D-Day 66 years ago today

ollaetta

How quickly time is passing. Seems like only yesterday since the 60th anniversary.

Unlike last year the weather here in Normandy is perfect for the commemorations which are now mostly low-key but still very well attended. Not as many veterans around but that is not surprising.

Heading off shortly to tour the beaches and some of the ceremonies.

May all those that fell rest in peace.

Agent Smith

In Honnor of D-Day

Agent Smith

One of the most icconic photos of the day


Click photo for High Res version

BlaasForRafa

I watched a documentary about Omaha beach on BBC2 last night (I had seen it before) but hearing the words from people who were there just emphasizes the courage it took to rush out one of those landing craft into a maelstrom of bullets and shells.

ollaetta

Just found some excellent photos on this website:

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/06/remembering_d-day_66_years_ago.html

Many of them are well known but there are some that I hadn't seen before.

leincar

Due to the pressures of work it was my shortest ever visit to Normandy for the commemorations. I got to St Mere Eglise at 9 in the morning on Sunday the 6th and flew by helicoptor back to Chas De Gaulle for a flight back to South Africa at 6 in the evening. Its sad, the amount of veterans gets fewer every year.

Back in SA now for the duration of the world cup.

Fredrick

ollaetta wrote: »

Just found some excellent photos on this website:

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/06/remembering_d-day_66_years_ago.html

Many of them are well known but there are some that I hadn't seen before.

Nice find ollaetta, enjoyed looking at these

ollaetta

Here's a few shots I took in Ste. Mere Eglise and Utah Beach on Sunday:

Fredrick

ollaetta wrote: »

Here's a few shots I took in Ste. Mere Eglise and Utah Beach on Sunday:

A little small but nice ta.

BlackEdelweiss

This might be a stupid question but are the D Day celebrations in Normandy completely based on the Allies or is there any representation of the Germans there at all?

Morlar

ollaetta wrote: »

Here's a few shots I took in Ste. Mere Eglise and Utah Beach on Sunday:

Those look brilliant - cheers for posting them. Looks like there was a great atmosphere there on the day.

FiSe

BlackEdelweiss wrote: »

This might be a stupid question but are the D Day celebrations in Normandy completely based on the Allies or is there any representation of the Germans there at all?

There was a lot of German veterans too last time I went over there. Normal people speaking...and there was/is official reps of Germany since 60th anniversary, I believe.

ollaetta

Here's a pic from 2007 when the Ste. Mere Eglise mayor held a ceremony for veterans from both sides. The German in the picture was either a sergeant or a lieutenant (can't remember which) in the town garrison on D Day and the Yank is a colourful character called Howard Manoian who returned to Normandy to live years after the war.

FiSe

Never saw any ex-German soldier wearing his medals and unit symbols :P:

Morlar

FiSe wrote: »

Never saw any ex-German soldier wearing his medals and unit symbols :P:

Here is one of Knight's Cross winner Joachim Menzel at a veteran organisation reunion in the 1980s



& as a young man

http://www.militaria-archive.com/WW2%20postcards/content/Foto27_large.html

Fuinseog

ollaetta wrote: »

How quickly time is passing. Seems like only yesterday since the 60th anniversary.

Unlike last year the weather here in Normandy is perfect for the commemorations which are now mostly low-key but still very well attended. Not as many veterans around but that is not surprising.

Heading off shortly to tour the beaches and some of the ceremonies.

May all those that fell rest in peace.

I hope they hold a ceremony for the thousands of French civilians the Allies killed, 20,000 in Caen alone.

Fuinseog

BlackEdelweiss wrote: »

This might be a stupid question but are the D Day celebrations in Normandy completely based on the Allies or is there any representation of the Germans there at all?

nope, just the allies