But for US Forces in the Normandy Invasion and Operation Overlord, the western world would wir sprechen deutsch. Take a moment to remember those who protected our freedom 70 years ago today. Few of them are living.

http://www.army.mil/d-day/



http://www.army.mil/d-day/

asu66 wrote:But for US Forces in the Normandy Invasion and Operation Overlord, the western world would wir sprechen deutsch. Take a moment to remember those who protected our freedom 70 years ago today. Few of them are living.

http://www.army.mil/d-day/



http://www.army.mil/d-day/

I think my paternal grandfather was a paratrooper in D-Day, and am not trying to minimize the events of those days. Just as a speculative question about the history But had D-Day not happened or been a failure where a beach head was not taken, do you think Germany would have hung on for years more. We were almost to Rome on D-Day. It would have been a different end to the war and may have dragged on a bit longer, but would we not have come up from the south had D-day turned bad.

My dad was in the Navy and on a PC in the Mediterranean - My wife's uncle actually was part of the first wave which landed on the beach at Normandy - One of the nicest, kindest men I had ever met but he absolutely refused to ever talk about that day - I certainly understand why ---

As to your question - I think your thoughts might be correct - I do think we could have saved GB either way - I'm not sure about France - they had a resistance force but I think they would be speaking German today if it weren't for our brave soldiers - Of course, it seems now with all the stories coming to light it was probably only a matter of time before some of his own succeeded in assassinating Hitler - I think there might have been a truce if that had happened sooner but I'm not sure if any settlement would reflect what we accomplished with total victory ---

asu66 wrote:But for US Forces in the Normandy Invasion and Operation Overlord, the western world would wir sprechen deutsch.

More like "говорят по-русски"

Germany's army was already crushed by their failed invasion of Russia. They suffered nearly 1,000,000 casualties in their invasion. The Soviets destroyed over 500 German divisions. The Allies defeated a little over 100 German divisions in their invasion.

D-Day was incredibly important and there were many heroes. But, the invasion was much more about a race with the Soviets to Germany and preventing Stalin from overwhelming western Europe. Germany was already defeated when we launched D-Day.

Reagan's D-Day speech in Normany 30 years ago today :

God bless them all. I have a man in my neighborhood is a WWII Vet and while I have no clue if he was at Normandy or not, he will always get my respect.

McLeansvilleAppFan wrote:

asu66 wrote:But for US Forces in the Normandy Invasion and Operation Overlord, the western world would wir sprechen deutsch. Take a moment to remember those who protected our freedom 70 years ago today. Few of them are living.

http://www.army.mil/d-day/



http://www.army.mil/d-day/

I think my paternal grandfather was a paratrooper in D-Day, and am not trying to minimize the events of those days. Just as a speculative question about the history But had D-Day not happened or been a failure where a beach head was not taken, do you think Germany would have hung on for years more. We were almost to Rome on D-Day. It would have been a different end to the war and may have dragged on a bit longer, but would we not have come up from the south had D-day turned bad.

In short the Russians would have handed the Krauts their arses before we could have gotten to them. Likely there would have been no East Germany and West Germany, it would been all Nazi controlled.

Not sure about this but didn't Lee Marvin and Captain Kangaroo serve in this and get medals for it?
That's what I've heard. Not sure though.

AppGrad1 wrote:Not sure about this but didn't Lee Marvin and Captain Kangaroo serve in this and get medals for it?
That's what I've heard. Not sure though.

If you go to Snopes, you will see that never did Kaptain Kangaroo (Bob Keesham), nor as it is rumored, Mr. Rogers, ever serve in any branch of the military, As to Lee Marvin, I haven't seen anything about his actual service , but he may have starred in a war movie or two.

asu66 wrote:But for US Forces in the Normandy Invasion and Operation Overlord, the western world would wir sprechen deutsch. Take a moment to remember those who protected our freedom 70 years ago today. Few of them are living.

http://www.army.mil/d-day/



http://www.army.mil/d-day/

Thanks, 66, huge props for the post!! I am a huge history buff, been watching this stuff all night, can't get enough.

Sunday morning will see me placing a wreath on my Dad's grave, he was part of the first contingent in the assault on Normandy. He survived but most of his comrades did not.

My dad was on a mine sweeper, the first ship to cross. He survived, came home and never spoke of it. I learned this when I was in my 20s from someone I met by chance who served with him.

NewApp wrote:

AppGrad1 wrote:Not sure about this but didn't Lee Marvin and Captain Kangaroo serve in this and get medals for it?
That's what I've heard. Not sure though.

If you go to Snopes, you will see that never did Kaptain Kangaroo (Bob Keesham), nor as it is rumored, Mr. Rogers, ever serve in any branch of the military, As to Lee Marvin, I haven't seen anything about his actual service , but he may have starred in a war movie or two.

From the Arlington National Cemetery website...

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/lmarvin.htm
Lee Marvin
Private First Class, United States Marine Corps
Movie Actor
New York State Flag

Lee Marvin was born on February 19, 1924, he served with the Marine Corps during World War II in the Pacific and was awarded a Purple Heart for a wound that he received there. On his return, he became a movie actor and starred in a number of motion pictures until his death in Arizona on August 29, 1987. He is buried in Section 7-A of Arlington National Cemetery, not far from the Memorial Amphitheater and the Tomb of the Unknowns.

asu66 wrote:

NewApp wrote:

AppGrad1 wrote:Not sure about this but didn't Lee Marvin and Captain Kangaroo serve in this and get medals for it?
That's what I've heard. Not sure though.

If you go to Snopes, you will see that never did Kaptain Kangaroo (Bob Keesham), nor as it is rumored, Mr. Rogers, ever serve in any branch of the military, As to Lee Marvin, I haven't seen anything about his actual service , but he may have starred in a war movie or two.

From the Arlington National Cemetery website...

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/lmarvin.htm
Lee Marvin
Private First Class, United States Marine Corps
Movie Actor
New York State Flag

Lee Marvin was born on February 19, 1924, he served with the Marine Corps during World War II in the Pacific and was awarded a Purple Heart for a wound that he received there. On his return, he became a movie actor and starred in a number of motion pictures until his death in Arizona on August 29, 1987. He is buried in Section 7-A of Arlington National Cemetery, not far from the Memorial Amphitheater and the Tomb of the Unknowns.

Yep as I had never researched his career but he sure personified the stereotype. Thanks for the excerpt. He must have been much like John Wayne as he didn't have to really show much acting talent...just be himself. He sounds like my and my father's hero...Audie Murphy.