I remember this day every year. One of the most pivotal points in human history. :USA-flag: :USA-flag:
Not to disrespect the acchievements of the americans this day, but also Britain, Canada and other countries contributed to the D-day.
The "operation Overlord" was a well planned and sucsessfull invasion to the french shores that costed, compared to other battles, very few lives. Of the 156.000 who came ashore the 6th june, only 2500 lost their life. Thats about 1,6 prosent. Afterwards all went wrong and the movement to Berlin slowed down due to bad planning, lack of experience, unadecuate equipment and incompetent leadership to take advantage of the huge balance of power in part of the allies.
Bernard Law Montgomery Planned to take Caen the first night, but it took about 30 days. The americans should have breaked out within 14 days, but took 7 weeks. The battle for Normandie ended in the decisive battle of Falaise which costed more than 230 000 german casualties and about 200 000 allied.
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[The Allies had achieved this at a cost of 209,672 casualties, including 36,976 killed.
[10] The final battle of Operation Overlord—the
Liberation of Paris—followed on 25 August, and Overlord reached its effective end by 30 August with the retreat of the last German unit across the Seine.
[80]]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falaise_pocket
Sure the D-day contributed to the Allies vitory over Nazi-Germany, but according to some historians the mayor decisive battles where on the eastern front where the red army was the mayor contributor. For example it is widely "forgotten" that the Battle of Kursk 1943 and the summer offensive in Bellorussia 1944 was more important for the course of the war than the D-day. All in all it is regarded that about 11 million sovjets was killed in WW2. Thats about 22 million father and mothers who had to mourn over their loss of 17 to 20 year old son's that was leaded by a madman.
Compared to other great battles the D-day look more like skirmishes.
The battle of Bellorussia, Smolensk and Moskow 1941 took about 1,6 millions, the battle of Stalingrad winter 1942-43 about 973.000, the siege of Leningrad 900.000, Kiev 1941 about 650.000, Operation Bagration 1944, 450 000,The battle of Kursk 1943 340.000, Berlin 1945 250.000.
Peace and RiP to the fallen soldiers
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