Today, June 6th, 2024, marks 80 years since the beginnings of Operation Overlord: the planned invasion of the Normandy region of France to facilitate the liberation of Axis controlled Europe.
It’s a day I’ve always held in high esteem. Not withstanding that I did have a distant (non-blood) relative involved in the conflict, my interest and care for World War 2 in general is well known, and I find this event to be the moment the end was cemented for the Third Reich. Yes, the Soviets had been advancing in from the East over the past year, but the West was still under the dominion of Hitler, with Italy having been under a direct invasion by the Allies since Autumn of the previous year.
In 10 months Nazi Germany would cease to be, and half the war would be won. Japan would fall soon, after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and by the end of 1945 the world was in an uncomfortable peace: it was then that the tension between the Soviets and their former Allies would grow into what we would know as the Cold War.
I’m getting ahead of myself, though. I don’t have too much planned to say about D-Day as I really can’t personally do it justice. I’ll simply say this.
Those who fought on that day, in the effort to help liberate Europe, were and, for those still around, are, heroes, as much as anyone else who did their duty to help save civilization in that nightmare time that was World War 2.
The bravery and skill with which so many people from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and other nations, did their jobs is to never be forgotten. From storming the beaches to parachuting in behind enemy lines, and everything in between and surrounding, from the boots on the ground to the men and women back home helping support them, D-Day, the largest seaborne invasion in history, the necessary moment to restore sanity to the world, well, it couldn’t have happened without their incredible, well planned and orchestrated efforts.
Most of the people involved in that day are long gone. The youngest would still be nearly 100 years old at this stage. The Greatest Generation will soon only live in our memories, and I feel we should always remember that, all those years ago people gave their all for what some may consider the last truly justified war. It was certainly one of the most critical events in history, if not possibly the most important event in human history and I for one, well, feel this day deserves all the respect we can give it.
This isn’t me being hyper patriotic or anything. No. This is me caring about humanity and being glad that all those years ago the world said no, we aren’t going to let this happen.
At least, that’s part of the way I look at it. Again, it’s all so much I can’t really form words but, well, you see how I feel at least. A rare treat on this blog for me to be serious about something that matters in the grand scheme as much as this day did.. and still does, and always should, to those of us who enjoy liberty, in whatever form we choose to accept it.
To the Men and Women who, on this day 80’s years ago, did their part to help save the world… thank you. Thank you for giving your best for everyone, everywhere.