YouTube, available but not always in original format black and white
Yesterday was the 82th year since D-Day, when the Allies powers landed on the beaches of Normandie, which set in motion the end of the war. Hitler had such plans and they possibly could have come to fruition if not but two simple decisions made:
The Allies had always landed when the weather was good, reasonable for better battles.
Don't wake Hitler. He has taken a sleeping pill. This is big decision that only he can approve the release of the Panzer tank division.
We watched The Longest Day yesterday, but this time we watched as adults with an understanding developed over many decades of learning and life.
Then we could pull together our smatterings of knowledge and watched with amazement. The sheer logistics of such a plan! The numbers of soldiers ready to go? The eagerness they felt, with fear yet genuine desire to get on with it! The bravery and willingness of these men who would go
"Once more unto the breach” taking it to an incredible level.***
The cast was on a massive scale of acting talent and included actual D-day veterans, who were there and knew the utter overwhelming odds were almost too overwhelming.
Cast was 200++, with many big acting names like Ricard Burton, John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Sean Connery...Cast of known actors
Obviously we were ourselves overwhelmed as we watched this film, filmed on site in 1962. It won two Oscars, which was meaningless. No other film had ever done what this film did: set before all who saw this film the truth of war and its desperate victory over Fascism that had the advantage and lost it for two simple reasons:
Hitler was taking a nap.
The lack of respect the heads of the Wehrmacht held for the Allies powers and their willingness to risk all to defeat the evil that could take over civilization.
***Once more unto the breach” is King Henry V’s rousing speech urging his troops to attack the French at Harfleur, exemplifying courage, leadership, and patriotic fervor.
Obviously I admire this movie, and the event that brought this world changing accomplishment to the people who sat in theater seats watching a b/w movie.
Heroes can help us lift our eyes a little higher. Immanuel Kant said that "from the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made." That may well be true. But some have used that warped, knotted timber to build more boldly and beautifully than others, and we may all benefit by their examples.
Heaven knows we need those examples now. Heroes now
It was a massive undertaking. It's amazing that they managed to accomplish it at all. I shudder at the thought of what would have happened if they hadn't.
ReplyDeleteHistory would forever be changed, irretrievably.
DeleteThis post reminds me to watch the movie soon. We need heroes now, we are facing great danger. I trust they will rise again.
ReplyDeleteIt is a fantastic movie. we both were astounded at its message.
DeleteI definitely need to take the time to watch this movie, Susan. Where would we be without these heroes who fought and died for our freedoms? Blessings!
ReplyDeleteThe soldiers were men from the Depression time, knew they had to keep their families from suffering what Hitler had in mind.
DeleteWe watched the Longest Day as well but before that we watched the,Tom Select movie - Like - the 90 days before Normandy. My husband's uncle was a paratrooper for 82nd Airborne Infantry Division and was part of the D-Day operation where his division parachuted into Normandy. Later on, he was also part of the liberation of the Neuengamme Concentration Camp on May 2, 1945. We can't help but think of him and his service on D-Day.
ReplyDeleteWhat a brave man he was! I hope your husband spent some time with his uncle. The paratroopers were in terrible danger.
DeleteExcellent post, Susan. A sobering reminder to us all on fascism and the bravery people show to fight it.
ReplyDeleteIt reminded me how much the Allies fought against the Nazism.
DeleteI don't watch movies or news clips about any war after the Civil War. Still too close. I have read a lot about them thought. My father was in the Pacific theater during WWII. Storming the beaches of Normandie was not something he had to do. What our soldiers went through was so terrible. So many died. I hate war.
ReplyDeleteMy dad was in the Pacific theater as well. He was a bay gunner on a B 29 that flew the CBI (China-Burma-India) route over to bomb Japan military sites. So glad he wasn't in Germany confrontations.
DeleteI keep hoping a new Hero will appear, I am not holding my breathe while I wait. I never thought of the movie in this fashion, Bob used to like to watch war movies, now he doesn't, he hated romantic movies and now he will watch them. this movie is for sure one all the younger generation needs to watch
ReplyDeleteI agree. the younger generations need to know what Hitler was and how he ordered the deaths of 6 million Jews and other undesirables.
DeleteI can only think of what one veteran of this battle said when told, a few years ago, a very realistic movie had been made about it. With tears in his eyes he asked, "Did they show the blood in the water?"
ReplyDeleteSaving Private Ryan showed the slaughter and blood carnage that was in the water, on the sand. Veterans said that there was more than what he filmed, but they had to cut back on that in the film.
DeleteWatched some of the new Tom Hanks WWII docu Sunday, toasted the Greatest Generation Saturday.
ReplyDeleteDidn't know there was a documentary about this.
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