D-Day Landing At Omaha, Gold, Juno And Sword Beach
Jessee 1
Caleb Jessee
Mrs. Kent
8th English
March 10, 2015
The D-Day Landings
World War II was one of the bloodiest wars in history, because many men died fighting for the Allies or the Nazis in their attempt for either peace or world domination. One of the most dangerous parts of WWII was the D-Day Landings, or Operation Neptune (O’Neill 254). The landings at Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword Beach were some of the most dangerous parts of DDay.
Omaha Beach was the most dangerous of the D-Day landings, because debris and
German gunfire made it hard for the Allies to go up (Axelrod 311). Two hours after the landing began, the attack was delayed because of German defenses (Symonds 281). While the Allies were landing on the beach, their tanks began sinking because of gunfire damage and other …show more content…
German attacks. Omaha was the most dangerous for the Allies, because the German defense was strong, with constant machine gun fire killing the Allies (Kennedy 272). While the Allies were travelling up the beach, barbed wire and other German traps slowed down the soldiers
(Parry 112). Germans built numerous artillery and machine gun stations around the beach, which slowed down the Allies while they were travelling (Kennedy 273). Of all the D-Day landings, the most casualties happened at Omaha. Over 3,000 men died on this beach. Most of the casualties were caused because of tides, topography, and German defenses (274). Omaha
Beach was the hardest hit of D-Day (250).
Jessee 2
Unlike Omaha, Gold Beach was slightly easier. The Allies landed almost an hour after the Americans landed on Omaha Beach. When the Allied forces attacked, German forces gave resistance; but, fortunately, the Allies had a more of an advantage. At Gold, the Germans didn’t have an upper ground advantage as they had at Omaha, making it easier for the Allies to get to their defense posts. The Allies also had better air support and tank support because of the easy landing (Symonds 281). The Allies were made up of the British forces of the 50th Division
(Axelrod 308). During the landing, they were unable to get some of their tanks to the beach.
However, because of how far they got them, they were able to fire at the German soldiers from the water. The British came in their own landing ships known as LCAs, which carried thirty men on each of them (Symonds 281). While the British forces were moving, they were unable to get their tanks on the beach, delaying the move forward (Der Vat 139). The Germans on the beach realized that they were in trouble, for the British soldiers were advancing very quickly (282).
Even though the British were able to get far in the beach, it still took them most of the day to destroy a majority of the German defense posts (Beevor 129). After the battle was over, the
British soldiers gained six miles inland (Bishop and McNab 141). The British sent 25,000 men to
Gold Beach, and lost around 400 men during the attack. The loss was great, but less than the
Allies had expected to lose. The attack on Gold Beach ended up successful for the Allies, allowing them to go deeper into France (Kennedy 271).
Jessee 3
Juno Beach was also an easy mission, though it wasn’t as smooth as the landing at Gold
Beach (Kennedy 271). The Second British Army and the 3rd Canadian Division fought at this beach (Beevor 130). During the landing, German forces didn’t open fire until troops were leaving their landing craft (131). While the first part of the landing was a success, bad weather made other landing crafts were unable to land more troops and supplies (Der Vat 139). The
Allies were able to push inland very easily, however the advance was slow because of the chaos of the battle (Beevor 133). During the battle, the Allies only lost two tanks, making it much easier to destroy German defense posts (Der Vat 98).
Though the German defense was not as strong as Omaha, the Allies took heavy damage from enemy machine guns and snipers (123).
Another problem for the Allies were the German mortars with support from machine gun fire, which was the main weapon that killed Allied soldiers (118) Because the German resistance built up during the attack as the Allies gained more of a foothold on the beach, they suffered major casualties (Bishop and McNab 141). Although the German forces were strong, they lacked certain advantages such as high ground like the forces at Omaha (Symonds 281). Even though the Germans at Juno were losing the battle, Hitler had forbidden any withdrawal of troops, making it easier for the Allies to attack (Der Vat 139). Juno Beach was harder than Gold Beach was, suffering more casualties. Of the 21,400 men that landed, the Allies lost 1,200 men
(Kennedy 272).
Jessee 4
The last landing was at Sword Beach. Like Gold and Juno, this beach was also attacked by British forces (Symonds 281). During the landing, the Allies met much more German resistance and obstacles than they had believed. The main issue for this was the pictures they
had used for briefing were outdated (Bishop and McNab 139). The beach was secured by the Allies very quickly, but while they were moving deeper into France, they moved very slowly (Beevor
142). While going inland, many of their tanks were held up, which delayed their move deeper into Normandy (Der Vat 139). The Allies had their heaviest firepower at Sword. The two British ships, the HMS Warspite and Ramillies, both carried eight 15-inch guns, which gave the Allies a boost (Symonds 264). Because of how fast the Allies were travelling up Sword, German forces began coming from other parts of Normandy to resist the British forces (Parry 128). Of the
29,000 the Allies put on Sword, 630 men died during the attack.
D-Day was one of the most dangerous and gruesome missions of World War II. Many
Allies, Germans, and civilians died because of the landings. Because of the danger the Allies went through, we were able to get closer to stopping Hitler and the Nazi power from taking over the world. It was because of the men who died in these attacks that we are able to live in peace with the world. D-Day is a day we will always remember as one of the most dangerous yet successful battles of WWII
Jessee 5
Jessee 6
Caleb Jessee
Mrs. Kent
8th English
March 10, 2015
The D-Day Landings
World War II was one of the bloodiest wars in history, because many men died fighting for the Allies or the Nazis in their attempt for either peace or world domination. One of the most dangerous parts of WWII was the D-Day Landings, or Operation Neptune (O’Neill 254). The landings at Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword Beach were some of the most dangerous parts of DDay.
Omaha Beach was the most dangerous of the D-Day landings, because debris and
German gunfire made it hard for the Allies to go up (Axelrod 311). Two hours after the landing began, the attack was delayed because of German defenses (Symonds 281). While the Allies were landing on the beach, their tanks began sinking because of gunfire damage and other …show more content…
German attacks. Omaha was the most dangerous for the Allies, because the German defense was strong, with constant machine gun fire killing the Allies (Kennedy 272). While the Allies were travelling up the beach, barbed wire and other German traps slowed down the soldiers
(Parry 112). Germans built numerous artillery and machine gun stations around the beach, which slowed down the Allies while they were travelling (Kennedy 273). Of all the D-Day landings, the most casualties happened at Omaha. Over 3,000 men died on this beach. Most of the casualties were caused because of tides, topography, and German defenses (274). Omaha
Beach was the hardest hit of D-Day (250).
Jessee 2
Unlike Omaha, Gold Beach was slightly easier. The Allies landed almost an hour after the Americans landed on Omaha Beach. When the Allied forces attacked, German forces gave resistance; but, fortunately, the Allies had a more of an advantage. At Gold, the Germans didn’t have an upper ground advantage as they had at Omaha, making it easier for the Allies to get to their defense posts. The Allies also had better air support and tank support because of the easy landing (Symonds 281). The Allies were made up of the British forces of the 50th Division
(Axelrod 308). During the landing, they were unable to get some of their tanks to the beach.
However, because of how far they got them, they were able to fire at the German soldiers from the water. The British came in their own landing ships known as LCAs, which carried thirty men on each of them (Symonds 281). While the British forces were moving, they were unable to get their tanks on the beach, delaying the move forward (Der Vat 139). The Germans on the beach realized that they were in trouble, for the British soldiers were advancing very quickly (282).
Even though the British were able to get far in the beach, it still took them most of the day to destroy a majority of the German defense posts (Beevor 129). After the battle was over, the
British soldiers gained six miles inland (Bishop and McNab 141). The British sent 25,000 men to
Gold Beach, and lost around 400 men during the attack. The loss was great, but less than the
Allies had expected to lose. The attack on Gold Beach ended up successful for the Allies, allowing them to go deeper into France (Kennedy 271).
Jessee 3
Juno Beach was also an easy mission, though it wasn’t as smooth as the landing at Gold
Beach (Kennedy 271). The Second British Army and the 3rd Canadian Division fought at this beach (Beevor 130). During the landing, German forces didn’t open fire until troops were leaving their landing craft (131). While the first part of the landing was a success, bad weather made other landing crafts were unable to land more troops and supplies (Der Vat 139). The
Allies were able to push inland very easily, however the advance was slow because of the chaos of the battle (Beevor 133). During the battle, the Allies only lost two tanks, making it much easier to destroy German defense posts (Der Vat 98).
Though the German defense was not as strong as Omaha, the Allies took heavy damage from enemy machine guns and snipers (123).
Another problem for the Allies were the German mortars with support from machine gun fire, which was the main weapon that killed Allied soldiers (118) Because the German resistance built up during the attack as the Allies gained more of a foothold on the beach, they suffered major casualties (Bishop and McNab 141). Although the German forces were strong, they lacked certain advantages such as high ground like the forces at Omaha (Symonds 281). Even though the Germans at Juno were losing the battle, Hitler had forbidden any withdrawal of troops, making it easier for the Allies to attack (Der Vat 139). Juno Beach was harder than Gold Beach was, suffering more casualties. Of the 21,400 men that landed, the Allies lost 1,200 men
(Kennedy 272).
Jessee 4
The last landing was at Sword Beach. Like Gold and Juno, this beach was also attacked by British forces (Symonds 281). During the landing, the Allies met much more German resistance and obstacles than they had believed. The main issue for this was the pictures they
had used for briefing were outdated (Bishop and McNab 139). The beach was secured by the Allies very quickly, but while they were moving deeper into France, they moved very slowly (Beevor
142). While going inland, many of their tanks were held up, which delayed their move deeper into Normandy (Der Vat 139). The Allies had their heaviest firepower at Sword. The two British ships, the HMS Warspite and Ramillies, both carried eight 15-inch guns, which gave the Allies a boost (Symonds 264). Because of how fast the Allies were travelling up Sword, German forces began coming from other parts of Normandy to resist the British forces (Parry 128). Of the
29,000 the Allies put on Sword, 630 men died during the attack.
D-Day was one of the most dangerous and gruesome missions of World War II. Many
Allies, Germans, and civilians died because of the landings. Because of the danger the Allies went through, we were able to get closer to stopping Hitler and the Nazi power from taking over the world. It was because of the men who died in these attacks that we are able to live in peace with the world. D-Day is a day we will always remember as one of the most dangerous yet successful battles of WWII
Jessee 5
Jessee 6