Here is my page on the invasion of Normandy
(1-14-98) I added more pictures!
It covers everything from the invasion at Omaha beach to the Securing of the town of Saint-Lo
I believe that this is a picture of an U.S. Soldier with an M-1 Garand rifle and that is an M-10 Tank Destroyer
in the background with its crew in the newly secured town of Saint-Lo (pronounced San Lo)
Hey, Click on highlighted words for a picture
After being pushed back a month to June 5th, and then further delay due to weather the long-awaited and imminent invasion of France begins. This will become the biggest armed assault ever. The first troops to land on French soil are from 3 American and British airborne divisions. Two of these are the American 101st airborne "Screamin Eagles" and the 82nd airborne. These forces are dropped at night where their elite training is best used. Their mission is to confuse and disrupt enemy lines long enough for the big guns to arrive. This mission was very difficult and some units lost near 50%, but their mission was adequately carried out to be successful. All at once, over 5300 ships carrying over 150,000 men heads across the English Channel for the Calvados coast. This armada is mostly American and British, but forces from France, Poland, Canada, Australia, and Many other allied nations contribute what they can.
Just before dawn, June 6th, and intense and monumental naval bombardment and massive air-strikes pound the German fortification along the coast. At dawn first assault waves from five allied divisions storm ashore on five different beaches. These beaches are code-named Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. On the Eastern flank of the invasion forces the British 2nd army landed on Gold and Sword. The successful landings there allow them to attempt to take Caen and the nearby airfield at Carentan. At Juno Beach Canadian soldiers pour ashore equally successful. On the West flank, at Utah beach, the 4th Infantry division lands also effecting success in taking their day�s objectives. Then they move to cut off the Cotentin Peninsula and capture the port of Cherbourg, this port would give the Allies a place to land heavy tanks and mass supplies quickly.
However, the last beach, Omaha, was an entirely different story. Due to major problems the naval bombardment was late and thus shorter and only marginally effective. The landing craft were crammed with soldiers, most of which, were green and had never seen combat. The opposing force was the veteran 352 division that had seen major combat in Russia and was ready for anything. Even worse, was the fact that the site selected for Omaha Beach was as follows: A 100 foot bluff housed the heavy German fortification. Once on the beach the US troops landing there had the luxury of only a 7 foot sea-wall and too much open ground to get to one of the beaches 5 exits. At dawn, after the still massive naval and air bombardment(the picture is from a B-26 raid), the first wave of transports carrying troops from the US 1st and 29th infantry divisions roars toward the then silent beach. As they get closer the bluffs open up with a murderous roar as German MG 42 machine guns are fired from the still effective fortification. Still they land under fire and take what little cover they can find. At 0915 hours (9:15 AM) , as casualties increase General Bradley fears he will have to abort the landing. His forces are pinned down by accurate German guns and pelted constantly by mortars as they huddle for survival behind the lone sea-wall. Slowly, inexplicably, the tide of battle turns, as scattered groups of US soldiers, pushed forward by their own bravery and will to survive, or in some cases by the brandished weapon of a fellow soldier start to change to course of history.
"There are only two kinds of people on this beach: the dead and those about to die. So lets get the hell out of here!" - Colonel George Taylor at Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944
Finally U.S. Navy destroyers move in closer wielding their massive cannons and slowly, but effectively pound the German positions at point blank range. Also by this time the German 352 is running very low on reinforcements and ammunition. *The American soldiers move forward and scale the cliffs securing the fortification. This beach earned the name "Bloody Omaha" in memory of the 2000 American casualties suffered.
At this time Hitler�s paranoia caused him to distrust his officers greatly. This, in effect, made it so his huge panzer (tank) divisions in reserve could not be released without his specific authorization and that was not until that afternoon and gave ample time for the Allies to strengthen.
From this point we will proceed to follow the path of the American forces off of Omaha Beach that are to proceed inland, to drive fast and hard toward the town of Saint-Lo (pronounced San Lo). On June 7th, the next morning, beach engineers are able to move enough wreckage off the beach to unload supplies. Then the 29th pushes west to link up with Utah Beach. With massive determination the 29th covers 12 miles in only 36 hours and the beaches are linked. Next, the 29th infantry division moves inland toward the Aure (pronounced orr) river. The American units push the Aure across in several places. However, if they think the next week will be a country drive to Saint-Lo they are dead wrong. Next obstacle is just advancing without suffering major casualties. They are in "Hedgerow Hell."
In every hedge and bush there seems to be a waiting panzerschreck team. American troops will be advancing one minute and in seconds: First their accompanying M4A1 Sherman tank explodes in a violent flash and acrid fire and the fuel burns and ammunition cooks-off, before the troops can react a German MG 42 opens up. The deadly fire scythes units entirely sometimes. It becomes apparent that although an insane amount of planning was allotted to the landings very little is put into after the landings to make a breakout.
"Even though we fell back other parts of our regiment were still fighting in the hedgerows. Sometimes it was only a handful of men, but here that could hold up a company." - Obergrenadier Karl Wegner, German 352nd Division
At the same time, to the east, the British make a hard drive for the city of Caen. The terrain there is flat and open and therefore very good tank terrain. The German�s have superior tanks, but the Allies vast numerical advantage will eventually prevail. The hard British drive also convinces the Germans that the main Allied objective is Caen. Therefore, they throw their heavy tank divisions in the line of fire to slow the advance. At this time, in some historian�s minds, the war is still very close and either side can still win. The Allies vast resources are a winning cause, but in Normandy where the Bocage makes it possible for a squad (10-12) of infantry to hold up a company (120+) of advancing soldiers the war is still in doubt. Also the invasion is still relatively contained so far. However, should the Allies get to a major road junction like Saint-Lo or Caen the German�s fate is sealed. They cannot defend the much larger front effectively. The British drive on Caen pulls almost eight of the German�s tank divisions, almost 500-700 tanks, to hold off the British advance. As a result, on the American front, there are only 190 serviceable German Panzers to slow our troops.
The initial assaults are also aided by the fact that Hitler and much of the rest of the German high-command still think these attacks are only a diversion. They believe that the real attacks are still to come farther East at Calais. Also the Allied air superiority scramble the infrastructure of the Germans and causes reinforcements to arrive sporadically or not at all.
The American drive was slow at first because of the Hedgerows or "Bocage". Hedgerows or "Bocage" are the names for starts from ancient Celtic farmers more than a thousand years earlier. The Norman country consists of small and irregular fields about 200 to 400 meters square, enclosed by ancient overgrown hedges that grow from earthen mounds. The hedgerows can reach a height of almost 15 feet limiting visibility to only one field at a time. They are impenetrably dense and difficult to get through too. The roads are sunken in from centuries of use and the towering, dense hedges make the roads shady and dark and lowering visibility even further.
"Make every field a fortress" - Obergefreiter Paul Kalb
This quote is alarmingly observant. With the dense fields it only takes a handful of efficient troops to stop an attack. The mounds of earth under the Bocage are ideal to dig out fortification. With a cover of part dirt and hedge they could not be spotted from the air easily. Also this will effectively protect against incoming enemy mortar fire, sustaining everything up to a direct hit with ease. The ensuing American attacks would be a blood-bath. As moral hit the gutter our leadership became concerned. Our units could not get across a field safely. Progress is now measured in feet not miles. After two weeks of heavy fighting the 29th Infantry grinds to a halt. It is clear that new tactics are needed to break the bloody stalemate.
At the same time arises a supply problem. Seeing as there is not natural harbor along the Calvados coast and Cherbourg has not been captured yet the Allies install two artificial ports, called "Mulberries", at Omaha and Gold beaches. The same rotten weather that is hindering the use of Allied close air support for the troops destroys one of the two artificial ports. All supplies will have to travel through the British port. However, to counter this the U.S. suppliers master the art of landing equipment on the beach and in days they are moving more equipment than the British port. Still the Bocage allows little progress. At the first sound of small arms fire inexperienced soldiers jump prone in the open. At this time, it is possible for a German sniper to pick off several immobilized soldiers. Most of this close in fighting occurs at less that 300 yards and some in close quarters.
"Give me ten infantrymen in this terrain with the proper combination of small arms, and we will hold up a battalion for 24 hours" - Lt. Jack Shea
Finally, new tactics are forged. Instead of the tanks roaring through the brush only to get hit with an anti-tank round at optimum range for the AT team and infantry getting mowed down by the German�s superior heavy machine guns, the units act differently. To solve the problems General Charles Gerhardt orders Brigadier General Norman Cota, a veteran of the North African landings and an effective leader, to devise new tactics to counter the German�s more effective defenses. Cota decides the best way to take these Hedgerows is with small units comprising the following: A Sherman tank, an engineer team, an infantry squad, a BAR (browning automatic rifle) team, and 60mm mortar. The tank will have special pipes welded on the front to help with placement of explosives. The attack begins with the tank moving forward enough to get a field of fire. The tank fires WP (white phosphorous) rounds from its main gun into the far corners of the hedge. This will neutralize of suppress the enemy machine guns. Then the tank fires its machine guns and suppresses the far line where enemy infantry may be hiding. Meanwhile, the mortar fires HE (high-explosive) rounds into the enemy fortification and smoke to obscure their field of view. As the tank�s machine guns open up the infantry advance clearing the sides of the hedge. When the infantry have move far enough the tank backs up and engineers place explosive charges into the holes the pipes on the front of the tank left. This will blast a hole in the hedgerow and the tank advances to apply close-in support for the infantry. The infantry, in turn, cover the tank suppressing any anti-tank fire (AT) with their small-arms fire.
Using this approach the our troops make better headway than ever toward Saint-Lo. With these new refinement the American�s attack becomes as sophisticated as the German�s elite defenses.
While the 29th battles its way through the bocage, the VII Corps fights up the Cotentin Peninsula toward the heavily defended port of Cherbourg. The defenders of the port know soon they will be pinned with no escape. They are in doubt whether to flee south while they still can or fight to the last man. The confusion aids the Americans. After five days of fierce fighting the town fall to US troops. However, before they surrender the Germans sabotage the port and it will be unusable for almost three weeks. With this victory, three of the divisions involved in the Cherbourg fight are now available to assist in the never ending hedgerow battles.
The Americans advance even closer to Saint-Lo. A new hope arises. This town is a main junction and capturing it means an Allied breakout and the probability of victory. This also means the Germans will fight that much harder to hold the town. The town itself is covered set in a depression by the Vire river. This town is also covered by heavily fortified German guns that will rain fire on anyone trying to enter the town. So any hope to take the town will have to be postponed until the fortifications in the adjacent hills are cleared. The main line of resistance is a hill called "Hill 192". This is a major strong-point and to capture it would be more bocage fighting, except this is uphill. The German defenses range from trenches to even tunnels. They are also aided by the fact that they can see all the way to the Ocean from the top of Hill 192. Earlier efforts to take the hill in mid June failed bitterly in the face of formidable German resistance. This terrain and battle requires experience, which few of our soldiers have at this point in time.
"�officers who have received the best peacetime training available find themselves surprised and confused by the difference between conditions as pictured in map problems and those they encounter in the campaign�In our schools we generally assume that the organizations are well trained and at full strength, that the subordinates are competent, that supply arrangements function, that communications work, that orders are carried out. In war many or all of the conditions may be absent. The veteran knows that this is normal and his mental processes are not paralyzed by it.�" - General George C. Marshall, Infantry in Battle, 1934
Nearly a month later, on July 11th, the Americans resume their drive on the hill. Using their new hedgerow tactics to coordinate armor and infantry, the 38th Infantry go to work. The first day is hazing rendering air-support totally useless. After a huge artillery barrage, the troops advance under heavy fire. The attack is slow, but moves gradually. In some places the Germans have to be cleared out hand-to-hand. One obstacle that impedes the US assault is a ravine or draw, later named "Purple Heart Draw" The ravine is almost large enough to prevent tanks from crossing. Supported by four tanks that stop at the edge of the draw a platoon tries to cross the ravine. The Germans wait until the unit is almost at the bottom and then opens up with mortar, machine gun and heavy artillery. The platoon is nearly wiped-out completely. The tanks see the machine guns in time and turn their attention to some buildings 30 yards away. After the tanks pound out all resistance in the buildings the second platoon outflanks the remaining defenses. When the smoke clears the second platoon finds the remnants of the first one at the bottom of the canyon and with the survivors they head up the hill. Near the end of July 11th , in which over 20,000 rounds of artillery shells are poured into the German defenses, the mountain fortress starts to crack. The following day, July 12th , the fighting is almost anticlimactic and after a brief counter-attack which is quickly repulsed the Americans secure the hill at a cost of 69 dead, 328 wounded, and 8 missing, but now the Americans have the high ground above Saint-Lo.
With the capture of the surrounding high ground the stage is set for an attack on the town of Saint-Lo. After heavy fighting, on July 17th , the 29th Infantry division reaches the outskirts of the town. On the morning of July 18th, a task force of the 29th infantry is assembled under Brigadier-General Norman Cota. Their orders: "Take the town of Saint-Lo." Much of the town itself is in ruins after intense aerial bombardment. The only defenders are in small pockets of determined resistance. They have no reserves, but they have very good terrain and a pile of rubble can be turned into fortification as effective as the previous bocage. The U.S. task force is shelled by guns from positions south of town, but their rapid advance catches the defenders off guard. Soon the force reaches an intact square where they fan out on the streets. Some buildings have to be taken hand to hand. After several fierce skirmishes, at 1900 hours (7:00 PM) the town is secured. The shelling, however, continues for several days and the next day the Germans are even able to organize a counter-attack, which is easily broken up.
"I have the honor to announce to the Corps commander that Task force C of the 29th Division secured the city of Saint-Lo after 43 days of continual combat from the beaches to Saint-Lo." - General Charles Gerhardt
And if you are not already completely bored by my writing here is some more!
Here is a Little Bonus Section on some of the Weapons
Now I will go over some of the weapons used and their effects. The Americans were armed with Garand rifles and M1 Carbines mainly. The Garand is much more effective than its German counter-part the Gewehr 43. The Americans also have Thomson submachine-guns (SMG) , affectionately know as the "Tommy-gun". Their .45 caliber slugs are also more effective than the German MP40 machine pistol which is only 9mm. In close the Americans also have the luxury of a medium machine-gun. The BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) was singular in the fact that the Germans had no counterpart. The rifle could fire .30 caliber ammo from a 20 round clip at a rate of 550 a minute. Even though it was relatively heavy it made quite an impact in the war and sometimes a difference in the immediate battle.
The heavy machine-guns were the only place we were outclassed. We had the .50 caliber monster, but it weighed a massive 128 pounds (with tripod) and only fired at a slow 450-550 rounds per minute (for an MG). However, once deployed its huge 12.7mm slugs traveling 2930 fps could wreak havoc on even the most dug-in enemy. Its problem of weight was the only thing that really slowed it down. A smaller .30 caliber machine-gun was brought in, but is sacrificed power to make itself lighter and even then it was sill a chore to carry at 41 pounds. The German�s MG 42 was much better in the fact that it fired at a terrifying 1200 rounds per minute. Most importantly it was only 25.3 pounds. One of these machine guns could turn a house or hedgerow into a nightmare for the attacker. It was so advanced that the current American M60 is a copied version with a few advancements. The new MG 3 is also a copy and used by many nations, including Germany. The MG 34 is an earlier version.
The mortars were pretty equal. The US used two main mortars in this campaign. They were the 81mm and the 60mm. They were basically identical save the fact that the 60mm was only 42 pounds compared to the 81�s 136 pounds, but the 81 carried a tremendous shock with its fire-power.
The Americans also used the Mark II fragmentation grenade. It had a 4 to 4.8 second fuse. This grenade had a "pineapple" appearance. The reason for this was so that it would create more shrapnel when detonated.
The Germans had another advantage too. Many of their men carried the prevalent Panzerfaust AT launcher. It was a basic 11 to 15 pound light rocket and very effective at close range. Any Allied tank that ventured too close without proper infantry support would be in big trouble. The bazooka�s life started when the Americans recognized the need for an infantry-carried anti-tank weapon. A man named Henry Mohaupt had developed a special shaped grenade that infantry could throw at a tank. When finished he had a 3.5 pound projectile. Way to heavy to throw, but when two members of the Ordinance Department, Leslie A Skinner and Edward G. Uhl, developed a rocket that could carry the projectile to an effective range of 455 meters the whole story changed. In tests when it successfully worked in 3 consecutive trials the "Brass" immediately saw its importance. With the development of this weapon German tanks could no longer roll over infantry without friendly tank support. Supposedly the Germans captured some retreating Russians in 42� and found an American Bazooka. This weapon was sent to them via the "Lend/Lease" program. At any rate, Hitler and other German generals immediately saw its worth and ordered a reproduction made. The result, was the Panzerschreck or "Tank-Terror" in German. It fired an 88mm rocket-projectile about 230 meters, effectively.
The two sides tanks were in a close battle for awhile. The German�s tanks were far superior to ours at first. They were big, heavily armored, and heavy-gunned, but they were slow and few in numbers. The American�s tanks were fast and in great quantities, but lighter-gunned and with less armor. The only effective way to beat the German tanks was to overwhelm them with superior numbers, say 2 or 3 to 1. The reason we won the tank war was because America�s industrial might was able to field the necessary 3 tanks to 1 German.
The Germans fielded everything from the light Panzer III medium tank to the massive Tiger I�s or Panzer V "Panther" tanks. These "hevys" mounted everything from standard 75mm guns to mammoth 88 and even 105mm guns. The 88�s and 105�s could rip through any enemy at a swift rate. If this was not enough they had a "Tank Destroyer" called the Jagdpanther ("Hunting Panther"). It fielded a huge 88mm gun and was a very dangerous foe.
Even in great numbers the American�s M4A1s could not seriously hope to hold the German behemoths with there thin armor and 75mm gun that only sometimes penetrated the German monsters thick armor. This aging tank was upgraded by the M4A3 which fielded a slightly larger gun and slightly thicker armor. One version even carried a 105mm howitzer. This version of tank had a major flaw though. It was getting to be too heavy and had a high profile (too tall, easy target). To solve this, American engineers pulled off the turret and replaced it with a smaller and lower one. They also removed armor to make it lighter and more mobile. The idea was probably: "The German guns kill us first shot so lets get rid of some of this weighty armor and increase mobility. Kill them first so they cannot get a shot at you." This created the M10 tank-destroyer. It had a 76.3 mm high-velocity gun that was decently effective. However, it was still sometimes taking 2 or more shots to kill the German tanks. So the designers improved some more on their idea and created an M36 tank-destroyer. In this case they were able to add a little more armor and save elsewhere. Most importantly the M36 mounted a fierce 90mm gun. Any objection to this weapons superiority was answered in a huge projectile 9 centimeters across. This gun was superior to all German armor put an end to any hopes for Germany to win the tank part of the war. Plus right before the end the German's tanks were more ineffective without fuel to run as was their airforce.
