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| Visions Index |
Country: France
Number: 3
Photo: A) Utah beach
Season: Summer (June)
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Did you know?
Troops of the U.S. 4th Division were lead on to the shores of Utah Beach by Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (son of the president) even though the tide had swept them south of the intended landing point. This wise decision earned him the Medal of Honor. Luckily this area of the beach was lightly defended, much more than the planned landing point. American troops were swiftly ashore followed by their amphibious tanks. Brigadier General Roosevelt walked up and down the beach with his cane in hand exhorting troops to get up and push inland. By the end of D-Day, 23,250 men and 1,700 vehicles came ashore with only about 210 casualties.
The 4th U.S. Infantry was made up of green, inexperienced soldiers. As they pushed in from Utah Beach they suffered greatly. They sustained 2,200 casualties a week even though they were supported by air strikes. To the west the river valleys were either flooded or boggy. The tanks had to stick to the roads because of the bocage.
The bocage was perfect terrain for defensive strategies and the Germans skillfully exploited the terrain to their advantage. Ancient fields were divided by ditches and hedges. Some ditches were so old that they formed embankments waist, sometimes even shoulder high. Infantry soldiers had to fight their way forward alone without the support of tanks. They had to move slowly, hedge by hedge, field by field, unable to see the enemy. If they broke cover they were exposed to enemy fire.
Photo: B) Obstacles placed on the beach by German troops
Additional Information:
The weather was not good. Poor visibility made attempts by bombers to soften the Atlantic Wall ineffective. Pilots could not see their targets and relied on instruments alone. Also, the 8th Air Force decided that pilots should delay releasing bombs for several seconds to avoid hitting incoming assault crafts. This resulted in most of the bombs landing too far inland and ineffective.
Though the troops were very uncomfortable (seasick to say the least) by the conditions caused by five to six foot waves and winds of fifteen knots or more, they were encouraged by the absence of the German Luftwaffe (Air Force). As men, overloaded with heavy equipment, fell or jumped from their transport ships into their landing crafts, many broke their legs on impact. Each assault craft held about 30 men.
Bonus Question: