One of the most important dates in the history of World War II - and the largest seaborne invasion in world history started on this date. Within a week, the Allies were several miles into France after bitter fighting along the coast. . .but it was the beginning of the end of Hitler's Germany.
This is actual color film of the leadup to this day in Britain - it isn't staged production, but footage taken by both the government and enlisted service personnel - and some of the rarest film of the era. In this program, it was mixed with the diary accounts of servicemen and civilians and radio broadcasts with the news of the day.
The first clip begins with a bit of the 1943 landing in Sicily - then back to Britain to discuss the huge numbers of troops training in the country as they prepare for the landings.
YouTube - Britain at War in Colour The Beginning of the End part 4
The second clip is of the landing itself, though footage of actual fighting is limited (possibly restricted) some of the casualties are easily viewed:
YouTube - Britain at War in Colour The Beginning of the End part 5
The last clip is the aftermath, the official radio announcement of the invasion and the reaction of people in Britain at the time.
YouTube - Britain at War in Colour The Beginning of the End part 6
There is another clip in the series which talks about how a British soldier, complete with his bagpipes, landed on the beach amid all the carnage and turmoil and started playing his pipes -one soldier said it lifted morale.
One has to remember that in this invasion, soldiers were instructed that most of the first wave was likely not to survive the landing, but the second and the third would push on until the beach was taken. Soldiers were told not to stop and help fallen or injured men in the first wave because time was essential and that medics were following up in the next waves. This has to be one of the most courageous chapters in human history, and that is why Britain, France and Belgium still mark this day by remembering those buried in Allied cemetaries and honoring the sacrifice made for their liberation.
This is actual color film of the leadup to this day in Britain - it isn't staged production, but footage taken by both the government and enlisted service personnel - and some of the rarest film of the era. In this program, it was mixed with the diary accounts of servicemen and civilians and radio broadcasts with the news of the day.
The first clip begins with a bit of the 1943 landing in Sicily - then back to Britain to discuss the huge numbers of troops training in the country as they prepare for the landings.
YouTube - Britain at War in Colour The Beginning of the End part 4
The second clip is of the landing itself, though footage of actual fighting is limited (possibly restricted) some of the casualties are easily viewed:
YouTube - Britain at War in Colour The Beginning of the End part 5
The last clip is the aftermath, the official radio announcement of the invasion and the reaction of people in Britain at the time.
YouTube - Britain at War in Colour The Beginning of the End part 6
There is another clip in the series which talks about how a British soldier, complete with his bagpipes, landed on the beach amid all the carnage and turmoil and started playing his pipes -one soldier said it lifted morale.
One has to remember that in this invasion, soldiers were instructed that most of the first wave was likely not to survive the landing, but the second and the third would push on until the beach was taken. Soldiers were told not to stop and help fallen or injured men in the first wave because time was essential and that medics were following up in the next waves. This has to be one of the most courageous chapters in human history, and that is why Britain, France and Belgium still mark this day by remembering those buried in Allied cemetaries and honoring the sacrifice made for their liberation.
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