June 6th

I wouldn't be able to comment on the knowledge of the youngsters here, Bob, it must probably be the same, although all TV Channels do their best to Schedule movies or documentaries about D-Day every June 6th.
The commemorations are still important, and some veterans were still attending this year.
You'll find an example of the program in the first link (there is an English traduction) and some pics and videos in the second and third.


http://www.ot-baieducotentin.fr/en/d-day-1944/74eme-anniversaire-debarquement-programme-juin-2018/

https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/culture-loisirs/en-images-le-74e-anniversaire-du-debarquement-en-normandie-1528277368

https://www.ouest-france.fr/d-day/74e-d-day-direct-suivez-les-commemorations-du-6-juin-1944-5806799

Rgds

 

I do the best I can to educate. Below is the post I made on Facebook yesterday.


"Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!

I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!

Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

-Dwight D. Eisenhower"

With these words, General Eisenhower launched the greatest amphibious invasion ever attempted. We know it as The Normandy Invasion, the logical and necessary next step in the Allies confrontation with the Nazi's. But the invasion of "Fortress Europe" was no forgone conclusion. In fact, General Eisenhower had even prepared a note announcing the failure of the invasion, should such a contingency come to pass.

"Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. The troops, the air and the navy did all that bravery and devotion to duly could do. If any blame or fault is attached to the attempt it is mine alone."

But the landings did not fail. Owing to the deception tactics carried out in the year prior to the D-day landings, the arrogant delusions of Adolf Hitler and his sycophants, where the boats hit the beaches, and the courage and devotion of the Allied soldiers, the Allies did establish their beachheads. The walls of Fortress Europe were breached. There was still another year of hard fighting and hard dying to go, but on 7 May, 1945 Reichspräsident Karl Dönitz, Adolf Hitler's successor, signed the unconditional surrender of Germany in Reims, France.


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Bob- Lost an uncle on D-Day. Us old farts remember.

 

I'm still amazed at the absence of the Luftwaffe at the invasion. One quick strafing pass by two Focke-Wulfs (one flown by well-known ace "Pips" Priller), and that was it! The troops were very lucky at the Luftwaffe's incompetence.