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D-Day changed the world
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More from OpinionThere are few historic dates in America that unite us as a people — July 4. Dec 7, Nov. 11. However, one date that deserves equal awareness and recognition is June 6, 1944 — D-Day. The events on this date changed forever the history of the world.
The world has quickly forgotten the horrors of World War II, in which a despotic regime in Germany invaded most of Europe and almost annihilated the entire Jewish population. The devastation of Europe and sufferings of tens of millions of people seem to fade with the passage of time, as those of that generation pass on with time.
Those of us that lived through the period are the last vestiges of a historic period of uncertainty and despair.
From Sept. 1, 1939 — from Adolf Hitler's invasion of Poland to the end of-hostilities in Europe on May 8, 1945 — Germany controlled most of their conquered territories.
June 6, 1944, was the turning point in the war. Over two years of planning had gone into the invasion of France, a herculean task to plan for establishing beachheads on heavily fortified shore lines. The subterfuge of creating diversionary landing locations and invasion dates were monumental tasks. One million men in training for this historic event required precision planning and secrecy. Tens of thousands of vehicles, tanks, LSTs covered miles of England's roads in preparation for the invasion.
What was also necessary was mastery of the air, as an active Luftwaffe would decimated any landing craft on the English Channel. Prior to the date of invasion, February 1944, was a week called Big Week. Daily, thousand of aircraft raids over France and Germany precluded any German fighter planes available for flight.
Thousands of brave young men died June 6, 1944. It represented one of the most planned and executed assault in the history of warfare. In 11 months, the Allies were able to defeat an entrenched and diabolical enemy. There are literally thousand of books and numerous films depicting this historic date.
Let us take a moment to honor this most memorable period of our history, June 6, 1944 — D-Day.
— Leonard Zerlin lives in Thousand Oaks.
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