And don't forget the 82nd "C" Company (I think it was the "C" one) that was almost exterminated when they landed straight into the town of Sainte-Mère-Église.
I'll tell you one thing that should have been done, the cratering of the beaches! Which was ordered, but never happened. I know I am one to rant on and on about not cratering the ground where armour is going to be used, but a beach assault is completely different. Alright, tanks were used ... but infantry were the main players, and craters would have given them much better protection than flat sand!
Maybe in the American sectors, but I think beach cratering would of been a hinderance in the British and Canadian sectors.
Judicious and sensible use of specialised armour was what kept Commonwealth casualties low on D-Day. Hobarts Funnies (79th Armoured Division), in all their forms, more than proved their worth, providing fire support, cover and "go foward" at Juno, Gold and Sword. The psychological impact of sitting in a bunker and facing a 40 ton tank with a 290mm/40lb mortar on the front can't be underestimated either.
This was strictly applied to the U.S sectors. And heavy cratering wouldn't be required, only a few bombers would be needed to keep the casaulties low on all beaches.
And don't forget the 82nd "C" Company (I think it was the "C" one) that was almost exterminated when they landed straight into the town of Sainte-Mère-Église.
I went to Sainte-Mère-Église when I went to Normandy for the 50th Anniversary of D-Day. They even have a parachute in the Church Steeple still hangin in honor of one of the only survivors. He only survived because he landed in the steeple, and the Germans were puttingo out a fire and not paying attention to him.
I thought I had a shot of St Mere Eglise Adler, not very good quality Im afraid.
I went to Normandy to get some pics for my dad of Arromanche and the Mulberrys as he has been unable to travel for many years now but he pointed out lots of the various places he made landings on.
slightly off topic but then again it is on topic. Speaking of the two W-SS divisions it was due to French partisans that the 2nd and 17th SS took time to get up towards the beaches much too late, weaving around roads they were not familiar with being hen pecked enroute, and their supply lines were too long and way behind the recon and panzer elements making the rear eschelons susceptible to rifle fire and plowed and blown roads. this I feel is one of the undiscovered or should say overlloked points that made the US air drops and landings so successful and penetrable inward giving them a very firm hold until meeting finally some resistance in bocage country.....
The 17th SS were certainly not in any fit state, in my mind, to hold up the U.S forces around Carentan. I did not know the delayed reaction was due to French partisan activity though, that's an excellent piece of information Erich.
Plan the Stug Abt of the 17th was almost annihalted by US jabo's as well as the 7.5cm Pak 40 pz-jäger abt. The flak Abt of 8.8cm's and lighter 37mm's was another story though and fought tooth and nail. Seems the Recon and Pz gren companies of the 17th SS had an overabundanace of panzerfausts to their credit which really helped out a most depleted Division.
Personally I think comparing US infantry and armor elements with the British the US came off comparitivly easy as they plunged through the Normandie/French countryside.
Certainly, when the 101st met the 17th outside Carentan there were few tanks available ... so, although 101st did well to hold on it was hardly the whole Grenadier complement. Of course, nothing against the 101st and, especially, E Company ...