Changes

== The Longest Day ==

== The Longest Day ==

[[Image:D-day 2.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Soldiers using German tank traps as cover]]

[[Image:D-day 2.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Soldiers using German tank traps as cover]]

American soldiers landed at Omaha and Utah beaches, while the British and [[Canadian]] forces landed at Sword, Juno, and Gold beaches. The [[British]] forces at Juno faced light resistance thanks to bombardment by the Allied Navy. The [[Americans]] Utah beach faced the lightest resistance; out of 23,000 soldiers, there were only 197 casualties. However, at Sword, the Canadians faced 11 heavy batteries of 155 mm guns, 9 medium batteries of 75 mm guns, machine-gun nests, pillboxes, other concrete fortifications, and a seawall twice the height of the one at Omaha Beach. The first wave suffered a 50% casualty rate. Omaha beach was the bloodiest landing zone; 2,500 of the 10,000 casualties occurred at Omaha. It was defended by 8 concrete bunkers with 75 millimeters or larger guns, 35 pillboxes, 4 batteries of artillery, 18 antitank guns, 6 mortar pits, 35 rocket-launching sites, and more than 85 machine-gun nests.

American soldiers landed at Omaha and Utah beaches, while the British and [[Canadian]] forces landed at Sword, Juno, and Gold beaches. The [[British]] forces at Juno faced light resistance thanks to a combination of a bombardment by the Allied Navy and the use of specialized armour, including amphibious tanks. The [[Americans]] Utah beach faced the lightest resistance; out of 23,000 soldiers, there were only 197 casualties. However, at Sword, the Canadians faced 11 heavy batteries of 155 mm guns, 9 medium batteries of 75 mm guns, machine-gun nests, pillboxes, other concrete fortifications, and a seawall twice the height of the one at Omaha Beach. The first wave suffered a 50% casualty rate. Omaha beach was the bloodiest landing zone; 2,500 of the 10,000 casualties occurred at Omaha. It was defended by 8 concrete bunkers with 75 millimeters or larger guns, 35 pillboxes, 4 batteries of artillery, 18 antitank guns, 6 mortar pits, 35 rocket-launching sites, and more than 85 machine-gun nests. US losses were heavy but the beach defenses were eventually overcome.

One of many bizarre historical coincidences, almost none of the German commanders were at the front on the day of the invasion. Rommel was back in Germany to speak with [[Hitler]] and for his wife's birthday, June 6. Von Tempelhof, Army Group B’s operations officer, was in Germany. Admiral Theodor Krandke, the naval commander in the west, was in Bordeaux. Major General Heinz Hellmich, Lieutenant General Karl von Schlieben, and Major General Wilhelm Falley were on their way to war games in Rennes. Colonel Wilhelm Meyer-Detring was on leave, and Hitler was at his Berchtesgaden retreat in [[Bavaria]].

One of many bizarre historical coincidences, almost none of the German commanders were at the front on the day of the invasion. Rommel was back in Germany to speak with [[Hitler]] and for his wife's birthday, June 6. Von Tempelhof, Army Group B’s operations officer, was in Germany. Admiral Theodor Krandke, the naval commander in the west, was in Bordeaux. Major General Heinz Hellmich, Lieutenant General Karl von Schlieben, and Major General Wilhelm Falley were on their way to war games in Rennes. Colonel Wilhelm Meyer-Detring was on leave, and Hitler was at his Berchtesgaden retreat in [[Bavaria]].