GC2WBGX "D-Day" (Event Cache) in Florida, United States created by HurricaneJuan

This cache has been archived.

Crow T Robot: Until next time.

GC2WBGX ▼

A cache by HurricaneJuan Message this owner

Hidden : Sunday, June 5, 2011

Difficulty:

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Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:

to a gathering of GeoCaching Friends conmemorating a special day in history. Arrive at the posted coordinated at 10:00 hours, and partake in some comraderie and games.
Some food and refreshments will be provided, and a great game is being planned. Prizes will be awarded, so make sure you are on time.

INTRODUCTION

D-Day was the name given to the landing of 160,000 Allied troops in Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. Why was the expression "D-Day" used, you may ask yourself?

When a military operation is being planned, its actual date and time is not always known exactly. The term "D-Day" was therefore used to mean the date on which operations would begin, whenever that was to be. The day before D-Day was known as "D-1", while the day after D-Day was "D+1", and so on. This meant that if the projected date of an operation changed, all the dates in the plan did not also need to be changed. This actually happened in the case of the Normandy Landings. D-Day in Normandy was originally intended to be on 5 June 1944, but at the last minute bad weather delayed it until the following day. The armed forces also used the expression "H-Hour" for the time during the day at which operations were to begin.

The success of the invasion of Normandy was really the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany. The invasion, also called "Operation Overlord", involved five separate landings by American, British, and Canadian troops and was commanded by American General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Stiff German resistance resulted in nearly 10,000 Allied casualties, but the Germans were ultimately unable to repel the Allied forces. Although German resistance continued even after all five beachheads were taken, they had too few troops in the area to be effective. By August 1944, all of Northern France was under Allied control as Eisenhower began to prepare for the invasion of Germany.

Essential Facts

1. Many scholars have tried to explain the term "D-Day", suggesting it stood for "Decision Day", or "Disembarkation Day", but most likely it comes from the army's use of the term to mean an "Undefined Day" or the first day of any operation.

2. "D-Day" was originally scheduled for June 5, but the weather did not cooperate. The operation was pushed back to June 6, 1944.

3. The "D-Day" invasion involved 5,000 ships carrying men and vehicles across the English Channel as well as 800 planes dropping over 13,000 men in parachutes. A further 300 planes dropped bombs on German troops defending the beaches. Over 100,000 Allied troops made it to shore that day.

4. The most difficult landing of D-Day was at Omaha beach. Navigation problems resulted in many men drowning before they reached land. Omaha Beach also had the largest amount of German troops, and the fighting was fierce. It is the Omaha Beach battle that is reenacted in the opening of the movie Saving Private Ryan.

BRING YOUR COMPASS!

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