The British 1st Airborne Division was the first to parachute into Normandy. They were airdropped to the left wing of the landing area just after 12 o'clock. Their mission was to seize the bridge over the Caen Canal to prevent the reinforcement of German armored forces.
The 1st Airborne Division moved quickly, and the paratroopers successfully completed their mission, giving the operation a good start.
The good luck ended here, as the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions of the United States that landed immediately made the same mistake as the Battle of Sicily.
No, compared to the Battle of Sicily, this time is even more outrageous.
The US military also airborne at night. Since the US military lacked experienced navigators, some US soldiers were thrown directly into the sea. They all carried heavy equipment. Many of them were considered missing by the US military, but they were actually drowned.
Because the body could not be found, the family members could not even receive pensions.
Some American soldiers unfortunately fell into the swamp, and some actually drowned in water only one meter deep. Although the airborne soldiers were not good at swimming, they were not that bad.
Just like the chaotic airborne process, the command of the US military was also very chaotic. The 101st Division only gathered less than 3,000 men 24 hours after the airborne landing, and all other soldiers were lost.
It can't be said that contact was lost. At least Eisenhower was very tough. He insisted that the U.S. airborne troops and the U.S. troops on the Omaha beach were continuing to fight.
Of all five beaches, Omaha saw the most intense fighting, losing 2,500 men on the beach alone, more than the remaining four positions combined.
The landing US troops were brutally suppressed, and calls for support continued to come in. Fleet commander Rear Admiral Kirk ordered 17 US destroyers to move forward only 700 meters from the beach and fire at close range to provide fire support to the landing troops.
In the process, a US destroyer was destroyed by a mine deployed by the Germans, and another destroyer was sunk by a German submarine that attacked.
After several years of attrition, the German Navy has very few large warships left. The remaining warships are hiding in military ports and do not dare to go to sea. There are only a few dozen submarines that can be dispatched.
On "D" Day, about 15 German submarines appeared in the English Channel, 9 of which were sunk by the Allies. The remaining submarines broke through the Allied blockade. In addition to the destroyers on Omaha Beach, German submarines were also sunk on Utah Beach.
An Allied tank landing ship.
The two adventurous submarines were quickly destroyed, and the remaining German submarines cruised around the periphery, only daring to attack the transport ships.
The action of the US destroyer was still very effective. Under the cover of naval guns, the US military finally took the commanding heights of Cape Hawke. At noon, more US troops arrived and the German defense line collapsed.
Another ridiculous thing happened on this day.
When the Allied forces began to land, the German 21st Tank Division only sent 24 tanks to support the front line because the division commander was absent and the chief of staff had no authority to mobilize troops.
All 24 tanks without accompanying infantry were wiped out.
In the afternoon, Division Commander Feichtinger finally returned to his unit and commanded the 8th Southern African Division, whose main force was building a beachhead, to launch a counterattack.
At this time, the heavy equipment of the 8th Division has not yet landed, and the mountain infantry can only use rocket launchers and anti-tank rifles to fight. If the 21st Tank Division resolutely attacks, the Germans still have some chances.
Just as the 21st Tank Division was dispatched, about 500 transport aircraft flew in formation over Sword Beach. These transport aircraft transported the British 6th Airborne Division, with the purpose of reinforcing the British 1st Airborne Division that had been airdropped to Normandy.
Feichdinger mistakenly thought that these transport planes were going to be airdropped to the rear of the 21st Tank Division to encircle and attack the 21st Tank Division, so he ordered the troops to return to their base and tried to resist with strong defenses.
This was the only opportunity for the Germans to counterattack on the 5th, and it was wasted.
Also trying to counterattack was Rommel.
However, Rommel's troops were 100 to 200 kilometers away, and they also faced huge difficulties in supporting Normandy.
After Rommel came to France, he had serious differences with Gerd von Rundstedt, the commander-in-chief of the German Western Front, over the defensive methods.
Rundstedt advocated deploying the main force in the inland area, allowing the Allied forces to board the beachhead, and then counterattacking the Allied forces with a determined offensive.
Rommel advocated deploying troops on the beach and relying on strong beach defenses to prevent the Allied forces from landing.
The two had serious differences on this issue. After all, Rundstedt was the Commander-in-Chief on the Western Front, and Rommel had to obey the order and deploy the strongest armored units of the German army in deep positions. So after the Allied forces launched the landing operation,
How the armored troops could successfully reach the front line became Rommel's most difficult problem.
As mentioned before, there is a huge gap between the German army and the Allies in terms of air force. Now the Allies have completely controlled the air superiority of Normandy and even the entire western France.
The armored force is huge, with tanks, armored vehicles and various other transport vehicles. The formation stretches for several kilometers when marching, making it a favorite target for bomber pilots.
As a result, not long after the German armored forces set off, Allied bombers swarmed in.
Rommel was very smart and initially tried to use railways to transport armored troops to the front line as quickly as possible.
The railway was also the focus of Allied bombing. Shortly after the train carrying the tanks set off, the railway was blown up and the tanks had to be moved to the road, completely exposed to the threat of bombers.
Allied bombers were like sharks smelling blood, surrounding us from all directions.
When the armored troops were marching, the anti-aircraft weapons could not be deployed smoothly. The 7.92mm machine gun on the roof alone was not enough to pose a fatal threat to the bombers.
Aerial bombs of various specifications are waiting in turn. Even the smallest 50-kilogram aerial bomb can pose a fatal threat to No. 4. The shock wave created by a thousand-pound bomb can directly blow No. 4 over.
Needless to say, the even more immoral incendiary bombs exploded in a large area and the tank crew had no chance to escape.
There is no way to escape.
Bombers are much faster than tanks, and even tanks that leave the road cannot escape the pursuit of bombers.
Smart bomber pilots blew up the bridges in front of the highway early, and the criss-crossing rivers in France became the most natural anti-tank trenches, making it impossible to fly.
At this time, Rommel was really on the verge of tears.
He was also unlucky. When he was in North Africa, his role was to hold back the Allied forces in North Africa and cooperate with the Russian battlefield, so he could not get sufficient support.
After returning to Europe, Rommel finally had the opportunity to command a real armored force, but he encountered an old stubborn like Rundstedt and was unable to use his abilities at all.
It cannot be said that Rundstedt was wrong. This field marshal who graduated from the Grosslichfeld Military Academy in the last century was still thinking about the last world war and fantasized about a half-crossing attack on the Allies.
I don’t know how far modern warfare has developed.
Rommel, who had extensive combat experience with the Allied forces in North Africa, had a fuller understanding of the strength of the Allied forces. The strength of the North African campaign was largely due to the Allied air force's blockade of the Mediterranean. As a result, the North African Army led by Rommel
They couldn't get enough supplies, so they were completely defeated.
Rommel knew very well that as long as the Allied forces rushed to the beach, it would be difficult for the Germans to successfully organize a counterattack with their powerful air power. The Allied air forces would do everything they could to eliminate the reinforcing German forces on the way.
That's it now.
Although Rommel went all out, the German armored forces still suffered heavy casualties. Even the most powerful Panzer V tanks were unable to break through the encirclement and interception of Allied bombers.
Generally speaking, both the Allies and the Germans made frequent mistakes on the fifth day.
Even if the Allies make mistakes, they can still make up for it with their strong strength.
The losses of the German army were irreparable. When Rommel realized that it was impossible for the German armored forces to reach Normandy, Rommel sent a telegram to Mustache, requesting that the armored forces be withdrawn to the inland areas and the defense lines reorganized. This might have a glimmer of hope.
Forget it about Rundstedt. The old man was at a loss and couldn't think of any solution. His suggestion to Mustache was to dispatch troops from Calais to reinforce Normandy.
Let’s not talk about whether the German troops in Calais can arrive in time.
After transferring the troops from Calais, what would happen if the Allies took the opportunity to land in Calais?
Calais is closer to mainland Germany than Normandy.
To Rommel's disappointment, Mustache did not agree with Rommel's suggestion. Despite Rommel's repeated requests, Mustache still firmly ordered the armored forces to overcome all difficulties and reach Normandy no matter what, sweeping the Allied forces into the Atlantic Ocean.
Maybe Mustache thinks that the current Allied forces are similar to the British forces at Dunkirk.
Not to mention how desperate Rommel felt, although the Allied forces encountered some setbacks, they still established a foothold on each beachhead. The German army retreated across the board. In the evening, the Allied forces opened up each beachhead and established a landing site with a width of 60 kilometers.
The width is not bad, but the depth is only 1.5 kilometers. If the Germans launch a counterattack at this time, there is still hope of a comeback.
The westernmost end of the entire landing site is still the defense area of the 8th Infantry Division in Southern Africa.
Before nightfall, the integrated supply ship finally delivered the most needed 88mm anti-aircraft gun to the 8th Infantry Division. This anti-aircraft gun can be used for anti-aircraft defense and can also attack tanks, and its power far exceeds Germany's latest 75mm anti-tank gun.
The 8th Infantry Division only encountered slight resistance from the German army when it landed on the beach in the morning, and was on standby thereafter.
Relying on amphibious tanks and 88 guns, the 8th Infantry Division established a solid defensive position. In order to prevent the German night attack, many fires were set up about 200 meters outside the position, and oil was poured on them all night long. Anyway, various gasoline and diesel
There are many.
The mountain infantry finally had hot meals. The Marine Corps took the initiative to send a field dining truck, which was also amphibious. A dining truck with six people could provide a hot dinner for an entire company.
In the state of combat, dinner was still very sumptuous. There were almost no potatoes in the beef and potato stew. The beef was cut into pieces about the size of a fist. Each soldier quickly served them with a bowl of fragrant beef soup. The British Army next door
The soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division were salivating.
The dinner of the 3rd Infantry Division is actually quite good according to British standards. Each person has a box of lunch meat and a box of biscuits, instant coffee for free, and an apple for after-dinner fruit. This standard is far higher than that of ordinary British families.
After night fell in Normandy, it was still a bit cold because of the continuous rain. When the soldiers rushed to land on the beach during the day, their clothes were soaked inside and outside. They haven't warmed up yet, and they are wet and clinging to their bodies. The weather in June actually feels like winter.
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Looking at the half-warm luncheon meat in his hand, but the smell of beef soup lingering in his nose, a British corporal smashed the half-eaten luncheon meat on the ground, got up and walked towards the position of the 8th Infantry Division.
On the position of the 8th Infantry Division, the soldiers were discussing whether the beef was cut too big, not tasty enough, the stew was not rotten enough, the soup was not delicious enough, too much oil would make it greasy, etc., etc., in short, all kinds of dissatisfaction
.
So the corporal named Morse was speechless.
If you're not satisfied with hot soup and rice, how about a box of lunch meat whose main ingredients are animal offal and palm oil?
Soldiers in southern Africa do not like luncheon meat, and many even detest it. This has long been no secret within the Allied forces.
British officers and soldiers also know that lunch meat tastes bad, but some of it is good to eat. Many ordinary British families want to eat it but can't.
Only southern Africa is so luxurious that it even dislikes luncheon meat.
"Hey, brother, what's the matter?" The southern African soldier was still very enthusiastic.
"One thing, your dinner is so delicious, I can't help but drool over there -" Morse is honest, and his body reaction cannot be deceived.
"Haha, then come and have something to eat together. We are too embarrassed to greet you, for fear of hurting your self-esteem——" The southern African soldier was also honest, too honest, which was a bit hurtful.
Morse didn't think about anything else at this time. Before he could sit down, he immediately stuffed a bowl of beef into his hands. The fist-sized beef pieces exuded a hot aroma, and his saliva secreted involuntarily.
Morse took a big bite and was infinitely satisfied.
This feeling, the feeling of eating a big piece of meat, is nothing more than heaven. I am fighting the Germans on the front line to death just for one bite.
Of course, it would be even better if you can have a drink at this time. After all, the weather is really cold, and a drink of wine can keep you warm. There are many British people who like to drink when they have nothing to do. The large and small pubs in British cities are proof of this.
This has a lot to do with the climate in the UK.
As soon as he thought of wine, a smiling sergeant pressed a kettle into Morse's hand.
Morse wanted to refuse.
There is obviously delicious beef soup, why do you still give me a kettle? I don't want to drink water right now.
"Don't want a bite?" the sergeant major was surprised.
Would you like a bite——
Morse seemed to realize something. He picked up the kettle and smelled the friendly smell before even putting it to his mouth.
The water must be tasteless.
Only then did Morse realize that the clothes of the southern African soldiers around him were all dry.
The wine must be good wine. The wine distributed by the Southern African Army is high-end wine produced in Southern Africa. The price is not cheap. The Ministry of National Defense of Southern Africa will never use cheap goods to fool these expeditionary troops who are fighting for their country.
It's obviously a good wine, but it tastes extremely bitter when you drink it.
