D-Day: The Lost Evidence

[Alexanderofmacedon]

Whats even a little more astounding is that the British Airborne were considered to be a better organized fighting force than American Airborne and yet mucked it up terribly during Operation: Market Garden. Montgomery assumed too much and when information was relayed to the Red Devils they assumed to much.

However the Atlantic Wall at both Juno and Sword Beach were considered to be a bit less heavily defended than Omaha and Utah, and the Royal Marines had already practiced beach landings during the Invasion of Sicily, which gave them a better sense of organization. American Forces had fallen a bit behind, and the Landings at Anzio didn't give the US Military much in terms of experience except from a General's point of view.

However, the US Airborne definantly deserved kudos for pulling it out of the hat during D-Day. A Much less disciplined or a force that used a different form of organization couldn't have pulled it off.

The British brought up "Didi's", which were tanks that could drive through water. They had 22 and it made it very easy for Sword to be taken.

The show stated that the allied forces landing on the beaches thought it would be a walk on the beach. They thought all opposition was destroyed by the numerous bombers, but I think the bombers dropped bombs too far inland.

[Aenlic]

One segment of the show I found fascinating was the part about the guy from the 101st airborne finding the maps on the dead German officer. They were detailed maps of the entire beach fortifications, including mg nest positions and barbed wire and mine fields. Amazing stuff. This guy, a Lt. I think, realized what he'd found and rushed it back to brigade. It then made it's way to the beach command and probably saved thousands of lives.

And imagine if the nasty wave conditions at Omaha and Utah had been better and the DD tanks there hadn't all floundered and sank. Those tanks made a huge difference at Sword. It was just horrid luck that they couldn't be used at Omaha and Utah.