(5/6) Timewatch Omaha Beach World War II

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At six miles wide, Omaha was the largest of the landing areas, with the toughest defense. The water and beach were littered with mines and the entire beach being overlooked by 30-metre cliffs. The experienced 352nd German Infantry Division had the beach covered.
The 1st Infantry assault experienced the worst ordeal of the D-Day operation. All but two out of 29 amphibious tanks sank and almost all the senior officers were killed or wounded as they set foot on the beach. Despite a 50% casualty rate, the survivors regrouped and pressed on.
Aided by heavy naval bombardment, the infantry crossed the beach and began scaling the cliffs. Paratroops closed in on the German defense from behind, enabling the beach exits to be secured by midday.
The Americans suffered 2,400 casualties at Omaha on June 6th, but 34,000 Allied troops had landed by nightfall.

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Education

[alanheath]

A relative of mine was killed at Omaha after the fighting ended - he stood on a mine whilst aiding someone who was wounded.

[christof139]

There were ~4,700 USA casualties (+ a few Brit. landing craft crew) casualties at Omaha, not 2,400. Read Joseph Balkowski's 'Omaha Beach, D-day, June 6, 1944', he uses updated & more completely compiled casualty records. 1st & 29th US Inf. Divs., + Rangers, Engineers, AAA troops, Seabees, etc. landed there. About 50 tanks were sunk or knocked out.

[ShoutenDadi]

@SenorCojonazos Im sorry to hear that your great uncle died

[SenorCojonazos]

@ShoutenDadi British died there also - including my great-Uncle. In addition many of the ANZACS fighting there were British born or of British descent.

[MrSoakitincider]

I miss heroes.....

[isuckaman]

Being that there were no "bunker buster" bombs in the U.S. arsenal in 1944, you have to wonder that even if the German bunkers took direct hits from dumb bombs before the landings would that have had any affect on those bunkers.

[smallfire66]

4,700 AMERICAN CASUALTIES???!!! AND THATS ONLY ONE BEACH?!

[ShoutenDadi]

@AnikinTal  dnt u mean bloody Gallipoli for the ANZACS?

the British didnt do crap they jus let all the aussies and new zealanders get killd

[gg136800yyk]

it was horrible

[gg136800yyk]

it was a blood bath