10.09.2005

photos from normandie

faik, xavier, and i went to normandie. we went to the d-day museum and then further on to the beaches. I would strongly encourage any of yall to read the wiki article. it was a pretty amazing feat of human courage. The opening lines of Eisenhowers marching orders hit me hardest. "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 defeat 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, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory. Good luck, and let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking."

videos of normandie

here are some pictures of the trip:
craters from artillery at pt de hoc

National Guard Memorial at Omaha Beach

Bloody Omaha, Oct 8 2005

a typical german installment. The nazis used over 500 million square meters of concrete to construct this and similar bunkers up and down the french coast that faces the english channel

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