(1), March 2005. <a href="http://www.dva.gov.au/vetaffairs/mar2005/page1.pdf." class="external text" title="http://www.dva.gov.au/vetaffairs/mar2005/page1.pdf." rel="nofollow">PDF copy</a></li><li id="cite_note-TOCTWW2c-11">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-TOCTWW2c_11-0" title=""><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-TOCTWW2c_11-1" title=""><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-TOCTWW2c_11-2" title=""><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-TOCTWW2c_11-3" title=""><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-TOCTWW2c_11-4" title=""><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> Map 81, <cite style="font-style: normal;" class="book" id="CITEREFM.R.D._Foot.2C_I.C.B._Dear2005">M.R.D. Foot, I.C.B. Dear, ed (2005). <i><span>The Oxford Companion to World War II</span></i>. Oxford University Press. pp. 663. ISBN 9-780192-806666.</cite><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Oxford+Companion+to+World+War+II&rft.date=2005&rft.pages=pp.%26nbsp%3B663&rft.pub=Oxford+University+Press&rft.isbn=9-780192-806666&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Normandy_Landings"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li id="cite_note-johnhbradley1-12"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-johnhbradley1_12-0" title="">^</a></b> <cite style="font-style: normal;" class="book" id="CITEREFBradley2002">Bradley, John H. (2002). <i><a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=HP3-9NNz71sC&pg=PA290&lpg=PA290&ots=lzKtqLPDHv&output=html&sig=kOpC3DroIRJa_SduUsfycSA2vHo" class="external text" title="http://books.google.com/books?id=HP3-9NNz71sC&pg=PA290&lpg=PA290&ots=lzKtqLPDHv&output=html&sig=kOpC3DroIRJa_SduUsfycSA2vHo" rel="nofollow">The Second World War: Europe and the Mediterranean</a></i>. Square One Publishers. pp. 290. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0757001629" class="internal">ISBN 0757001629</a><span class="printonly">. <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=HP3-9NNz71sC&pg=PA290&lpg=PA290&ots=lzKtqLPDHv&output=html&sig=kOpC3DroIRJa_SduUsfycSA2vHo" class="external free" title="http://books.google.com/books?id=HP3-9NNz71sC&pg=PA290&lpg=PA290&ots=lzKtqLPDHv&output=html&sig=kOpC3DroIRJa_SduUsfycSA2vHo" rel="nofollow">http://books.google.com/books?id=HP3-9NNz71sC&pg=PA290&lpg=PA290&ots=lzKtqLPDHv&output=html&sig=kOpC3DroIRJa_SduUsfycSA2vHo</a></span><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved on 2007-11-16</span>.</cite><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Second+World+War%3A+Europe+and+the+Mediterranean&rft.aulast=Bradley&rft.aufirst=John+H.&rft.au=Bradley%2C+John+H.&rft.date=2002&rft.pages=pp.%26nbsp%3B290&rft.pub=Square+One+Publishers&rft.isbn=0757001629&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DHP3-9NNz71sC%26pg%3DPA290%26lpg%3DPA290%26ots%3DlzKtqLPDHv%26output%3Dhtml%26sig%3DkOpC3DroIRJa_SduUsfycSA2vHo&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Normandy_Landings"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li id="cite_note-13"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-13" title="">^</a></b> <cite style="font-style: normal;" class="book" id="CITEREFWilmot1952">Wilmot, Chester (1952). <i><span>The Struggle for Europe</span></i>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1853266779" class="internal">ISBN 1853266779</a>.</cite><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Struggle+for+Europe&rft.aulast=Wilmot&rft.aufirst=Chester&rft.au=Wilmot%2C+Chester&rft.date=1952&rft.isbn=1853266779&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Normandy_Landings"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li id="cite_note-14"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-14" title="">^</a></b> Tippelskirch, Kurt von, Geschichte des Zweiten Weltkriegs. 1956</li><li id="cite_note-15"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-15" title="">^</a></b> La Seconde Guerre Mondiale–Hors-série Images Doc ISSN 0995-1121–June 2004</li><li id="cite_note-16"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-16" title="">^</a></b> Verlaine originally wrote, "<i><b>Blessent</b></i> <i>mon coeur</i>" (wound my heart). The BBC replaced Verlaine's original words with the slightly modified lyrics of a song entitled <i>Verlaine (Chanson d'Automne)</i> by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Trenet" title="Charles Trenet">Charles Trenet</a>.</li><li id="cite_note-Foot143-17">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-Foot143_17-0" title=""><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-Foot143_17-1" title=""><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> M.R.D. Foot, <i>SOE</i>, BBC Publications 1984, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0563201932" class="internal">ISBN 0-563-20193-2</a>. p. 143.</li><li id="cite_note-18"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-18" title="">^</a></b> <cite style="font-style: normal;" class="web" id="CITEREFvon_Rundstedt">von Rundstedt, Gerd. <a href="http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq109-5.htm" class="external text" title="http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq109-5.htm" rel="nofollow">"German Commander-in-Chief West, Field Marshal Karl R. Gerd von Rundstedt's Report on the Allied Invasion of Normandy"</a>. U.S. Department of the Navy - Naval Historical Center<span class="printonly">. <a href="http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq109-5.htm" class="external free" title="http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq109-5.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq109-5.htm</a></span><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved on May 5, 2009</span>.</cite><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.btitle=German+Commander-in-Chief+West%2C+Field+Marshal+Karl+R.+Gerd+von+Rundstedt%27s+Report+on+the+Allied+Invasion+of+Normandy&rft.atitle=&rft.aulast=von+Rundstedt&rft.aufirst=Gerd&rft.au=von+Rundstedt%2C+Gerd&rft.pub=U.S.+Department+of+the+Navy+-+Naval+Historical+Center&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.history.navy.mil%2Ffaqs%2Ffaq109-5.htm&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Normandy_Landings"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li id="cite_note-19"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-19" title="">^</a></b> <cite style="font-style: normal;" class="web"><a href="http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=45278" class="external text" title="http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=45278" rel="nofollow">"The Passing of the Torch. (See quote box on right hand side of the page)"</a>. <i><span>American Forces Press Service News Articles</span></i><span class="printonly">. <a href="http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=45278" class="external free" title="http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=45278" rel="nofollow">http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=45278</a></span><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved on 2009-02-05</span>.</cite><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.btitle=The+Passing+of+the+Torch.+%28See+quote+box+on+right+hand+side+of+the+page%29&rft.atitle=American+Forces+Press+Service+News+Articles&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.defenselink.mil%2Fnews%2Fnewsarticle.aspx%3Fid%3D45278&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Normandy_Landings"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li id="cite_note-20"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-20" title="">^</a></b> <cite style="font-style: normal;" class="web"><a href="http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/d-day-message/" class="external text" title="http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/d-day-message/" rel="nofollow">"Teaching With Documents: Message Drafted by General Eisenhower in Case the D-Day Invasion Failed and Photographs Taken on D-Day"</a>. <i><span>U.S. National Archives</span></i><span class="printonly">. <a href="http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/d-day-message/" class="external free" title="http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/d-day-message/" rel="nofollow">http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/d-day-message/</a></span>.</cite><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.btitle=Teaching+With+Documents%3A+Message+Drafted+by+General+Eisenhower+in+Case+the+D-Day+Invasion+Failed+and+Photographs+Taken+on+D-Day&rft.atitle=U.S.+National+Archives&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.archives.gov%2Feducation%2Flessons%2Fd-day-message%2F&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Normandy_Landings"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li id="cite_note-21"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-21" title="">^</a></b> Corta, Henry (1921-1998), a Free French SAS lieutenant veteran, (1952) : <i>les bérets rouges</i> (red berets).</li><li id="cite_note-22"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-22" title="">^</a></b> Corta, Henry, (1997) : <i>Qui ose gagne</i> (Who dares wins).</li><li id="cite_note-23"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-23" title="">^</a></b> Stacey, C.P. <i>Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War. Volume III: The Victory Campaign</i></li><li id="cite_note-24"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day#cite_ref-24" title="">^</a></b> Martin, Charles Cromwell <i>Battle Diary</i> (Dundurn Press, Toronto, 1994) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/155002213X" class="internal">ISBN 1-55002-213-X</a> p.16</li></ol> </div> <p><a name="Bibliography" id="Bibliography"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline">Bibliography</span></h3> <ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Ambrose" title="Stephen Ambrose">Ambrose, Stephen</a>. <i>D-Day June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II</i>. New york: Simon & Schuster, 1995. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0671884034" class="internal">ISBN 0671884034</a>.</li><li>Badsey, Stephen. <i>Normandy 1944: Allied Landings and Breakout</i>. Botley, Oxford: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osprey_Publishing" title="Osprey Publishing">Osprey Publishing</a>, 1990. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780850459210" class="internal">ISBN 978-0850459210</a>.</li><li>D'Este, Carlo. <i>Decision in Normandy: The Unwritten Story of Montgomery and the Allied Campaign</i>. London: William Collins Sons, 1983. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0002170566" class="internal">ISBN 0002170566</a>.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._R._D._Foot" title="M. R. D. Foot">Foot, M. R. D.</a> <i>SOE: An Outline History of the Special Operations Executive 1940–46.</i>. BBC Publications, 1984. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0563201932" class="internal">ISBN 0563201932</a>.</li><li>Ford, Ken. <i>D-Day 1944 (3): Sword Beach & the British Airborne Landings</i>. Botley, Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2002. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781841763668" class="internal">ISBN 978-1841763668</a>.</li><li>Ford, Ken. <i>D-Day 1944 (4): Gold & Juno Beaches</i>. Botley, Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2002. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781841763682" class="internal">ISBN 978-1841763682</a>.</li><li>Hamilton, Nigel. "Montgomery, Bernard Law" in <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography" title="Dictionary of National Biography">Oxford Dictionary of National Biography</a></i>. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/019861411X" class="internal">ISBN 019861411X</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0198613512" class="internal">ISBN 0198613512</a>.</li><li>Herington, John. <i>Air Power Over Europe, 1944–1945</i>, 1st edition (<i>Official History of Australia in the Second World War Volume IV</i>). Canberra: Australian War Memorial 1963.</li><li>Holderfield, Randal J., and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_J._Varhola" title="Michael J. Varhola">Michael J. Varhola</a>. <i>D-Day: The Invasion of Normandy, June 6, 1944</i>. Mason City, Iowa: Savas Publishing, 2001. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1882810457" class="internal">ISBN 1882810457</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1882810465" class="internal">ISBN 1882810465</a>.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Keegan" title="John Keegan">Keegan, John</a>. <i>The Second World War</i>. London: Hutchinson, 1989. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0091740118" class="internal">ISBN 0091740118</a>.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Keegan" title="John Keegan">Keegan, John</a>. <i>Six Armies in Normandy: From D-Day to the Liberation of Paris</i>. New York: Penguin Books, 1994. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0140235426" class="internal">ISBN 0140235426</a>.</li><li>Kershaw, Alex. <i>The Bedford Boys: One American Town's Ultimate D-Day Sacrifice</i>. Cambridge, Mass.: Da Capo Press, 2003. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0306813556" class="internal">ISBN 0306813556</a>.</li><li>"Morning: Normandy Invasion (June–August 1944)". <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_at_War" title="The World at War">The World at War</a></i> episode 17. B Btish Broadcasting Corporation. 1974.</li><li>Neillands, Robin. <i>The Battle of Normandy, 1944</i>. London: Cassell, 2002. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0304358371" class="internal">ISBN 0304358371</a>.</li><li>Rozhnov, Konstantin. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4508901.stm" class="external text" title="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4508901.stm" rel="nofollow"><i>Who won World War II?</i></a>. BBC News, 5 May 2005.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornelius_Ryan" title="Cornelius Ryan">Ryan, Cornelius</a>. <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Longest_Day_%28book%29" title="The Longest Day (book)">The Longest Day</a></i>, 2nd ed. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1959. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0671208144" class="internal">ISBN 0-671-20814-4</a>.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.P._Stacey" title="C.P. Stacey" class="mw-redirect">Stacey, C.P.</a> <i>Canada's Battle in Normandy: The Canadian Army's Share in the Operations, 6 June–1 September 1944</i>. Ottawa: King's Printer, 1946.</li><li><cite style="font-style: normal;" class="book" id="CITEREFStacey1960"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.P._Stacey" title="C.P. Stacey" class="mw-redirect">Stacey, C.P.</a> (1960) (PDF). <i><a href="http://www.dnd.ca/dhh/collections/books/files/books/Victory_e.pdf" class="external text" title="http://www.dnd.ca/dhh/collections/books/files/books/Victory_e.pdf" rel="nofollow">Volume III. The Victory Campaign, The Operations in North-West Europe 1944–1945</a></i>. Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War. Ottawa: Department of National Defence<span class="printonly">. <a href="http://www.dnd.ca/dhh/collections/books/files/books/Victory_e.pdf" class="external free" title="http://www.dnd.ca/dhh/collections/books/files/books/Victory_e.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.dnd.ca/dhh/collections/books/files/books/Victory_e.pdf</a></span>.</cite><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Volume+III.+The+Victory+Campaign%2C+The+Operations+in+North-West+Europe+1944%E2%80%931945&rft.aulast=Stacey&rft.aufirst=C.P.&rft.au=Stacey%2C+C.P.&rft.date=1960&rft.series=Official+History+of+the+Canadian+Army+in+the+Second+World+War&rft.place=Ottawa&rft.pub=Department+of+National+Defence&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dnd.ca%2Fdhh%2Fcollections%2Fbooks%2Ffiles%2Fbooks%2FVictory_e.pdf&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Normandy_Landings"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li>Tute, Warren, John Costello, Terry Hughes. <i>D-Day</i>. London: Pan Books Ltd, 1975. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0330244183" class="internal">ISBN 0330244183</a>.</li><li>Warner, Phillip. <i>The D-Day Landings</i>. <a href="http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/?product_id=752" class="external text" title="http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/?product_id=752" rel="nofollow">Pen and Sword Books Ltd</a>, 2004. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1844151093" class="internal">ISBN 1844151093</a>.</li><li>Whitlock, Flint. <i>The Fighting First: The Untold Story of The Big Red One on D-Day</i>. Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press, 2004. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/081334218X" class="internal">ISBN 081334218X</a>.</li><li>Wilmot, Chester. (Written in part by Christopher Daniel McDevitt.) <i>The Struggle For Europe</i>. Ware, Hertfordshire: Wordsworth Editions Ltd, 1997. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1853266779" class="internal">ISBN 1853266779</a>.</li><li>Zaloga, Steven J. <i>D-Day 1944 (1): Omaha Beach</i>. Botley, Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2003. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781841763675" class="internal">ISBN 978-1841763675</a>.</li><li>Zaloga, Steven J. <i>D-Day 1944 (2): Utah Beach & the US Airborne Landings</i>. Botley, Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2004. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781841763651" class="internal">ISBN 978-1841763651</a>.</li><li>Zetterling, Niklas. <i>Normandy 1944: German Military Organisation, Combat Power and Organizational Effectiveness</i>. Winnipeg: J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing Inc., 2000. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0921991568" class="internal">ISBN 0921991568</a>.</li></ul> <p><a name="External_links" id="External_links"></a></p> <h2><span class="mw-headline">External links</span></h2> <ul><li><a href="http://www.dday-overlord.com/eng/index.htm" class="external text" title="http://www.dday-overlord.com/eng/index.htm" rel="nofollow">D-Day</a> The whole battle of Normandy : history, pictures, testimonies.</li><li><a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/system/topicRoot/D_Day/" class="external text" title="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/system/topicRoot/D_Day/" rel="nofollow">D-Day</a> Original reports and pictures from The Times</li><li><a href="http://www.omaha-beach-memorial.org/" class="external text" title="http://www.omaha-beach-memorial.org" rel="nofollow">Omaha Beach Memorial</a></li><li><a href="http://www.29infantrydivision.org/" class="external text" title="http://www.29infantrydivision.org" rel="nofollow">29th Infantry Division Historical Society</a></li><li><cite style="font-style: normal;" class="web" id="CITEREFStaceyBond.2C_Major_C.C.J.">Stacey, Colonel Charles Perry; Bond, Major C.C.J.. <a href="http://www.dnd.ca/dhh/collections/books/files/books/Victory_e.pdf" class="external text" title="http://www.dnd.ca/dhh/collections/books/files/books/Victory_e.pdf" rel="nofollow">"Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War: Volume III. The Victory Campaign: The operations in North-West Europe 1944-1945"</a> (PDF). The Queen's Printer and Controller of Stationery Ottawa<span class="printonly">. <a href="http://www.dnd.ca/dhh/collections/books/files/books/Victory_e.pdf" class="external free" title="http://www.dnd.ca/dhh/collections/books/files/books/Victory_e.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.dnd.ca/dhh/collections/books/files/books/Victory_e.pdf</a></span><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved on 2008-08-20</span>.</cite><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.btitle=Official+History+of+the+Canadian+Army+in+the+Second+World+War%3A+Volume+III.+The+Victory+Campaign%3A+The+operations+in+North-West+Europe+1944-1945&rft.atitle=&rft.aulast=Stacey&rft.aufirst=Colonel+Charles+Perry&rft.au=Stacey%2C+Colonel+Charles+Perry&rft.au=Bond%2C+Major+C.C.J.&rft.pub=The+Queen%27s+Printer+and+Controller+of+Stationery+Ottawa&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dnd.ca%2Fdhh%2Fcollections%2Fbooks%2Ffiles%2Fbooks%2FVictory_e.pdf&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Normandy_Landings"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></li><li><a href="http://www.americandday.org/" class="external text" title="http://www.americandday.org" rel="nofollow"><i>American D-Day: Omaha Beach, Utah Beach & Pointe du Hoc</i></a></li><li><a href="http://www.american-divisions.com/doc.asp?documentid=106" class="external text" title="http://www.american-divisions.com/doc.asp?documentid=106" rel="nofollow">Neptune Operations Plan</a></li><li><a href="http://www.american-divisions.com/doc.asp?documentid=128" class="external text" title="http://www.american-divisions.com/doc.asp?documentid=128" rel="nofollow">Debriefing Conference Operation Neptune</a></li><li><a href="http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/rep/Normandy/ComNavEu/ComNavEu-416.html#cn418-4" class="external text" title="http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/rep/Normandy/ComNavEu/ComNavEu-416.html#cn418-4" rel="nofollow">US report on <i>Neptune</i></a></li><li><a href="http://www.6juin1944.com/en_index.html" class="external text" title="http://www.6juin1944.com/en_index.html" rel="nofollow">D-Day : Etat des Lieux - 6 June 1944 and Battle of Normandy</a></li><li><a href="http://www.naval-history.net/WW2CampaignsNormandy.htm" class="external text" title="http://www.naval-history.net/WW2CampaignsNormandy.htm" rel="nofollow">Naval details for <i>Overlord</i></a></li><li><a href="http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/CHESHIRE/2006-05/1148328214" class="external text" title="http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/CHESHIRE/2006-05/1148328214" rel="nofollow">HMS <i>Tanatside</i></a></li><li><a href="http://www.britannica.com/normandy/pri/Q00282.html" class="external text" title="http://www.britannica.com/normandy/pri/Q00282.html" rel="nofollow">Encyclopaedia Britannica</a></li><li><a href="http://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/remembering1942/dday/index.asp" class="external text" title="http://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/remembering1942/dday/index.asp" rel="nofollow">Australians and D-Day</a></li><li><a href="http://eisenhower.archives.gov/Research/Digital_Documents/DDay/ddaypage.html" class="external text" title="http://eisenhower.archives.gov/Research/Digital_Documents/DDay/ddaypage.html" rel="nofollow">Documents on D-Day, the Invasion of Normandy at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library</a></li><li><a href="http://www.awesomestories.com/history/normandy-invasion" class="external text" title="http://www.awesomestories.com/history/normandy-invasion" rel="nofollow">D-Day with historical video footage from British, Canadian, American and German national archives</a></li></ul>Katon Tin Tonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461029036338123501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167340942843568000.post-68879442475618908212009-05-04T19:51:00.000-07:002009-05-04T19:54:34.414-07:00World of Warcraft Power Leveling VS. World of Warcraft Accounts<b>Many World of Warcraft players of today purchases World of Warcraft powerleveling and WoW accounts to enhance their World of Warcraft characters.<br /><br /></b><p>There are many advantages and disvantages to buying a World of Warcraft powerleveling or a used World of Warcraft account. They both serve similar purposes in which you can start playing at a much higher level rather than starting fresh at level 1.</p> <p>If you buy a WoW power leveling session you are basically just hiring players to level up your character in which can save you time. Power leveling sessions are really cheap, normally alot less than the $5/hr minimum wage offered in the US because most of the workers who are leveling are based in China. Not only that but they normally are able to level faster than the average player considering they have workers rotating shifts along with many many practices in the game. One of the best part of leveling a brand new character is that you will have a fresh reputation of the character and you would be able to name the character as you like. You can even have the character trained the way you want as well. The disadvantage of a WoW power leveling session is that during the session you wouldn't be able to log on and play the character until its been completed. So for a little downtime you get to have your character at the level you want at next to maximum speed.</p> <p>Buying a used World of Warcraft account is very similar to power leveling. The advantage is that your character will likely be geard with some nice equipment and you won't need to spend the time waiting for the character to be leveled. It's a faster option of power leveling. But unlike power leveling, you won't have some privileges if you buy a used account such as naming the character with what you want and training the character the way you prefer. Along with that you may have to live with the reputation that the previous owner lived up to. It may be good but not always. It's a little risk that comes with it.</p> <p>Both methods are great, as for pricing, I would think a used account would cost less since. Power levelers usually have their own rate as to a player quitting the game and selling their account. If you prefer to have a more fresh start, go with power leveling. If you prefer the speed then a used account would be optional but of course you would need to spend the time finding the account as well. Visit <a href="http://www.buyingwowgold.com/">http://www.buyingwowgold.com</a> for a free buyers guide relating to buying mmorpg currencies, accounts<a href="http://www.articlesfactory.com/articles/psychology.html"><img src="http://www.articlesfactory.com/pic/x.gif" alt="Psychology Articles" border="0" /></a>, power leveling and items. You can also find a farming guide at <a href="http://www.wowgoldguide.com/">WoW Gold Guide</a>.</p>Source: <a href="http://www.articlesfactory.com/" class="small-link" title="Free Articles">Free Articles</a> from ArticlesFactory.com<br /><br />About The Author<br /><br />Ruibo is the marketing manager of Team-VIP and is always finding ways to help players enjoy the game in different perspectives. Their store offers both <a href="http://www.rpg-trader.com/world_of_warcraft/1.php">World of Warcraft Power Leveling</a> and <a href="http://www.rpg-trader.com/world_of_warcraft/1.php">WoW Accounts</a>.<p><br /></p>Katon Tin Tonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461029036338123501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167340942843568000.post-9571770669313058922009-05-04T19:50:00.000-07:002009-05-04T19:51:22.394-07:00Civil WarThe American Civil War (1861–1865), also known as the War Between the States and several other names, was a civil war in the United States of America. Eleven Southern slave states declared their secession from the U.S. and formed the Confederate States of America (the Confederacy). Led by Jefferson Davis, they fought against the U.S. federal government (the "Union"), which was supported by all the free states and the five border slave states in the north.<br /><br />In the presidential election of 1860, the Republican Party, led by Abraham Lincoln, had campaigned against the expansion of slavery beyond the states in which it already existed. The Republican victory in that election resulted in seven Southern states declaring their secession from the Union even before Lincoln took office on March 4, 1861. Both the outgoing and incoming U.S. administrations rejected secession, regarding it as rebellion.<br /><br />Hostilities began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces attacked a U.S. military installation at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. Lincoln responded by calling for a volunteer army from each state, leading to declarations of secession by four more Southern slave states. Both sides raised armies as the Union assumed control of the border states early in the war and established a naval blockade. In September 1862, Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation made ending slavery in the South a war goal, and dissuaded the British from intervening. Confederate commander Robert E. Lee won battles in the east, but in 1863 his northward advance was turned back at Gettysburg and, in the west, the Union gained control of the Mississippi River at the Battle of Vicksburg, thereby splitting the Confederacy. Long-term Union advantages in men and material were realized in 1864 when Ulysses S. Grant fought battles of attrition against Lee, while Union general William Sherman captured Atlanta, Georgia, and marched to the sea. Confederate resistance collapsed after Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.<br /><br />The American Civil War was the deadliest war in American history, causing 620,000 soldier deaths, and an undetermined number of civilian casualties, ending slavery in the United States, restoring the Union, and strengthening the role of the federal government. The social, political, economic and racial issues of the war decisively shaped the reconstruction era that lasted to 1877, and brought changes that helped make the country a united super power.Katon Tin Tonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461029036338123501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167340942843568000.post-57030385933042606502009-05-04T19:45:00.000-07:002009-05-04T19:48:52.755-07:00Korean WarThe Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korea (officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) and South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea) regimes, with major hostilities lasting from June 25, 1950 until the armistice signed on July 27, 1953. The conflict arose from the attempts of the two Korean powers to re-unify Korea under their respective governments. The period immediately before the war was marked by escalating border conflicts at the 38th Parallel and attempts to negotiate elections for the entirety of Korea. These negotiations ended when the North Korean Army invaded the South on June 25, 1950. Under the aegis of the United Nations, nations allied with the United States intervened on behalf of South Korea. After rapid advances in a South Korean counterattack, North-allied Chinese forces intervened on behalf of North Korea, shifting the balance of the war and ultimately leading to an armistice that approximately restored the original boundaries between North and South Korea.<br /><br />While some have referred to the conflict as a civil war, many other factors were at play. Each side was supported by external powers and the conflict expanded, becoming a proxy war in the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. The term has also been used to describe both the events preceding and following the main hostilities.Katon Tin Tonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461029036338123501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167340942843568000.post-12940949358372909592009-05-04T03:44:00.000-07:002009-05-04T03:45:22.485-07:00Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia from 1959 to April 30, 1975. The war was fought between the communist North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of South Vietnam, supported by the United States and other member nations of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO).<br /><br />The Vietcong, the lightly armed South Vietnamese communist insurgency, largely fought a guerrilla war against anti-communist forces in the region. The North Vietnamese Army engaged in a more conventional war, at times committing large-sized units into battle. U.S. and South Vietnamese forces relied on air superiority and overwhelming firepower to conduct search-and-destroy operations, involving ground forces, artillery and air strikes.<br /><br />The United States entered the war to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam as part of their wider strategy of containment. Military advisors arrived beginning in 1950. U.S. involvement escalated in the early 1960s and combat units were deployed beginning in 1965. Involvement peaked in 1968 at the time of the Tet Offensive. Despite a peace treaty signed by all parties in January 1973, fighting continued. In April 1975, North Vietnam captured Saigon. North and South Vietnam were reunified the following year.<br /><br />The war exacted a huge human cost in terms of fatalities, including 3 to 4 million Vietnamese from both sides, 1.5 to 2 million Laotians and Cambodians, and 58,159 U.S. soldiers.Katon Tin Tonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461029036338123501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2167340942843568000.post-9269694624668071032009-05-04T03:34:00.000-07:002009-05-04T03:42:04.798-07:00World War 2World War II, or the Second World War (often abbreviated WWII or WW2), was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all of the great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. The war involved the mobilisation of over 100 million military personnel, making it the most widespread war in history. In a state of "total war", the major participants placed their complete economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities at the service of the war effort, erasing the distinction between civilian and military resources. Over seventy million people, the majority of whom were civilians, were killed, making it the deadliest conflict in human history.<br /><br />The start of the war is generally held to be in September 1st 1939 with the German invasion of Poland and subsequent declarations of war on Germany [4]by most of the countries in the British Commonwealth and France. Many belligerents were at war before or after this date, during a period which spanned from 1937 to 1941, as a result of other events. Amongst these main events are the Marco Polo Bridge Incident (fought between Nationalist China and Japan), the start of Operation Barbarossa (the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union), and the attacks on Pearl Harbor and British and Dutch colonies in South East Asia.<br /><br />After the war ended in 1945, the Soviet Union and the United States emerged as the world's superpowers. This set the stage for the Cold War, which lasted for the next 45 years. The United Nations was formed in the hope of preventing another such conflict. The acceptance of the right to self-determination accelerated decolonization movements in Asia and Africa, while Western Europe itself began moving toward integration.Katon Tin Tonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09461029036338123501noreply@blogger.com0