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France, World War II (WWII), D-Day, Europe, Landing Operations
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General Imagery

"Why did so many men have to die?" is one of the most asked questions asked at our museum about this operation.   One of the answers is the element of surprise.  If the Allies performed pre-invasion aerial bombardments and naval gunfire support for days, the Germans would have reinforced their troops and moved better weaponery to the coast, making their counter-attack more reputable.   By invading in such a fashion, the British and American forces established a firm base that the Germans could not compete as hundreds of men continually arrived in subsequent waves.

Note:  This section pertains to general imagery not defined on official cards of being on either Omaha or Utah Beaches in June 1944.  

Image:  26-G-2388:  Normandy Landings, June 1944.  U.S. Coast Guard Invasion Flotilla Men on Alert.  They are wearing the Death's Head emblem of skull and crossbones on their helmets.   These Coast Guardsmen are rescuing hundreds of men in the cold channel waters off France.  Official U.S. Coast Guard Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.