Haunting photos capture the terror and tension on assault boats before troops stormed ashore on D-Day – as well as the brutal fighting that ensued
- Pictures taken from the landing craft show terrified US and Canadian soldiers waiting to storm the beaches
- Estimates suggest as many as 5,000 US soldiers were killed or wounded in the effort to take Omaha beach
- Striking images show the chaos unfolding and scores of wounded soldiers being taken from the battlefield
Striking photos show the terrifying moments before and after the D-Day landings as troops fought to liberate western Europe.
The photographs predominantly show North American troops from the US and Canadian armies during the daring operation on June 6, 1944.
Terrified-looking US troops can be seen preparing to disembark at Omaha beach on the coast of Normandy and attempting to deal with the chaos of the landing once they finally waded ashore.
Other pictures show casualties being ferried away from the beach on a packed landing craft.
During the offensive, German defences were unexpectedly strong, which led to unexpectedly heavy casualties - and some estimates suggest as many as 5,000 US soldiers were killed or wounded in the attempt to take the beach.
At Omaha in particular the pre-landing bombardment had little effect on the German defensive positions and disembarking US troops were met with fierce volleys of gunfire and heavy artillery.
Nearly 160,000 troops crossed the English Channel on D-Day, and the battle remains the largest seaborne invasion in history. Over 73,000 of the soldiers who took part were from the US.
US Army troops in an LCVP landing craft approach Normandy's 'Omaha' Beach on D-Day in Colleville Sur-Mer, France June 6 1944. As infantry disembarked from the landing craft, they often found themselves on sandbars 50 to 100 yards away from the beach. To reach the beach they had to wade through water sometimes neck deep
US Army troops and crewmen aboard a Coast Guard manned LCVP approach a beach on D-Day. After the initial landing soldiers found the original plan was in tatters, with so many units mis-landed, disorganized and scattered. Most commanders had fallen or were absent, and there were few ways to communicate
A LCVP landing craft from the U.S. Coast Guard attack transport USS Samuel Chase approaches Omaha Beach. The objective was for the beach defences to be cleared within two hours of the initial landing. But stubborn German defence delayed efforts to take the beach and led to significant delays
An LCM landing craft manned by the U.S. Coast Guard, evacuating U.S. casualties from the invasion beaches, brings them to a transport for treatment. An accurate figure for casualties incurred by V Corps at Omaha on 6 June is not known; sources vary between 2,000 and over 5,000 killed, wounded, and missing
Forward 14/45 guns of the US Navy battleship USS Nevada fire on positions ashore during the D-Day landings on Utah Beach. The only artillery support for the troops making these tentative advances was from the navy. Finding targets difficult to spot, and in fear of hitting their own troops, the big guns of the battleships and cruisers concentrated fire on the flanks of the beaches
The US Navy minesweeper USS Tide sinks after striking a mine, while its crew are assisted by patrol torpedo boat PT-509 and minesweeper USS Pheasant. When another ship attempted to tow the damaged ship to the beach, the strain broke her in two and she sank only minutes after the last survivors had been taken off
A US Army medic moves along a narrow strip of Omaha Beach administering first aid to men wounded in the Normandy landing on D-Day in Collville Sur-Mer. On D-Day, dozens of medics went into battle on the beaches of Normandy, usually without a weapon. Not only did the number of wounded exceed expectations, but the means to evacuate them did not exist
Canadian tank crews remove water-proofing from their tanks at Juno beach on D-Day. Only 100 of the 2,400 tons of supplies scheduled to be landed on D-Day were landed. Under heavy fire, the engineers struggled to clear the beach obstacles; later landings bunched up around the few channels that were cleared
Canadian soldiers study a German plan of the beach during D-Day landing operations in Normandy. Once the beachhead had been secured, Omaha became the location of one of the two Mulberry harbors, prefabricated artificial harbors towed in pieces across the English Channel and assembled just off shore
US Army Rangers show off the ladders they used to storm the cliffs which they assaulted in support of Omaha Beach landings at Pointe du Hoc. At the end of the two-day action, the initial Ranger landing force of 225 or more was reduced to about 90 fighting men
British troops disembark from the Canadian navy infantry landing ship HMCS Prince David. Weakened by the casualties taken just in landing, the surviving assault troops could not clear the heavily defended exits off the beach. This caused further problems and consequent delays for later landings
Brave men one and all
by madatter 1473