Omaha Beachhead

The invasion on Normandy was successful because the Allies controlled the air, the Germans were caught by surprise, and the first few hours were vital to the ultimate victory that day. The extract, published in 1945, created from first hand descriptions of the beach that day, highlights some of the factors on June 6, 1945:

• The amphibious landing crafts made a landing in sandbars about 50 to 100 yards from shore, and in some cases the water was neck deep
• The heaviest casualties were met just after landing. Some men dove under water or went over the side to escape the beaten zone of machine guns.
• Most men, after wading through tough and tiring waters, still had to make it 200 yards on dry land for any sort of shelter. Surprisingly, troops who stopped to organize, rest, or take shelter behind obstacles merely prolonged their difficulties and suffered heavier losses
• As a result of mislandings, many companies were so scattered that they could not be organized as tactical units
• Morale was low among all Allied troops because of such heavy losses of men
• 8:00 am – At three or four places on the four-mile beachfront, U.S. troops were already breaking through the shallow curst of enemy defenses
• The only great factor about the first two hours is that the Allies were not pinned down behind the sea wall and embankment
• A decisive factor was leadership. Wherever an advance was made, it depended on the presence of some few individuals, officers and noncommissioned officers, who inspired, encouraged, or bullied their men the first forward moves.

Y. Pfeffer, Concentration Camp Life and Death

Thesis: The Nazi concentration camps, where prisoners worked as slaves to supposedly help the Nazi cause, were incredibly brutal and almost a worse alternative to the death camps.

I. Prisoners were primarily Jews

a. Some true German criminals were also kept in the camps – more privileged and allowed to ruthlessly beat up and attack the Jews

i. Conditions for real criminals not nearly as bad

II. Mornings started at 3 a.m. with breakfast of one terrible cup of coffee at 6 a.m.

III. Guards taunted and beat prisoners for absolutely no reason

a. SS men found sadistic pleasure in the beatings

IV. Meals were so bad that not eating was almost preferable

V. Pfeffer claims that the work was pointless and unnecessary –simply a means of torture and making life miserable

VI. Prisoners always had to watch other prisoners be beaten – mental torture in addition to physical torture

Hitler, On Poland

Thesis: In Hitler’s own words the invasion of Poland would not have taken place if he had foreseen any resistance and if the pact with the Soviet Union had not taken place.

I. Hitler considers himself the greatest statesmen in the world

a. Stalin and Mussolini are the others (Mussolini is the weakest of the three)

II. Japan and Italy, according to Hitler, could not and most likely would not help him to the level that he wanted to be helped

a. Next best ally is Russia

III. Alliance with Russia

a. Opens up the opportunity to invade and take Poland

IV. Hitler saw a very likely lack of any kind of resistance

a. If Hitler thought that the war would have taken more than a few weeks he would not have invaded Poland

b. England an France will do nothing more than blockade Germany – not a big deal because now they have Russia

After Stalin died, Hitler planned on taking Russia exactly like he took Poland

Commandant of Auschwitz

Rudolf Hoess

Commandant of Auschwitz

Thesis:Rudolf describes the death process of Auschwitz, which focuses on the keeping the situation calm and he also recalls the words of those going to their death while reflecting on the scenes of life around those going to their death.

· Rudolf Hoess (1900-1947), the commander of the Auschwitz who was executed by Poland after the war, recalls the murder process

· Rudolf stresses the importance of keeping the prisoners calm at their arrival at the “cottage” which is the gas chamber.

o Individuals who seemed to express signs of alarm where taken and shot with inaudible gun to keep the situation calm

o Prisoners where told they were going to be disinfected

o A Special Department (Sonderkommandos) who were a special squad of prisoners

§ They picked over the corpses looking for gold and other valuables

§ They also kept the prisoners calm and aided in the process of preparing them for death

§ They kept the process moving quickly and even had to convince mothers to bring their children with them

§ At times they would come across their own family members but never produced instances

§ October 7, 1944 they attacked the SS and killed some and burned a crematorium.

· The Jews still knew what was happening despite efforts to conceal and Rudolf recalls several of their damning words and even acceptance of what was happening to them

· Rudolf remembers particularly the people walking to their death through orchard trees as a picture of death in the midst of life

· Particular incidences occurred in the sorting process where families where separated and Rudolf compares the Jews family ties to limpets

Historical Division, War Department: “Omaha Beachhead”

Rob Edwards

Historical Division, War Department: “Omaha Beachhead”

• This excerpt is an official account of the storming of the Omaha Beach on D-Day

• The destruction and death toll was horrendous

• Most of the casualties came at the landing zones about a quarter mile out from the beaches, where soldiers were mauled by machine guns, bombs, etc. as they were leaving the boats

• Almost all of the sergeants are killed towards the beginning, which left thousands of leaderless soldiers scrambling for their lives on the beach

• There were obviously serious problems with morale, as many of the soldiers had never seen combat before

• The only reason the American forces succeeded at Omaha was because of a few brave men who decided to take charge and be leaders

William Hoffman- DIARY OF A GERMAN SOLDIER

-The complete faith in the judgement of Hitler can be seen in Hoffman's entries, "The Fuehrer's orders were read out to us. He expects victory of us. We are all convinced that they can't stop us."

-The Russian resistance gets stouter with each building that is taken, and the Russians are referred to as "fanatics"

-There is WIDESPREAD PANIC among the German troops as they begin to realize the magnitude of the battle that is at hand.

-The bogging down and slow realization of the number of casualties take a toll on the mindset

-The Russians began to refuse to surrender, and would only be taken prisoner if they were too wounded to move.

-German desertions grow as the progress slows.

-Starvation sets in and only finally is Hoffman's approval of the war completely wiped out.

William Hoffman: “Diary of a German Soldier”

Rob Edwards

William Hoffman: “Diary of a German Soldier”

• This is a series of diary entries from William Hoffman, a german soldier who perished at Stalingrad

• July 29^th, 1942 – he has been told that victory is right around the corner at Stalingrad

• In mid august, they reach resistance, which Hitler tells them is the Russian's last ditch effort

• As they approach Stalingrad at the beginning of September, they see the glow of the city and are told it's because the city is up in flames and that victory will be easy now

• Throughout september, the soldiers slowly realize that they are in for much worse of a fight than they though

• Then during october and november, the germany army is worn down time and time again

• Then throughout december, the soldiers become desolate and resort to things like cannibalism

• This whole article basically shows the extent that the German army officials tricked the soldiers into thinking they were winning in order to keep up morale about the Stalingrad invasion

PACIFISM IS THE DEADLIEST OF SINS- Horace Rumbold

-Rumbold, after reading Mein Kampf realized the extreme power or Hitler.

- Rumbold is justly alarmed by the developments in Nazi Germany, and warns against the extreme control that Hitler has over the masses.

-The propaganda of Goebbels is extremely effective, and he uproots everything that is traditional in Germany.

-The revival of militarism was facilitated by Hitler and Goebbels together, and had the advantage of synergy.

-Rumbold is desperately trying to warn Great Britain about the dangers of an aggressive Nazi Germany.

- Rumbold sees the tricks of Hitler in his negotiations, and is far ahead of the rest of the European politicians.

Winston Churchill - "Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat"

Churchill, at the age of sixty-six, gave many speeches to Parliament as prime minister that concerned the grim realities that laid ahead:

May 13, 1940

• · “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat”
• · “What is our aim? Victory. Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survivor”

May 19, 1940

• · “Side by side, the British and French peoples have advanced to rescue not only Europe but mankind from the foulest and most soul-destroying tyranny which has ever darkened and stained the pages of history”

June 4, 1940

• · “We shall fight in France; we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air.”
• · “We shall never surrender; and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and liberation of the old.”

June 18, 1940

• · “If we can stand up to [Hitler], all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad sunlit upland.”
• · “All hearts go out to the fighter pilots whose brilliant actions we see with our own eyes everyday”

“A Disaster of the First Magnitude”

Winston Churchill

“A Disaster of the First Magnitude”

Thesis: Churchill attacks the Munich agreement as a failure of the Western powers to prevent the Nazi power from gaining momentum when it had the chance and has therefore jeopardized the peace they were trying to maintain.

· Winston Churchill (1874-1965) delivers a speech on October 5, 1938 in the House of Commons attacking the Munich agreement and British policy toward Nazi Germany

· Churchill begins by stating they have faced defeat in the Munich agreement and the Czechs would of even been better off with the Western powers that deserted them.

· He continues that if a better relationship with Russia had been pursued and early action had been taken then the disastrous state at hand would not have happen.

· Also the peace efforts and forces against Hitler in Germany would have been able to gain strength if early action had been taken.

· Church now describes the politically humiliated and economically mutilated Czechoslovakia, whose banks, railway agreements, and industries are all disrupted.

· Churchill seals the fate of Czechoslovakia by predicting it will be absorbed by the Nazis in despair or revenge

· He now addresses Britain’s previous position of power when they had the ability to stop Germany from rearming and gaining momentum but they are now faced with what they could have prevented.

· Churchill finishes by explaining the danger that Britain and France now face against the Nazi power with France’s allies lost and both countries waiting too long to rearm or take action.

· Churchill states that the British people must know the deficiency of and neglect of the government and the consequences they will now face.