D-Day
On D-Day, June 6, 1944, “Operation Overlord”, the long-awaited invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe, began with Allied armies from the U.S., Britain and Canada landing on the coast of Normandy. On D-Day, the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division landed on Juno Beach. The Canadian assault troops stormed ashore in the face of fierce opposition from German strongholds and mined beach obstacles. The soldiers raced across the wide-open beaches swept with machine gun fire, and stormed the gun positions. In fierce hand-to-hand fighting, they fought their way into the towns of Bernières, Courseulles and St. Aubin and then advanced inland, securing a critical bridgehead for the allied invasion. The victory was a turning point in World War II and led to the liberation of Europe and the defeat of Nazi Germany.
Fourteen thousand young Canadians stormed Juno Beach on D-Day. Their courage, determination and self-sacrifice were the immediate reasons for the success in those critical hours. The fighting they endured was fierce and frightening. The price they paid was high - the battles for the beachhead cost 340 Canadian lives and another 574 wounded. John Keegan, eminent British historian who wrote Six Armies in Normandy, stated the following concerning the Canadian 3rd Division on D-Day: “At the end of the day, its forward elements stood deeper into France than those of any other division. The opposition the Canadians faced was stronger than that of any other beach save Omaha. That was an accomplishment in which the whole nation could take considerable pride.”
I was lucky enough to have been to the beaches of Normandy and to the war cemetary in Beny Sur Mer just off of the coast seen above. Every Canadian should go there once in their life.
Over 1 million Canadians served in WWII - which was 10 per cent of the population at the time. Over 54,000 were injured and 42,042 didn't come home. They didn't get the chance to go to university, have kids, or grandkids. They didn't get to travel to Australia, didn't get to have a fun job, or wake up at the cottage during the summer...but millions and millions of others did because of them - me included. It's something we won't forget.
posted by The Vitamin's Blog @ 9:37 p.m.
1 Comments:
gordo, glad you recognize the significance of deeds of the fore fathers of your land. Ours tends to be Kokoda (a daughter has trekked this memorial path), of course Gallopi prior to this. Both of these based on retreats, Dad was wounded, the high brass accused them of cowardice, when visited Soldiers sat up in beds with lettuce leaves (run rabbit run). There was courage exhibited that research now proves, the top brass again got it infamously wrong and again another illustration of the ordinary Australians disdain of authority. There was also a famous parade when said Comander in Chief went to address the troops who turned their backs to him. And contiuing your oxymoron along comes Vietnam!
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