D-Day 6.6.44. PDF
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D-Day: 6.6.44 The dramatic story of the world’s greatest invasion For Saira,who knows a bit about major operations D-Day: 6.6.44 The dramatic story of the world’s greatest invasion THE OFFICIAL BOOK OF THE IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM EXHIBITION DAN PARRY This book is published to accompany the film D-Day, produced by Dangerous Films and first broadcast on BBC1 in 2004 Director:Richard Dale Producer:Tim Bradley Co-producer:Peter Georgi First published in 2004 Copyright © Dangerous Films 2004 The moral right of the author has been asserted. Published by BBC Books,BBC Worldwide Ltd,Woodlands, 80 Wood Lane,London W12 0TT In association with the Imperial War Museum All rights reserved.No part of this book may be reproduced in anyformor byany means without permission in writing from the publisher,except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. ISBN 0 563 52116 3 Commissioning editor:Sally Potter Project editor:Martin Redfern Artdirector:Linda Blakemore Design:Paul Vater and Hon Lam,sugarfreedesign Pictureresearcher:Sarah Hopper Cartographer:Olive Pearson Production controller:Kenneth McKay Project manager for Dangerous Films:Peter Georgi Pictureresearcher for Dangerous Films:Jenny Bowers Set in Rockwell Printed and bound in Great Britain by Butler & Tanner Ltd, Frome Colour separations by Radstock Reproductions Ltd, Midsomer Norton For information on Imperial War Museum D-Day events please visit www.iwm.org.uk Author’s acknowledgements Iam hugely indebted to the veterans named in this book,whose help and contributions over the last twoyearshavebeeninvaluable.Ithasbeenaprivilegetohavebeengrantedaccesstotheir memoriesand stories.It has been no less an honour to speak to the hundreds of veterans whose experiences,for ignoble reasons to do with space,don’t appear here.In addition,I’d like to thank Joe Balkoski,NeilBarber,Terry Charman,StanCornford,PhilDolling,WaltDomanskiandtheExercise TigerFoundation,KevanElsby,SidneyGoldberg,ColonelJohnHughes-Wilson,MajorMikeStrong, LieutenantColonelAndrewTrelawny,Ron Youngman and all at Dangerous for their enduring patience. Iremain solely responsible for any errors in the text. Producers’acknowledgements Making a film as ambitious as D-Daytakes the skills and hard work of a great many people,both in front of the cameraand behind.Dangerous Films would like to thank you all;D-Daycould not exist without you.Wewould especiallylike to thank a few key individuals and organizations whose commitment and belief in the project have helped make D-Dayareality: All our highlytalented cast,whowereoften called upon to work in demanding situations.The men and equipment of the Commando Logistic Regiment,Royal Marines,for re-enacting the beach landings;RSM Mac Mckenzie,Royal Marines;military adviser Tony Veale;and Lieutenant Colonel Ben Curry,Royal Marines. Writer Andrew Bampfield and his script producer Julie Press.Production designer and special effects director Tim Goodchild,whose visual flare is present in every scene.Costume maestros Joe and Yvonne Hobbs,who brought an attention to detail and design second to none.Film editor Peter Parnham,whospent four months turning the mass of rushes into a powerful film. Mike Kemp and Dan Hall of the BBC’sCommercial Agency,whose belief in the project and the team helped to get D-Dayfunded in the first place.The IPM group at BBC Worldwide and especially Amanda Hill for unfaltering faith.Our co-producers:the Discovery Channel and their executive producer,Stephen Reverend;ProSieben in Germany and its head of documentaries,Thomas von Hennet;France 2 and their head of documentaries,Yves Jeanneau;and Telfrance,especially Mireille Sanial,Michelle Podroznik and Sylvie Elmindoro. We would like to thank the people at Dangerous Films:head of production Jake Lloyd,line producer Bill Leather,researchers Katie Churcher and Dan Parry,production coordinators Christian Fenwick- Clennell and Nicola Instone,production secretary Helen Conlan and runner extraordinaire Robin Chalkley. We would also like to thank BBC independent commissioning editor Adam Kemp,without whose initial passion the film would never have been made. Most of all,we would like to acknowledge the debt owed to the men and women who fought in the Normandy campaign.We hope that our efforts do justice to their heroism,sacrifice and memory. FOREWORD 8 PROLOGUE 10 Millions of people across Europe are living under Nazi occupation.Their only hope lies in liberation by the Allies. 00AAnexlluii1est0 drc0a 2o clm0on0itn rktomrollellded NOROWsloAYSWESDtoEckNholm FINLANDHelsinki LeninUgraSdSR NSoerath DENMARK KönigsbergRiga chapter one: Operation overlord 12 PORTUAGTOALLCAENATNIIRRCEESLP.AP ONAFDMINadridKUINNGNLIoOTDnRdEMOoADnFNMDRYANPaCNrBisEEETLVHGichEIUyRMLANDSSWSarCIdToinrsZiiacEaRLIATNADLYGGERREPrMAaBRgeuoTreAmlineENVRieYn naCZRaOgSrLeAHbOTVUIAANKBAGIWuAdLAaaBrpRseAaSsYwtTNEBirRIeaAlBngërIaAdeGREEBRCUBOSEuLocMfGihUaaAAreSANsRtthSIIeAAnRsKTieUvRKEYAlesa dBirnitgis gh eannedr aUl Sin c Fhriaenfsc oe,f Fstiaeflfd a Mgraeresh taol sRtoormmm Feol,rttroe sstso Epu trhoepme.,Hitler orders his Mediterranean Sea Sicily MALTA chapter two: The french resistance 30 French Resistance volunteers must outwit the ruthless Gestapo if they are to complete their essential role of gathering information ahead of the invasion. chapter three: Training the troops 46 Inexperienced troops preparing for D-Day are caught in the most catastrophic training disaster of the war.Meanwhile paratroopers complete their final preparations. chapter four: Searching for secrets 64 As war reporters begin to hunt for stories behind the headlines,commandos and spies undertake their vital covert missions. chapter five: the final weekend 80 The troops arereadybut,as General Eisenhower prepares to give the final order to launch the invasion,imminent storms threaten the entire operation. 6 D-Day: CONTENTS chapter six: countdown to h-hour 100 Elite paratroopers mount a daring night attack as the invasion fleet silently approaches the Normandy coast,witnessed by legendary war photographer Robert Capa. chapter seven: the battle for the beaches 116 As dawn breaks on D-Day,thousands of GIs are caught in the carnage of Omaha Beach,while French Resistance volunteers are massacred in Caen Prison. chapter eight: the advance south 138 With Eisenhower anxiously waiting for news,British infantry wade onto Sword Beach and begin fighting their way into the Normandy countryside. chapter nine: digging in 154 Rommel,caught unawares at home in Germany,races back to his French HQ,but it’s too late to stop the Allied advance. epilogue 168 Sixty years on,how the battle shaped the lives of those who were caught up in the biggest operation in militaryhistory. PICTURE CREDITS 188 INDEX 189 7
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