D-Day 2009

Today marks the 65th Anniversary of D-Day, when 160,000 American, British, and Canadian troops landed on an 80-mile swath of beaches in Normandy.

It was by far the largest amphibious assault in the history of warfare, and nothing like it probably will ever be attempted again.

The victory was achieved by the bravery, the doggedness, and the determination of 160,000 soldiers who landed on the French shore in 1944.

But it almost didn't happen in early June. The weather was simply awful, and the invasion had been postponed one day, and there was no indication that the rain and wind would let up. That is until British meteorologists noticed a change developing beyond Iceland discovered by Royal Air Force planes.

The Luftwaffe, largely neutralized by 1944, wasn't able to notice this break in the weather--and the Allied Supreme Commander, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, made the decision--the invasion was on.

But if the weather forecast had been wrong, D-Day would have probably failed.

Because of the weather the Germans were caught off guard--Who would attempt such an endeavor under such awful conditions? Hitler was at the Berchtesgaden with Eva Braun, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was in Germany to visit his wife on her birthday--June 6, and the German Commander-in-Chief West, Gerd von Rundstedt, decided that the turn in events gave him the opportunity to start a four-day inspection tour.

Rommel's absence was likely crucial. He said he had a Fingersptizengefuhl, a nervous feeling in his finger about Normandy.

Despite the surprise of the landings, the Allies still had to fight their way to victory.

Which they did.

It was the Greatest Generation's Greatest Day.

Click here to view ThirdWaveDave's D-Day post, which includes video of Ronald Reagan's June 6, 1984 speech at Normandy.

UPDATE 10:20PM CDT: More D-Day tributes from Stix, Blackfive, Ace of Spades, Pam Atlas, Some Soldier's Mom, Yankeemom, Hot Air, Radio Patriot, Backyard Conservative, and the McHenry County Blog.

Related post:

My Kansas Kronikles: The Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum

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