Category Archives: World War II

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)

Allied ramps go down into the water at Omaha Beach 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)


Video: 'Operation Overlord & Neptune (D-Day documentary)' (June 6, 1944, 7:00 a.m. BDST at 42:50)

(Tuesday, June 6, 1944, 7:00 a.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/1:00 a.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); during the Normandy landings, part of Operation Overlord on the Western Front of World War II) — Allied ramps on landing crafts go down off Omaha Beach as Allied soldiers entered the water on their way to the beaches of Normandy. Continue reading Allied ramps go down into the water at Omaha Beach 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)

First wave of Allied soldiers approach Omaha Beach 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)


Video: 'Operation Overlord & Neptune (D-Day documentary)' (June 6, 1944, 6:20 a.m. BDST at 39:31)

(Tuesday, June 6, 1944, 6:20 a.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/12:20 a.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); during the Normandy landings, part of Operation Overlord on the Western Front of World War II) — The first wave of Allied seaborne troops approached Omaha Beach this morning, taking artillery and mortars from German defense positions on the coast. Continue reading First wave of Allied soldiers approach Omaha Beach 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)

Seaborne troops endure rough seas as they head towards Normandy 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)


Video: 'Operation Overlord & Neptune (D-Day documentary)' (June 6, 1944, 5:00 a.m. BDST at 26:33)

(Tuesday, June 6, 1944, 5:00 a.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/11:00 p.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); one hour before the Normandy landings, part of Operation Overlord on the Western Front of World War II) — The seas were rough as Allied seaborne troops, still 10-11 miles out, headed towards the beaches of Normandy, France. Continue reading Seaborne troops endure rough seas as they head towards Normandy 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)

First of 5,112 Allied bombers take off for D-Day invasion 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)


Video: 'Operation Overlord & Neptune (D-Day documentary)' (June 6, 1944, 4:00 a.m. BDST at 21:38)

(Tuesday, June 6, 1944, 4:00 a.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/10:00 p.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); two hours before the the Normandy landings, part of Operation Overlord on the Western Front of World War II) — The first of the 5,112 Allied aircraft taking part in D-Day took off this morning from southern England. Continue reading First of 5,112 Allied bombers take off for D-Day invasion 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1944)

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt hails Allied capture of Rome 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 5 1944)


Video: 'Franklin D. Roosevelt on the Liberation of Rome'

(Monday, June 5, 1944, 8:30 p.m. Eastern War Time (EWT); during the Italian Campaign of World War II) — In a broadcast to the nation, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt hailed tonight the capture of Rome, first of the three major Axis capitals to fall, as a great achievement on the road toward total conquest of the Axis. Continue reading U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt hails Allied capture of Rome 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 5 1944)