For the defeated soldiers of the Third Reich, D-Day was a welcome relief. For many of the troops serving the Wehrmacht, they didn’t want to be there. In some cases, they were press-ganged into service by German forces after the conquest of areas like Poland, Romania, and Ukraine. Today’s recap shows you a palpable sense of relief on the faces of Nazi soldiers.
Day of Days
The Allies spun into gear in 1944, starting what would result in numerous defeated soldiers and generals along the way. While Operation Overlord was a massive undertaking, it would be instrumental in the War in Europe.
A Beachhead
D-Day centered around multiple beaches, each with codenames. The joint operation between British, American, and Canadian troops would face fierce fighting upon landing.
Bitter Fighting
Before scores of Axis defeated soldiers would go to prisoner camps, the actual battle had to be fought. Despite stiff German resistance, the Allies were successful in capturing the beaches.
Fortress Europa
While the Eastern Front was collapsing, the Axis had troubles on their Western Front. The defeated soldiers were unable to push the Allies back to the sea, now it was just a matter of time for the push into mainland Germany.
The Fight Ahead
Despite stiff resistance, many defeated soldiers were glad to be captured. For some, it meant a steady meal and security without fear of the Eastern Front. The war was changing, however, and the Allies were pushing in both directions on Germany.
Friendly Greetings
Compared to the defeated soldiers of the Wehrmacht and SS, the French civilians who met Allied forces were overjoyed. For the French, this meant an end to the four-year occupation of Nazi forces in the country.
No Easy Fight
Despite the relieved faces of the defeated soldiers captured, D-Day wasn’t a cakewalk. Thousands of men would meet their end shortly after exiting their landing craft. Projected casualties for Omaha Beach had the first landing at nearly 99% casualties.
Two Fronts
Compared to the Germans, the sea was the more unpredictable factor in the invasion. D-Day landing forces had to contend with choppy waters churning below them while gunfire raked the landing craft.
A Sense of Relief
The faces of the defeated soldiers found at D-Day were shockingly calm. There was no sense of dread or anxiety. Unlike their own home country, they could count on the Allies for fair treatment for the rest of the war.
Overwhelming Force
While the landing at Normandy was successful, the war was far from over. The Allies still had to push deeper into Western and Central Europe to free occupied countries and knock over Hitler’s regime in the process.
Combined Arms
The landing force wasn’t alone in their efforts. While they departed their landing craft, bombers and naval guns rained fire from above on Wehrmacht positions.
Watch the Full Video
If you would like to watch our incredible recap of Operation Overlord, you can do so here. While these defeated soldiers would see the end of the war, it is important to remember the sacrifices of all Allied troops.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©zef art/Shutterstock.com.
