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Yep. To paraphrase Patton, we should not mourn these men but rejoice that such men lived.no1tovote4 said:Don't forget!
http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/ww2-pix/d-day04.jpg
Those men showed amazing bravery that, to this day, I am unsure I could have shown.
CSM said:Yep. To paraphrase Patton, we should not mourn these men but rejoice that such men lived.
June 6, 1944. -NORMANDY- Three hundred French civilians were killed and
thousands more wounded today in the first hours of America's invasion of
continental Europe. Casualties were heaviest among women and children.
Most of the French casualties were the result of artillery fire from
American ships attempting to knock out German fortifications prior to the
landing of hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops.
Reports from a makeshift hospital in the French town of St. Mere Eglise said
the carnage was far worse than the French had anticipated and reaction
against the American invasion was running high. "We are dying for no
reason," said a Frenchman speaking on condition of anonymity. "Americans
can't even shoot straight. I never thought I'd say this, but life was
better under Adolph Hitler."
The invasion also caused severe environmental damage. American troops,
tanks, trucks and machinery destroyed miles of pristine shoreline and
thousands of acres of ecologically sensitive wetlands. It was believed that
the habitat of the spineless French crab was completely wiped out,
threatening the species with extinction.
A representative of Greenpeace said his organization, which had tried to
stall the invasion for over a year, was appalled at the destruction, but not
surprised. "This is just another example of how the military destroys the
environment without a second thought," said Christine Moanmore. "And it's
all about corporate greed."
Contacted at his Manhattan condo, a member of the French government-in-exile
who abandoned Paris when Hitler invaded said the invasion was based solely
on American financial interests. "Everyone knows that President Roosevelt
has ties to big beer," said Pierre LeWimp. "Once the German beer industry
is conquered, Roosevelt's beer cronies will control the world market and
make a fortune."
Administration supporters said America's aggressive actions were based in
part on the assertions of controversial scientist Albert Einstein, who sent
a letter to Roosevelt speculating that the Germans were developing a secret
weapon, a so-called "atomic bomb." Such a weapon could produce casualties
on a scale never seen before and cause environmental damage that could last
for thousands of years. Hitler has denied having such a weapon and
international inspectors were unable to locate such weapons even after
spending two long weekends in Germany. Shortly after the invasion began
reports surfaced that German prisoners had been abused by Americans.
Mistreatment of Jews by Germans at so-called "concentration camps" has been
rumored but so far, remains unproven.
Several thousand Americans died during the first hours of the invasion and
French officials are concerned that uncollected corpses pose a public health
risk. "The Americans should have planned for this in advance," they said.
"It's their mess and we don't intend to clean it up."
Adam's Apple said:they were spit on and called vile names by the French people. (Quite an ungrateful lot, to say the least.)
Adam's Apple said:Revisionist history, Dr. Grump? I would say it was more like a FEW--not a vast majority--were more than happy to see the Allies.
Adam's Apple said:You will have to go to books for that kind of information. Also talk to some of the old guys who are still living and were part of the invasion and ask them what kind of reception they got. It was not all hugs and kisses, I will tell you that. Many French people would have preferred to have lived under the Nazis than to have been liberated by the Allies.
