Page 26 - Seniorstoday June 2024 Issue

War & History

A Tough Decision –

Ok Let’s Go

One of the toughest decisions taken in human history was by General
Dwight David Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of the Allied
Expeditionary Force, to launch the Allied amphibious invasion in
Normandy –France on 6th June 1944, writes Brig Ajit Apte

On 6th June 2024, that’s a few days ago began Operation Overlord with Operation
(exactly 80 years since 6th June 1944, D Neptune being the landing of the invasion
Day as it is well known), I watched the forces on the five beaches of Normandy
numerous telecasts, the video clips and (Omaha and Utah for the USA, Gold and
read news items of the Anniversary of Sword for the British and Juno for the
the D Day commemoration at Normandy Canadians) with D-Day signifying the
in France. On this day eight decades start of Allied operations which would
ago Gen Dwight David Eisenhower, ultimately liberate Western Europe,
the Supreme Commander of the Allied defeat Nazi Germany and end the Second
Expeditionary Force had taken the World War.
toughest decision ever, by a human Just after midnight on 6th June, over
being when about 1, 65,000 troops were 18,000 paratroopers of the US 101st and
launched for the largest amphibious 82nd Airborne Divisions and the British
operation. The invasion force included 6th Airborne Division were dropped into
7,000 ships and landing craft manned Normandy to destroy vital installations
by over 195,000 naval personnel from and prevent a German counter strike to
eight allied countries. The BBC reported defeat the invasion at the five beaches at
on 6th June 1944 morning ‘Under the Normandy that June 6th morning.
command of Gen Eisenhower, Allied On 5th June night, 180 troops of 2nd
Naval Forces supported by strong Allied Battalion Oxford and Bucks Light
Air forces began landing Allied Armies Infantry led by Maj John Howard, in
on the northern coast of France”. Thus Horsa gliders made a precision landing to

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