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D-Day 6/6/44... Just watched Band of Brothers couple days ago, need to see if The Longest Day is on YouTube. Wonder how much longer the war would have taken had Hitler let Rommel have free hand? Not many D-Day vet's left... be awesome to go spend a couple weeks in that area.
To be accurate, the liberation of Europe began with the invasion of Sicily in July, 1943, then Italy in September.
Rome was liberated on June 4,1944, but that was soon overshadowed by D-Day.
Had a member of the family, that was in Paris when the Nazi's came marching in. To say it was a bloodbath against the French citizens, discounts the horrors that actually occurred. She didn't say these events with a smile nor wink. Not boastful. Just matter-of-factly. REALLY made you think...
By June 1944, Germany was being defeated in the east by the Soviets. In late June Operation Bagration started. The German army never recovered in the east. One might argue if the Soviets "liberated" Europe, but they had been fighting and defeating the Germans before June 1944. The end of Operation Bagration coincided with the battle of the Falaise pocket - the Germans never could recover.
By June 1944, Germany was being defeated in the east by the Soviets. In late June Operation Bagration started. The German army never recovered in the east. One might argue if the Soviets "liberated" Europe, but they had been fighting and defeating the Germans before June 1944. The end of Operation Bagration coincided with the battle of the Falaise pocket - the Germans never could recover.
It must be noted that most of the territories out of which the Soviets pushed Germany were not liberated per se - they merely was one foreign oppressor swapped out for another. But there were a few places where the Soviets were actual liberators: Finnmark (northern Norway), the Danish island of Bornholm, and eastern Austria (although the occupation began with the usual orgy of plunder, rape, and other assorted violence, and the occupation of the Soviet zone would endure until 1955).
A number of years ago a friend and I- we had both lived in Texas- journeyed from the UK to Normandy, and visited the American Cemetery. Here's a shot from that grey February day;
By June 1944, Germany was being defeated in the east by the Soviets. In late June Operation Bagration started. The German army never recovered in the east. One might argue if the Soviets "liberated" Europe, but they had been fighting and defeating the Germans before June 1944. The end of Operation Bagration coincided with the battle of the Falaise pocket - the Germans never could recover.
Your mention of the Falaise pocket reminded me of an incident that you may find humorous.
My dad was a trooper in the Royal Tank Regiment, and went into Normandy on D-Day plus 5 or 6 days.
He drove a lease-lend American Mack truck, and was taking ammo to a forward tank unit between Caen and Falaise.
Unsure of exactly where the tank crews were, he drove into a village that had been shot up, and saw a Calvados sign above a bar that had the doors blown in.
Always ready for a drink, he walked through the open doorway and three guys raised their rifles in his direction, yelling, “Halt! Hands up!”
He noticed CANADA on their shoulder flashes, and shouted, “I’m English for ****s sake!”
The Canucks couldn’t understand his London accent, so he switched to French, but they still took him to their HQ, where it was eventually established that he was on their side.
He always said, “I couldn’t make it out, I was over there terrified that I’d run into Germans, and I got captured by the bloody Canadians!”
To be accurate, the liberation of Europe began with the invasion of Sicily in July, 1943, then Italy in September.
Rome was liberated on June 4,1944, but that was soon overshadowed by D-Day.
^Imagine them going up against an SS battalion. Scary thought.
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