Monday, January 17, 2022

D-Day Veteran

Forceful III is a veteran of D-Day, Normandy, and the remainder of the war that occupies pride of place in this section. This magnificent Sherman tank bears scars of battle, but survived the war. Sherman tanks weren't as powerful as German tanks, but there were more of them, and they had air support. That made the difference.


Overhead a photograph of tanks and their crews at rest.


Major David Currie won the Victoria Cross for his extraordinary command at St. Lambert-sur-Dives.


What was left of German forces in Normandy began to retreat. Canadian and Polish forces drove against them from the north, while American, British, and French forces struck against them from the west and south at the Falaise Gap.


Normandy would end in victory, with high casualties on both sides, but the war wouldn't be over yet.


The Scheldt would be the next campaign for Canadians, through the mires of the Scheldt Estuary in Belgium and the Netherlands. This painting is Scheldt Crossing by Orville Fisher.


A horrifying weapon of war: the Wasp flamethrower, a compact Allied vehicle that sent flames into enemy lines.


The beginning of the end: Allied forces kept pushing German forces back throughout the front, while the Soviets were doing the same from the east, and that included into Germany itself. Some Canadian forces were involved in the push into Germany, while others would drive into the Netherlands.

24 comments:

  1. It´s still a crazy thought "Germany" did this twice.
    We really do have dumb "leaders" over here.

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  2. I am thankful for all the brave men. The tanks are impressive.
    Take care, enjoy your day! Have a happy new week!

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  3. ...an important time in history.

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  4. @Italiafinlandia: it did.

    @Iris: never again.

    @Gemel: thank you.

    @Eileen: I'm thankful too.

    @Tom: very much so.

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  5. Still checking in, but I have no comments to add.

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  6. The weapons of destruction look impressive but scary.

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  7. This was a bitter sweet time when the end of the war could be seen but many of our forces were lost.

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  8. Those tanks are amazing and scary.

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  9. I hope we never experience anything like that ever again.

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  10. I didn't know about those flame throwers. Horrific.

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  11. I've seen video of the flame throwers. Awful.

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  12. Many soldiers from this island went into the Netherlands. They had fond memories of the people.

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  13. Normandy was a major force ~ great exhibit ~

    Wishing you happy moments,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  14. Muchas gestas de estas batallas, se conocen a través del cine.

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  15. I sort of hate knowing about these things. But I do know that saying that if we don't pay attention to history we are bound to repeat it.

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  16. @Anvilcloud: understandable.

    @Magiceye: that they are.

    @Nancy: quite so.

    @Red: that is true.

    @Bill: definitely.

    @fun60: I agree

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  17. @RedPat: such is war.

    @Jeanie: indeed.

    @Marie: a very positive outcome of that war.

    @Carol: thank you.

    @Ventana: thanks.

    @Sallie: very true.

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  18. I hope spring and tulips are coming up soon.

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  19. Such horrible destruction from wars, but to read and understand what occurred will hopefully change for our future as we learn from mistakes.

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