As onthisday.com notes, on this day in 1944 the Allies hit the Normandy beaches.
On
June 6, 1944, Allied forces invaded Europe. The Normandy landings, the largest
amphibious invasion ever undertaken, took years to plan, involved the invention
of new technologies and proved that Hitler's 'Fortress Europe' was made of sand.
Photographer Robert F. Sargent took the above photo
- aptly named "Into the Jaws of Death" - as troops waded ashore on
Omaha Beach, the most calamitous of the landing sites. On the day at Omaha, little
went to plan, most landing craft missed their targets and German defenses were
unexpectedly strong.
Nevertheless, the Allies secured a foothold on all
beaches. From there they broke out into Normandy proper as German resistance
faltered. D-Day stands out as one of the most crucial moments in history: along
with the German collapse on the Eastern Front, the success of the Allies in the
West ensured that the Nazi defeat was near.
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