70 Years since Allied invasion of Normandy

[joeydb]

It is fitting to take a moment and remember all those who fought in the Normandy Invasion, Operation Overlord, on June 6,1944.

Without the courage of those men, we may very well all be speaking German now, and the freedoms of our constitutional republic would be a distant memory.

[Danzig]

got to be the single greatest invasion plan/execution ever. very bold and daring.
many thanks to those who made it happen. an incredible feat.

and a thanks also to those behind the scenes who helped pull this off, the spies!

i've mentioned it before...but i recommend anyone who likes to read to get the book about agent garbo. absolutely amazing story.

[bigrun]

Had puter problems most of the day...If you haven't seen the movie or read the book try to find them..

The Longest Day is a 1962 war film based on the 1959 history book The Longest Day by Cornelius Ryan, about D-Day, the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944, during World War II. Producer Darryl F. Zanuck paid the book's author, Cornelius Ryan, US$175,000 for the film rights.[3] The screenplay adaptation was written by Romain Gary, James Jones, David Pursall, Jack Seddon and Ryan. It was directed by Ken Annakin (British and French exteriors), Andrew Marton (American exteriors), Gerd Oswald (parachute drop scene), Bernhard Wicki (German scenes) and Darryl F. Zanuck (uncredited).

The Longest Day, which was made in black and white, features a large ensemble cast including John Wayne, Kenneth More, Richard Todd, Robert Mitchum, Richard Burton, Sean Connery, Henry Fonda, Red Buttons, Rod Steiger, Leo Genn, Peter Lawford, Gert Fröbe, Irina Demick, Bourvil, Curt Jürgens, Robert Wagner, Paul Anka and Arletty. Many of these actors played roles that were virtually cameo appearances and several cast members such as Todd, Fonda, Steiger and Genn saw action as servicemen during the war.

The film employed several Axis and Allied military consultants who had been actual participants on D-Day. Many had their roles re-enacted in the film. These included: Günther Blumentritt (a former German general), James M. Gavin (an American general), Frederick Morgan (Deputy Chief of Staff at SHAEF), John Howard (who led the airborne assault on the Pegasus Bridge), Lord Lovat (who commanded the 1st Special Service Brigade), Philippe Kieffer (who led his men in the assault on Ouistreham), Pierre Koenig (who commanded the Free French Forces in the invasion), Max Pemsel (a German general), Werner Pluskat (the major who was the first German officer to see the invasion fleet), Josef "Pips" Priller (the hot-headed pilot) and Lucie Rommel (widow of Erwin Rommel).

Check this ole Vet ..


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/w...ndy-again.html