Blessent Mon Coeur D'une Langueur Monotone

66 years ago today, the Allied invasion of Normandy started at 00:15 hours. Paratroopers landed in the village of Ste Mère Eglise, where fighting ensued for several hours. At 4:30 hours the Allied forces took the village and the message went to the German command "Verbindung mit Ste Mère Eglise abgeschnitten".

At 6:15 hours, American troops landed on the beaches between Quinéville and Ste Mairie du Mont. This strip was known in code as Utah Beach.

The BBC sent messages in code to the French Résistance. The first line of Verlaine's "Chanson d'Automne" meant that the Allied invasion was to take place soon:

"Les sanglots longs des violons de l'automne"

The second line meant that the invasion was to take place within 24 hours:

"blessent mon coeur d'une langueur monotone".

At 6:30 hours, American troops landed on the beaches between Isigny-sur-Mer and Port-en-Bessin. This strip was known in code as Omaha Beach.

At 6:30 hours, British troops landed on the beaches between Port-en-Bessin and Ver-sur-Mer, which was known in code as Gold Beach.

While the American beaches were largely flat with little protection, Gold Beach was more hilly.

British troops also landed on the beaches between Arromanches and Ouistreham. These beaches were known in code as Juno and Sword Beaches.

In all, nearly half a million soldiers died before Normandy was taken by the Allied forces. I cannot imagine being so brave that I would jump out of a boat and run directly into enemy fire. I also cannot imagine being so brave that I would remain at my post in a small shelter just behind the beach and fire at such an oncoming force. Both world wars were madness and I truly hope that our human race will never see the necessity to start another one.