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across yet another neighboring frontier into southern Jutland. German bombers patrolled the coast. At the same time, landings were affected at different Danish and Norwegian ports and German occupied Europe. They tell the story of the war in the USSR as seen from the Nazi point of view. When they were prepared, they were leading up to the expected triumph on all fronts. From Lennengrad to the Caucus of Sun Stalenrad, seen today by us, they afforded grim satisfaction in the knowledge that the invader is suffering enormous losses. These are the tanks that stormed across Europe in an orgy of destruction. They taught the world about armored and mechanized might. And the old world learned the lessons well. on London. A bomb fell close to the
Houses of Parliament. And this damage was done to the House of Commons. But wherever the bombs fall makes little difference to the progress unless you beat all the people and that's a job that'll take more years than you're likely to have, Mr. Hitler. These men at the Allied spearhead have had years of intensive training preparing them for the invasion of Europe. Nothing was needlessly left to chance. Clean, welloiled guns were soon to be used in real war by some of the men for the first time. The cold steel was given a killing edge, an edge that would shave the mustache off anybody. Meanwhile, down the roads to the ports went convoys of amphibious ducks.
Along the highways of southern England, Mark and drove the invasion forces. Thousands of ships lay waiting at anchor. Only one year ago, no such concentration could have conceivably escaped attack. Never in military history has any campaign been so long anticipated, so much discussed, so thoroughly organized as the Second Front. In the high spirits of free men launched on the grandest of all crusades. The trained soldiers of democracy left the shores of England. For all who had so long awaited the event, this was indeed an hour of triumph. over the channel. There was heavy cloud.
Already poor flying weather had postponed the invasion 24 hours. But now the great tribulous operation was underway. Through the cloud gaps, the airborne spearhead saw something of the incharmada. 4,000 ships and thousands of smaller were heading south. The apparent impetence of the L buffer made the barrage balloon seem superfluous, but no precaution was neglected. That the vast convoy should sail unharmed to the coast of France was the Royal Navy's determination. The greatest amphibious operation of all time was got underway. When it was barely light, the men of the airborne arm boarded the gliders and troop carrying aircraft. More than a thousand planes were used by this
section of the invading forces. It was far and away the largest airborne operation of the war. These were the men, their faces blackened now the color of chocolate, against whose assault the strongest coastal defenses would avail no more than bows and arrows. Ahead of the glider train as the south country passed swiftly below went US liberators and medium bombers. Their mission carried them far beyond the beaches to attack the marshalling yards necessary to the enemy for the rapid switching of his reserves. Hundreds of invasion craft nose their way onto the landing beaches. This stage every advantage lay with the defense. Against withering fire from well-concealed German imp placements, only the highest courage and determination could avail.
onto French soil which the enemy had four years to fortify and which his troops stubbornly defended. Strong Allied forces had been firmly placed. The Nazis, knowing that with each passing hour their chance of flinging us back into the sea diminished, bitterly contested these early landings. It was of no avail. When the time came for the paratroops to bail out, only a very small percentage of the troop carriers had been lost. It is largely owing to the success of the airborne arm that in little more than 12 hours, the Allied beach head spread 13 mi wide and penetrated 10 mi in depth.
The men of this newest department of the army are trained to act independently. With great effect, they proceeded to carry out their general instructions to harass the enemy and destroy everything German within sight. Supreme Commander Eisenhower made his long-awaited broadcast to the people of France. This was the hour for which the oppressed millions had prayed for years. A landing was made this morning on the coast of France by troops of the Allied Expeditionary Force. This landing is but the opening phase of the campaign in Western Europe. Great battles lie ahead.
I call upon all who love freedom to stand with us now. Keep your faith strong. Our arms are resolute. Together we shall achieve victory. When the beaches were no longer under fire, the Allies brought the heavy equipment ashore. Bulldozers, essential for constructing the vital air strips, took high place in landing priority. In these shattered defenses of the Atlantic Wall, many Germans were found dead, some killed by the blast of heavy shellfire. Survivors received prompt attention from the medical core. They had good reason to thank their stars for a narrow escape. Yard by yard, the Allies fought their way through the villages and small towns.
Many still arrogant Nazis reluctant to put up their hands were among the earlier prisoners. A lot of the captives were very youthful. Initial landings we had taken 10,000 prisoners. As fighting men, the Germans here do not compare with Raml's veterans of the desert. That is the verdict of old eighth army men. There's much hard fighting ahead of us. But it's impossible that the German army is not weakened by the disastrous campaigns in Russia and the fact that it's been fighting on one front or another since the war began.
