Today we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy. Allied veterans participate attend the ceremonies. Among them veterans, who participated in the liberation of southwestern Bohemia or whose families come from Czechoslovakia. They represent the following units of the US Army – 16th Armored Division, 4th Armored Division, 97th Infantry Division, 94th Infantry Division or 544th Squadron, 384th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force.

Let’s remember the turning point of the Second World War – D-Day.

As the first rays of light broke through the darkness on the morning of June 6, 1944, German observers, looking down from the Normandy coast, saw the formations of 5,300 naval ships, from the largest warships to the smallest patrol craft, spread out before them as far as their eyes could see. The largest invasion fleet ever assembled, comprising warships, amphibious craft,  landing craft, was ready to begin the liberation of Europe.

Nazi Germany faced the forces of USA, UK, Canada, France, Poland, Australia, Belgium, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Czechoslovakia. The battles for Normandy lasted until August 25, 1944. During them, General George S. Patton, the commander of the 3rd American Army, who, among others, liberated the west and southwest of Bohemia, became famous.

“I don’t feel that I’m any kind of hero. To me, the work had to be done. I was asked to do it. So I did. When I lecture kids, I tell them the same thing.”

–Private First Class Joe Lesniewski

Photo: BBC