Once gave a bit of a presentation on the Canadian end of the beach-head. Their beach was called "Nan Red". Me, missus aitch and the outlaws had a long weekend in Normandy couple of years back. As we walked along the front I wasn`t paying any attention to where we were and suddenly I noticed a large area of brickwork on one of the houses was slightly lighter in colour to the rest of the house. I looked closer and most of the roof tiles were lighter, too. Builders eye, never turns off.
There was something about that house but I couldn`t put me finger on it. As we walked on, most of the houses were 50`s or 60`s built, then we passed another with the same big patches of newish brickwork. Suddenly it jumped out at me. I was standing on the Nan Red objective. The first house had a German SP Gun backed into the lounge through the window, the second house had an 88 firing in the anti-tank role, parked in it`s front garden. I reckognised them from the phots I`d seen and I don`t mind telling you the hairs on me neck were well up when I realised what I was looking at. The tide that day was well out, at least 2000yards. On D-Day it wasn`t quite a high tide, but not far off. What struck me was how flat the beach was. There was no hiding place. Canadian Cdos eventually landed where I stood and linking up with Four Five, made their way inland, using the bridge that the Ox and Bucks Airborne had secured north of Ouistram.
Their goal was Caen. The whole invasion front was facing south. Well there wasn`t much of tactical importance, to the south. What was needed was a Left Wheel, to turn the invasion force eastwards. The key to this vitally important manouvre, was the capture(total flattening, more like) of Caen. Without this, Herman could have sent an armoured unit or two, to push along the coast and severe the logistics. The invasion army would have withered on the vine ,had this happened.
Well, the Commandos, British and Canadian, plus others, eventually managed to take Caen and provide the Allies with the `hinge` about which, the whole army could execute it`s vital "Left Wheel". Since we don`t own Hollywood, there has never been a fillum about this. Much attention on the breakout from the Bocage, and the capture of large amounts of Germans, in the Fallais pocket, while the good ole Britishers were stuck at the East end of the Beach-head. If Caen had remained in German hands, D-Day would have been the biggest defeat, ever.
If ever you go to Normandy, look at the beaches, look at what the boys did, the American Rangers were outstanding at their end of the beach and I`m not knocking Elmer, by any means. Look at what is left of Herman`s defences. Festung Europe indeed. Walk round modern-day Caen. The city center has been totally re-built and looks the same as it did before the war, with it`s Sunday market and live geese for sale. There is a huge ring around the city center which was built in the sixtys and shows the extent of fighting and destruction in June, 1944.
Finally, if you ever go to Normandy, walk through any of the cemetries, there are plenty to choose from. I defy you to read the names of the fallen with dry eyes.
To those brave young lads, please take a minute and think.
At the going down of the sun,
and in the morning,
We will Remember them
We will remember them.
Gents, take a tot to those members who gave their all and stayed in Normandy.
Aye,
[url=http://www.militaryforums.co.uk/forums/groupcp.php?g=397][img]http://www.militaryforums.co.uk/forums/images/usergroups/listener.gif[/img][/url]
.
