The first group of men chosen to lead the attacks on Normandy were soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army. They are seen here preparing, as they board their Landing Craft Transport (LCT), aptly named “Channel Fever.” They were destined to cross the English Channel, cruising from South England and landing in France.
The men didn’t cower at the thought of breaking into the beach’s defenses first, taking on the task with pride and honor. They suffered a high casualty rate against a prepared enemy, but they were instrumental in the capture of Formigny and Caumont from the beachhead.
A Patriotic Duty
WWII evoked a strong sense of duty among young men in America. A majority of them would volunteer to fight in the war, some eager to be of the right age so they could be shipped abroad and fight alongside their fellow men, in the spirit of brotherhood.
At the time, it was considered a shame to be a young man and not be part of the war effort. In this photo you can see how eager the soldiers are to be crossing the English Channel to prepare for the fight in Normandy. An American flag flaps against the zephyr that would carry their eager, yet terrified souls to Normandy for the D-Day invasion.
The Decimation Of A Nearby Town
Operation Overlord unleashed its wrath and destroyed everything in its path. It was a massive force of 156,000 fully-equipped men supported by warships firing continually from a distance. This would leave the shores of Normandy red with blood.
Not too far from the devastation on the beach lay the crumbled city of Saint-Lô. Not unlike the Omaha Beach landing, the streets were strewn with dead people. Death was everywhere, in the hills, under the ruins, its miasma permeating the atmosphere. Saint-Lô was bombarded by 2,000 Allied bombers, destroying 95% of the city.
German Prisoners Of War
The Allied war effort was designed to encompass the enemy. It was large and composed of soldiers from various nations who were relentless in doing so. They were committed to ending Hitler’s evil regime, and the passion of the soldiers on the field reflected the nobility of the cause.
But the rules of war dictate how they would treat their prisoners. Pictured here is a large group of German soldiers who were captured after the Allied invasion on Omaha Beach, and a number of skirmishes on neighboring towns. They were to be treated as humanely as possible.
An Ammunition Box As A Dining Table
This photo shows two soldiers enjoying each other’s company while having their meals on top of ammunition boxes. This was a common sight during the heavy preparations for the D-Day invasion. They would load up the hefty amount of equipment needed, and when it was the time of day for a break, the men would find places to settle. In groups of two, they would eat, chat, rest, and sometimes even sleep. All of this on top of boxes of weapons, or explosives.
This was taken by photographer Frank Scherschel, on the 1st of May, 1944. The soldiers are located in Stratford-on-Avon, England.