Things change now as the German Waffen-SS start their move and plunder in their wake.The got a slight slow start from their placement inland around late June 6th.By June 10th they had become formidable and feared.These Waffern-SS soldiers were highly motivated and had the latest german war machinery.Most all had grown up in the German Nazi system and had loyal allegiance { to the last drop of blood } for their beloved Fuhrer.The Mission for the Waffen-SS was simple. Hitler's most lethal fighting force,the Waffen-SS was to stop Allied forces momentum from the beaches in order to prevent them from linking up with Paratroops and creating a massive front. Those stranded Paratroopers { were dropped 18 miles off from their drop zone } at Graignes got their first taste of the German Waffen-SS and their tanks.The initial assault by the Germans started on a sunday as some Paratroopers attended Sunday mass { Many French were catholics }. There was a big Catholic church in Graignes. Luckily a French gal screamed into that Church 20 minutes into mass. " The Germans are coming.The germans are coming! ".This was June 11th. It was a German battalion of around 500 soldiers.The American Paratroopers waiting since their misdrop on June 5th were ready.They mowed-down those german " in the first wave of german assault.The small group of Paratroopers managed to hold off wave after wave of attack from what they estimated was a German battalion.However the Germans along with the Waffen-SS storm into Graignes,Their presence overpowering.
You call "D-Day" what you want. It was a terrible operation and nearly failed against a 1/8 garrisoning of the sea wall with no higher ups commanding anything. I say it was a (*)(*)(*)(*) poor tactical decision but because of the existential circumstances (Rommel being on vacation, the garrisoned units being made up of a majority of youth troops, etc) we got lucky. We went the Russian way of doing things for a while, spam people at it and eventually it will crumble.
There was a certain amount of luck- good and bad- on both sides. In the end though, D-Day was a success- the Allies accomplished their objectives and that was the beginning of the Nazi's being driven out of Western Europe. And yes- both sides made mistakes- but mistakes are always happening. Perhaps we could do best by remembering the bravery of the men who fought- and died that day.
A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week. - George S. Patton
Having grown up on Saint Abraham Lincoln in the fifties, I am amazed to this day he is not recognized as 1) The Bloodiest President in American History 2) Making War on civilians. Even with deference to those times and preserve the Union, Lincoln and his results on the South until FDR was NOT worth it. Slavery would have ended anyways! Thus Spake Moi
My uncle was on the Nevada at Pearl Harbor. While the Pacific Fleet was being rebuilt he got to serve in the Atlantic. He never forgave The French for firing on his ship during the landings on North Africa And he got sunk and saved during Normandy. Then on to the Pacific war where he liked his Battleship postings because they were next to the "targeted" aircraft carriers and encircled by submarines, cruisers, destroyers, etc. His rank was, "Chief" and did not wish to become an officer. (Big fish, small pond better than , . . ) I was too young to fully grasp his stories that had to be pried out of him. He didn't like talking of the war and I was a kid of the fifties. Moi r > g View attachment 43793 Build The Wall! Across an immense, unguarded, ethereal border, Canadians, cool and unsympathetic, regard our America with envious eyes and slowly and surely draw their plans against us.
In the city of Saint-Lo alone,thousands of French citizens lost their life. The Germans decided to take over the city and make it their stand from the Incoming Allied force entering from the beach. It was a slaughter on both sides.As Saint-Lo went so went the entire Invasion. The city was reduced to rubble.Artillery and bombing raids virtually leveled the entire city. It is human nature that the French felt the United States was responsible,no matter how well the Liberation effort.
Didn't Saint Lo occur after the French fired on my Uncle's ship landing American troops in North Africa? Next excuse. Honor? French honor that is.
The Allied Forces had built portable harbors within a week of D-day in order to move equipment { heavy armor } and vehicles.The Normandy coast or Atlantic is known for it's heavy seas but unluckily,one of THE worst weather fronts in almost a century moves in and tears apart most of those makeshift,yet solid harbors. These artificial harbors at Mulberry and Omama beach were stretched thin with 20 foot waves crashing unto them.Some ships slightly off shore came perilously close to cracking in two.Unloading was closed down on Omaha beach thus denying needed amunitions.All unloading operation had to cease and that meant no reinforcements. Nobody could fly in that gale. Which meant air missions due to inclement weather was halted and germans took advantage by using the rail system in order to move toward the Invasion forces. By June 22 the 4 day weather event had done more damage to the beach area being used as an artificial harbor than 14 days of enemy guns firing ashore. The Giant concrete caissons of the artificial harbor had been scattered across Obama beach.The damage vastly exceeded D-day.By the time this storm was over there was 800 allied ships wrecked or run ashore and rendered unusable. Ammunition was now classified at a premium.General Omar Bradley was left to issue orders down to his units " Hey you're limited to a certain number of artillery shells fired per day.Because we don't have enough of it ashore. " Rifleman are running out of bullets.
Regardless the Allies continue their march to their D-day Objective. Saint-Lo. Meaning hedgerow country.Hitting one german trap after another.The casuality rate skyrockets.As one American soldier explained : " Well we had a saying in the 29th Division.We're three divisions in one. We have a division on the front line, a division in the hospital and a division in the cemetery. " Nearly a month after D-day { July 2nd } as the casuality rate is soaring.According to the original D-day plan the allies should have taken the crossroad city of Saint-Lo.But they're still some 13 miles away. Company commanders are being replaced by non-coms on a regular basis.By July 5th the Invasion forces are finally near the outskirts of Saint-Lo.But not before the strategic mission to use Hill 95 as a way to outmaneuver the strong german held defenses guarding the city of Saint-Lo using hedgerows to their utmost benefit. Hill 95 was a highpoint and key to controlling roadways into Saint-Lo.
I didn't expound on the strategic taking of Saint-Lo. Which was key to the success of the Normany D-day Invasion. " In the end D-Day lasted not one but 43 days.Dead and wounded 220,ooo allied troops and 240,ooo germans.Plus 50,ooo French civilians.Those who survived carry memories that never fade." It marked the end of hedgerow fighting and onto maneuver fighting. Led in part by General Patton's 3rd army.And liberating Paris within about a month.Then on to Berlin in about a year.
