D-day+zack

Amphibious crafts landed some 130,000 allied troops along the beaches of Normandy. Americans first landed on the west beaches, Utah and Omaha.

OMAHA- When the first wave landed the men found that the naval and pre-landing air bombardments had not softened the German defenses or resistance. Enemy positions looked down from bluffs as high as 170 feet, the beach was narrow and covered in obstacles. The assault was held at the waters edge for most of the morning. By mid morning little progress had been made, and officials were considering pulling away and landing elsewhere, but in these dark hours bravery and determination pulled through, one leader told his men, "there are two types of men on this beach those dead and those dying, so we better get the hell out of here." and they did! American infantry men gained ground and height and with the support of naval cannons they were able to drive the enemy inland. They had now gained a firm foothold in europe.

UTAH- The 82nd and the 101st airborne divisions were air dropped behind Utah beach to secure four causeways directly behind the beach and to protect the invasion's western flank. Numerous factors caused the paratroopers to miss their drop zone, many were scattered across Normandy's countryside. These men were determined and throughout the night and into the day the airborne troops re-grouped and accomplished their mission, ironically their wide dispersal played to their advantage and the Germans were never able to locate where they were exactly. the men landing on the beach found the German defenses weaker then those on Omaha. The 4th infantry division exploited the German's weak defenses and had the beach front in a few hours. They were able to land supplies and secure their foot hold then pushed inland to connect with the Airborne devisions.