A friend of mine visited Normandy a while back, gave me these pictures, I'd love to go someday.


Pill Box overlooking Dieppe


Pill Box overlooking Dieppe


Allied Cemetary @ Dieppe


Allied Cemetary @ Dieppe


Allied Cemetary @ Dieppe


Pill Box overlooking Juno


Juno @ low tide


Juno @ low tide


Juno @ low tide


Omaha Beach (with what looks like pieces of mullberry still there)


Omaha


Omaha


Omaha @ Low tide


Omaha @ Low tide


Gun emplacement over Omaha


Gun emplacement over Omaha


Allied Cemetary


Allied Cemetary


Allied Cemetary


Allied Cemetary


I think omaha from the east


Panorama of Juno Beach



Panorama of Omaha Beach

Last edited by simms327 on Jun-08-2006 at 12:34

quote:

Originally posted by yankeeBaby Holy shamoly! I knew that we had all lost a lot of men, but the numbers in one day still gets to me.

Hehe, if that shocks you, try this on for size: battle of Stalingrad had an estimated 1.5 to 2 million casualties on both sides (the axis and the Soviets, including civilians).

My point is not to devalue the importance of those that lost their lives, but I think people focus too much on the casualties of D-Day (which were relatively small on the grand scale of things), and not enough on the ACHIEVEMENT of D-Day - the fact that D-Day single handedly opened the door for the advancement of the Allies on the western front. I'm trying to carefully word my point here without sounding disrespectful to those that died, but the reason D-Day is more celebrated than May 9th is not really because of what was lost, but rather what was gained. Everyone always says "remember those that died on D-Day", and I'm not trying to refute that, but I don't think enough people know why exactly, apart from the casualties, D-Day was important.

P.S. Please tell me you meant WWII.

___________________
I'm the trouble starter, fuckin' instigator.
I'm the fear-addicted, danger illustrated.

thank you Dima

___________________
msn: [email protected]
mail: [email protected]
web: www.sashaniveole.net
House is not just a groove. House is a feeling. And when u feel it, you will understand... house music gets you up and makes you high...

quote:

Originally posted by Sasha thank you Dima

yes, this is a little known fact. WWII was won with russian blood.

i think at d-day, there were roughly 20 german divisions in western europe, while throughout the whole eastern front, the russians never faced less than 150 full german divisions.

(these numbers are not exact, i can't remember the exact ones, but the ballpark/order of magnitude is correct)

Great post Cale! I was watching history channel that night. Thanks to all those who gave their lives and those that were lucky enough to make it back. WWII was won with the blood of many.

I hope to visit many wwII sites aswell as other places in Europe in the coming years.

___________________
Trance in my pants

Last edited by Euphorica on Jun-08-2006 at 16:53

Thanks for a great thread. Too few in our generatin have any knowledge or interest in this epic time in human endeavour. These 5-10 years (counting when Hitler first joined the Nazi political movement), and the alliances forged thereafter have been a pivotal and key factor in determining the kind of world we live in today.

quote:

Originally posted by simms327 yes, this is a little known fact. WWII was won with russian blood. i think at d-day, there were roughly 20 german divisions in western europe, while throughout the whole eastern front, the russians never faced less than 150 full german divisions. (these numbers are not exact, i can't remember the exact ones, but the ballpark/order of magnitude is correct)

Close to 70% of all German forces were placed on the Eastern Front from 1941 until after D-Day. There were much more divisions in Russia, but those were severely weakened by sickness (due to the winter) and poor logistics as well as Hitler's foolish interference in tactics (insisting upon breaking Stalingrad instead of circumventing it and heading for the oilfields to the south in the Caucus was pure stupidity).

But the Brits and the Commonwealth deserve credit too. Without Britain defeating the Germans in the Battle of Britain in 1940, The Germans had to always maintain a significant presence in a western front. Just the fact that the Brits repulsed the beginnings of the invasion forced hitler to fight a two front war, which in all simplicity, is what defeated Germany in the end. There are other things too...Brits breaking the German code in 1942...Montgomery's 8th Army defeating Rommel at El Alamein in 1942 which was the battle that stopped German expansion and put them on the defensive for 1943. Basically, when the Americans entered, Germany stood little chance with all the might of three very powerful nations against her.

And I agree about people not really knowing the significance of D-Day as posted above. It's getting worse as time goes on and the vets die off.

___________________
"No offense, but you're stupid"