#53 Postcard Trivia 6.4.19
2018 Postcard printed in France. Photos 1944: USA National Archives. From the collection of J Garner.
June 6, 2019, marks the 75th anniversary of D Day - the 1944 invasion of Normandy, France during World War II. A friend sent me this postcard from the Normandy coast. It is a great display of the location of the landings and the allied forces that participated in the invasion. The D Day invasion was the turning point of WWII. Allied forces combined to storm five beaches along the Normandy coast with support from the air. American, British, and Canadian troops suffered great losses at the hands of the Nazi forces who had fortified the coast with landmines and machine guns to prevent such an invasion. But the allied forces persevered and succeeded in capturing territory from the Germans and setting up harbors that were used for the remainder of the war. The story of D Day, from the idea, planning, trial run, espionage, and invasion, are awe-inspiring. It was the ultimate team effort that required the utmost in bravery and persistence to achieve a goal that changed the course of history. This year, many tributes have been planned to mark the anniversary. We owe these honorable men and women a continuing debt of gratitude.
Trivia Question:
What does the D in D Day stand for?
A. Departure B. no specific word C. Drop
Answer to Trivia Question:
B. No specific word. The expression D Day simply referred to a day that the invasion would occur. Military leaders did not communicate specific dates and times to prevent information from leaking to the enemy.
Source Links:
The History Channel. D Day: Facts on the Epic 1944 Invasion that Changed the Course of History.