The cloudy day 62 years ago...

[Greycap]

...was one of the most important days for our world as it is today.

Hats off for all the young men who paid the greatest price then, it surely wasn't for nothing.

- R -

 

[Keef]

It was quite the day. I can't even imagine what the world would be like today if it had never happened. I think it's probably the most important day of the 20th century, as the world ended up 100% changed when it was all over. I respect every man who took part in the days events and the struggles afterward, but if they hadn't acted and done such a good job my life, and everyone elses, would be drastically different. Everyone does know why that day, June 6, 1944, is so important, right? I've got a fabulous picture if you need help.

 

[a6m5]

I never got the feel of D-Day until I saw the depiction of it on "Saving Private Ryan". It scared the heck out of me, and I've been anti-war ever since. I'm watching "Band of Brothers" right now too, so I feel it even more now. Thank you to all those who were part of D-Day. Too many good people were hurt or killed in that war.

 

[Omnis]

Yes, today is very important, indeed. I don't even think Saving Private Ryan captured the horror of D-day those 62 years ago. God Bless those that had to fight because of one man's selfishness.


and, oh yeah...

Happy Birthday, Mom!

 

[Keef]

Just had to lighten the mood, eh? Ican't believe there isn't some sort of holiday for D-Day in America. We should start one.

 

[Omnis]

Might I add, today is also National Punch-an-emo-kid-in-the-face Day.

 

[Solid Lifters]

No man has fought more for freedom than the US soldier. No US soldier has fought harder for freedom than the men who fought on the day of June 6th, 1944.

If it were not for their sacrifice, my relatives in Holland would be speaking German right now.

I salute their courage and bravery.

 

[a6m5]

Just had to lighten the mood, eh? Ican't believe there isn't some sort of holiday for D-Day in America. We should start one.

We just had Memorial Day. I think that's good enough..... then again, my country and Germany were on the same side in that war.

 

[HondaRacer]

Might I add, today is also National Punch-an-emo-kid-in-the-face Day.

That is definately on the agenda for today.


And most certainly we should respect those who participated not only in the Normandy invasion, but also all who served in WWII. In fact, I'm doing some history homework on WWII right now (at 12:30am...).

 

[McLaren]

Just had to lighten the mood, eh? Ican't believe there isn't some sort of holiday for D-Day in America. We should start one.

And it's a d*mn shame, imo.

It was the turning point in the war, and one of the world's most amazing accomplishments. Any man who at least made it out of the water was a lucky fellow.

 

[Cosmic]

Might I add, today is also National Punch-an-emo-kid-in-the-face Day.

That's right...

...and today it's also Sweden's National day.

 

[McLaren]

That's right...

...and today it's also Sweden's National day.

Really? Then the members of the band The Red Jumpsuit Aparatus (WTF kind of a name is that!?) are my first victims.

OMG, we're celebrating a day to beat up Emos, and MTV2 is celebrating a day to let 'em sing.

 

[kikie]

Just had to lighten the mood, eh? Ican't believe there isn't some sort of holiday for D-Day in America. We should start one.

There isn't one over here as well.

 

[Small_Fryz]

I actually had to think why this date was important. Thats sad in itself.

We really never got much history at school . Most of the history i know is from watching discovery channel and history channel etc.

 

[Sting]

What's to say except sincere thanks to the men and women that gave their lives in the name of freedom.

In Rememberance...

 

[kikie]

What's to say except sincere thanks to the men and women that gave their lives in the name of freedom.

👍 👍 👍 👍
Thanks!!!

 

[Famine]

No man has fought more for freedom than the US soldier. No US soldier has fought harder for freedom than the men who fought on the day of June 6th, 1944.

Do we really need to bring jingoism into this? An awful lot of countries took part in the landings, with the Canadians making the most significant inroads, and none of it could have taken place if it weren't for British counterintelligence agencies and the French Resistance.

It was, after all, an Alliance...

 

[Sting]

Yeah Famine, as another Brit I noticed that too and wasn't all that impressed, but didn't want to say anything.
We shouldn't bring up the aged argument of the way the war was fought, because I'm sure we all know truthfully how events unfolded.

 

[fatman_5050]

Hats off for all the young men who paid the greatest price then, it surely wasn't for nothing.

What's to say except sincere thanks to the men and women that gave their lives in the name of freedom.

It cannot be said any better.

 

[Famine]

Yeah Famine, as another Brit I noticed that too and wasn't all that impressed, but didn't want to say anything.
We shouldn't bring up the aged argument of the way the war was fought, because I'm sure we all know truthfully how events unfolded.

Today, in particular, isn't about which nations did what - today marks the anniversary of a turning point in the Allied Forces' war, and every member country of the Alliance played its part, however big or small.


We should remember today that we can only accomplish these things together. That's more what D-Day is about.

 

[Omnis]

Word, Famine.

 

[Small_Fryz]

Well said famine 👍

Aussies troops are yet again helping out the Allied forces in Iraq and such.

Together we made it possible.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Today, in particular, isn't about which nations did what - today marks the anniversary of a turning point in the Allied Forces' war, and every member country of the Alliance played its part, however big or small.


We should remember today that we can only accomplish these things together. That's more what D-Day is about.

What I stated wasn't untrue. I'm an American and proud of what my fellow Americans did on this day. I have a right to celebrate what my fellow Americans did on this day. It's not out of arrogance or ignorance that I mention only what my fellow countrymen did on this day. It's how I wish to celebrate this day. While a lot of British and Canadian troops participated, I'm still drawn to the fact that my countrymen played the biggest and most deadly role.

Cheers.

 

[Famine]

Thanks for taking points off me for daring to present a balanced view of events, Solid! 👍 Not petty in any way.

Remind me at what point I said that Americans didn't contribute to D-Day. I didn't - I said that it wasn't necessary to highlight a single nation's contribution because it was an Allied event. Pity you missed the whole point of my post which was that D-Day was a success ONLY because many different countries worked together for a single goal. Back then they didn't care that American troops did this, Canadian troops did that, French troops did something, British troops took so-and-so - everything was accomplished by ALLIED troops.

I just knew that your comment would lead to an argument, in a place where it isn't appropriate, which is why I tried to make a more measured post. I didn't realise that you were actually looking for an argument. If only the attitude behind D-Day was still in evidence in some of the former Allies' civilian population today - and judging by the rep for that post and my PM inbox, it's still there in a lot of them.

It's good that you're proud of what your countrymen did. It's a shame you see a day - and thread - like this, one which commemorates cooperation in the face of a deadly enemy, as the time and place to say how much more superior you think one country's contribution was compared to another.


And to summarise the points you left in my feedback, no they weren't, no they weren't and yes they probably did. Pity how none of that is relevant.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Thanks for taking points off me for daring to present a balanced view of events, Solid! 👍 Not petty in any way.

I'm glad I can return the favor. However, if it wasn't you who made a negative feedback, I'm mistaken.

Remind me at what point I said that Americans didn't contribute to D-Day. I didn't - I said that it wasn't necessary to highlight a single nation's contribution because it was an Allied event. Pity you missed the whole point of my post which was that D-Day was a success ONLY because many different countries worked together for a single goal. Back then they didn't care that American troops did this, Canadian troops did that, French troops did something, British troops took so-and-so - everything was accomplished by ALLIED troops.

I never said you said Americans didn't participate or contribute in D-Day events. I only said that I felt Americans played the biggest role and had the most sacrifices which is why I chose, and still do, to point out my countryman's actions on this day. Again, it's in no way ignoring what others accomplished.

I just knew that your comment would lead to an argument, in a place where it isn't appropriate. If only the attitude behind D-Day was still in evidence in some of the former Allies' civilian population today.

Fine, I wont argue anymore. People will just have to understand this is how I feel, and they ain't gonna change how I feel.

It's good that you're proud of what your countrymen did. It's a shame you see a day - and thread - like this, one which commemorates cooperation in the face of a deadly enemy, as the time and place to say how much more superior you think one country's contribution was compared to another.

We were superior. So, why should that change because others participated, too? I don't see why I shouldn't feel the way I do.

And to summarise the points you left in my feedback, no they weren't, no they weren't and yes they probably did. Pity how none of that is relevant.

In a book I read, Operation Elmira, Chicago and Detroit were the first operations of D-Day, next to Operation Gambit. It was in response to the negative feedback left to me, which now I take it you didn't make. That's what relevance it had.

 

[Sting]

I only said that I felt Americans played the biggest role and had the most sacrifices

According to wikipedia for the war in entirety:
Country-Population-military deaths-civilean deaths-TOTAL
United Kingdom[50] 47,800,000- 382,600- 67,800- 450,400
United States[51] 132,000,000- 407,300- 11,200- 418,500

It's great that you salute the bravery of those before you and what they did in the name of freedom, but you have to admit Famine is right in the argument that he is presenting. The Allies won because we pulled together and worked to be free from nazi oppression. However, there is still the fact that the Americans entered the war in '41 if I remember correctly and it was countries in Europe that were holding the nazi machine back. As for casulties, I believe that Russia suffered the worse for the Allies.

 

[Solid Lifters]

According to wikipedia for the war in entirety:
Country-Population-military deaths-civilean deaths-TOTAL
United Kingdom[50] 47,800,000- 382,600- 67,800- 450,400
United States[51] 132,000,000- 407,300- 11,200- 418,500

It's great that you salute the bravery of those before you and what they did in the name of freedom, but you have to admit Famine is right in the argument that he is presenting. The Allies won because we pulled together and worked to be free from nazi oppression. However, there is still the fact that the Americans entered the war in '41 if I remember correctly and it was countries in Europe that were holding the nazi machine back. As for casulties, I believe that Russia suffered the worse for the Allies.

D-Day, Sting. What you have is for the entire war.

I'm not arguing. I'm only stating facts. 9,000 were killed on D-Day. About 5,000 were US and 3,000 were British which represents the highest two casualties.

 

[Famine]

If I'd negrepped you, you'd have lost 40 points. I don't negrep ill-advised comments - I negrep poorly-made posts.

Fact is, any one country's contribution meant squat. It was only because of the allied (AND Allied) effort that we succeeded. I didn't say you should feel what you feel - in fact I DID say that it's good you're proud of it - but that posting a jingoistic comment in a thread about an event inspired by - and only succeeding due to - multi-nation cooperation would be unhelpful. In actual fact, I think even Germans should commemorate D-Day - not because of any part they played, being the enemy and all, but precisely because it shows what CAN happen when the world unites.


For reference though, the first landing was the British 6th Airborne.


And for anyone else reading, please don't negrep Solid for negrepping me. I know someone will (call me an egomaniac if you like), but that's an abuse of the repping system and not helpful. Solid has made his point and I think now is the time to move back on to remembering the day and the fallen.

 

[Sting]

Man I wish my British grandfather was still alive, he used to tell war stories to my father when we visited but I was too young to be interested.... now that I've grown up I'd love to hear those stories and upset my father didn't record them.

My grandfather used to drive Sherman tanks in the war, and had three shot out from under him and a funny story that I remember being told goes as follows:

One of the tanks that he was in was hit and the crew were yelling to get out. My grandfather who's name was Tom was being yelled at to get out of the tank quckly, but in the smoke and haze little did they know Tom was hightailing it down the road already. lol

Bless him, I really wish he was still around.

 

[Solid Lifters]

I first learned about WWII from my grandfather, too. He was in the Dutch resistance. He was a construction engineer, but lied to the Germans so they wouldn't use him for anything serious in the war movement. He told them he owned a flower shop. So, they put him to work in the polders just past the dunes to grow vegetables. Since he had seven kids, he had to sneak potatoes and parsnips in his pants so he could feed his children. My mom said she live on potato skins and parsnips for several years.

At night, he sneaked past German patrols to get to a bike shop. There, in the back room, he made British machine guns from bicycle parts, and whatnot, so the Dutch resistance could be armed. He also hid British, Canadian and US soldiers in his house from time to time when he didn't host a German soldier. My mom remembers dancing and singing for the Germans soldiers so my grandpa could sneak out or in the back door unnoticed.