The June 6, 1944 invasion of Normandy marked the beginning of the end of World War II. Planning for what would be the largest seaborne invasion in history began in 1943. In the months leading up to the invasion, the Allies conducted substantial disinformation regarding the date and location of the main landings in order to mislead the Germans, who were spread thin throughout northwest Europe. The amphibious landings were preceded by extensive aerial and naval bombardment and the landing of 24,000 British, U.S., and Canadian airborne troops shortly after midnight. Allied infantry and armored divisions began landing on the coast of France at 6:30 in the morning.
In addition, glider missions were sent in on June 6 and just after daybreak on June 7, delivering the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment to the 82nd Airborne. Consisting of 100 glider-tug combinations, it carried nearly a thousand men, 20 guns, and 40 vehicles. By 10:15 in the morning, all three battalions had assembled and reported in with 90 per cent of its men present. Henry Bardach, who was born in Germany and then immigrated to the U.S., describes his experience as part of the 325th and how he came to be “the first GI with a typewriter to land on Normandy.” Karl Mautner, who was born in Vienna, describes his initial experience as a paratrooper.
Another part of the war effort was fought not on the beaches, but in the broadcast studios of London and focused on news and propaganda broadcast in German from the newly created Voice of America. Robert Bauer, who also was also born in Austria, describes how he ended up being the first person to announce to the world that the invasion of Normandy had begun. Bauer was interviewed by Cliff Groce beginning in October 1989. Mautner was interviewed by Thomas J. Dunnigan starting May 1993. Bardach was interviewed by Charles Stuart Kennedy beginning March 1996.
#ww2 #wwii #worldwar2videos