Category Archives: 1940s

Allied soldiers at Normandy settle in for the night 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)


Video: 'Operation Overlord & Neptune (D-Day documentary)' (June 6, 1944, 11:00 p.m. BDST at 1:22:41)

(Tuesday, June 6, 1944, 11:00 p.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/5:00 p.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); during the Normandy landings, part of Operation Overlord on the Western Front of World War II) — After long hours of fighting, the men who landed at Normandy today try to rest where and when they can, often disturbed by enemy activity. Continue reading Allied soldiers at Normandy settle in for the night 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)

Thousands of Allied reinforcements arrive near Caen, France 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)


Video: 'Operation Overlord & Neptune (D-Day documentary)' (June 6, 1944, 6:00 p.m. BDST at 1:20:09)

(Tuesday, June 6, 1944, 6:00 p.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/12:00 p.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); during the Normandy landings, part of Operation Overlord on the Western Front of World War II) — Around 600 British planes towing gliders containing thousands of Allied reinforcements flew towards Caen this evening, forcing German forces to retreat and dig in north of Caen. Continue reading Thousands of Allied reinforcements arrive near Caen, France 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)

Allies have cracked the Atlantic Wall 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)


Video: 'Operation Overlord & Neptune (D-Day documentary)' (June 6, 1944, 1:00 p.m. BDST at 1:15:10)

(Tuesday, June 6, 1944, 1:00 p.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/7:00 a.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); during the Normandy landings, part of Operation Overlord on the Western Front of World War II) — The Allies have cracked the Atlantic Wall across all five invasion beaches and smashed their way into Nazi-occupied France. Continue reading Allies have cracked the Atlantic Wall 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)

Allied paratroopers have destroyed German weapons at Brecourt Manor 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)


Video: 'Operation Overlord & Neptune (D-Day documentary)' (June 6, 1944, 12:00 p.m. BDST at 1:10:22)

(Tuesday, June 6, 1944, 12:00 p.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/6:00 a.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); during the Normandy landings, part of Operation Overlord on the Western Front of World War II) — The Brécourt Manor Assault, the Allied effort to destroy German weapons hidden inland from Utah Beach at Normandy, France, is successfully completed by this hour. Continue reading Allied paratroopers have destroyed German weapons at Brecourt Manor 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)

Decisive action by Allied destroyers turns the tide at Omaha Beach 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)


Video: 'Operation Overlord & Neptune (D-Day documentary)' (June 6, 1944, 10:30 a.m. BDST at 1:00:53)

(Tuesday, June 6, 1944, 10:30 a.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/4:30 a.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); during the Normandy landings, part of Operation Overlord on the Western Front of World War II) — Decisive action by Allied destroyers to risk going aground to support soldiers pinned down have turned the tide at Omaha Beach by this hour. Continue reading Decisive action by Allied destroyers turns the tide at Omaha Beach 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)

Allied paratroopers close in on German weapons at Brecourt Manor 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)


Video: 'Operation Overlord & Neptune (D-Day documentary)' (June 6, 1944, 8:30 a.m. BDST at 1:04:27)

(Tuesday, June 6, 1944, 8:30 a.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/2:30 a.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); during the Normandy landings, part of Operation Overlord on the Western Front of World War II) — Allied soldiers who came ashore at Utah Beach are vulnerable to German weapons hidden inland at Brecourt Manor, weapons that delayed paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division are attempting to capture. Continue reading Allied paratroopers close in on German weapons at Brecourt Manor 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)

General Bradley contemplates abandonment of Omaha Beach 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)


Video: 'Operation Overlord & Neptune (D-Day documentary)' (June 6, 1944, 8:30 a.m. BDST at 57:42)

(Tuesday, June 6, 1944, 8:30 a.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/2:30 a.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); during the Normandy landings, part of Operation Overlord on the Western Front of World War II) — U.S. General Omar Bradley contemplated abandoning Omaha Beach this hour, but has one more card to play against German defenses. Continue reading General Bradley contemplates abandonment of Omaha Beach 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)

Rangers hunt down missing German weapons near Omaha Beach 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)


Video: 'Operation Overlord & Neptune (D-Day documentary)' (June 6, 1944, 8:15 a.m. BDST at 36:25)

(Tuesday, June 6, 1944, 8:15 a.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/2:15 a.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); one hour before the Normandy landings, part of Operation Overlord on the Western Front of World War II) — U.S. Army Rangers, having climbed the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc, head inland to hunt down missing German weapons near Omaha Beach. Continue reading Rangers hunt down missing German weapons near Omaha Beach 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)

Americans move along exposed width of Omaha Beach 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)


Video: 'Operation Overlord & Neptune (D-Day documentary)' (June 6, 1944, 7:30 a.m. BDST at 53:22)

(Tuesday, June 6, 1944, 7:30 a.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/1:30 a.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); during the Normandy landings, part of Operation Overlord on the Western Front of World War II) — Bob Slaughter and his men decide to cross a great stretch of exposed width of Omaha Beach to reach the protection of the seawalls. Continue reading Americans move along exposed width of Omaha Beach 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)

British troops run into danger as they land on Sword Beach 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)


Video: 'Operation Overlord & Neptune (D-Day documentary)' (June 6, 1944, 7:26 a.m. BDST at 50:18)

(Tuesday, June 6, 1944, 7:26 a.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/1:26 a.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); during the Normandy landings, part of Operation Overlord on the Western Front of World War II) — On the eastern flank of the D-Day invasion (the British-Canadian beaches of Gold, Juno and Sword), the first assault waves run into danger on Sword Beach, but are boosted by floating DD tanks. Continue reading British troops run into danger as they land on Sword Beach 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)