On the 80th anniversary of D-Day on June 6, 1944, we remember the land, air, and sea forces of the Allied armies brought together in the largest amphibious invasion in military history. Codenamed "Operation Overlord," the operation, a pivotal moment in World War II, delivered five naval assault divisions to the beaches of Normandy, France. The beaches along a 50-mile stretch were codenamed Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. The invasion force included 7,000 naval vessels and landing craft manned by over 195,000 naval personnel from eight allied countries. Nearly 160,000 troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and twelve other Allied nations landed on D-Day to face Hitler's formidable Atlantic Wall. Learn about the complex Allied planning leading up to the invasion, daring military innovations, and what happened on the beaches of "The Longest Day" through known history and the personal experience of one naval landing craft operator on Utah Beach.
Bronson de Stadler is a retired clinical social worker and amateur historian, and lives in Newburyport. His father was a naval petty officer and motor machinist’s mate on Utah Beach during the Normandy invasion. A slide show and original, never-before-seen photos are part of the presentation.
27 авг 2024
