Dan Snow's History Hit D-Day: The Land Invasion
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Jun 6, 2024 
Military historian Stephen Fischer joins Dan to discuss the dramatic first hours of D-Day, focusing on the assaults on Normandy Beaches. They detail the intense combat experiences faced by troops and the pivotal moments that defined this historic invasion.
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Bombardment Suppression Strategy
- Naval bombardments aimed to suppress German defenses, not obliterate them.
- This effective suppression delayed enemy fire until infantry were ashore and bombardments ceased.
Omaha's Deadly Terrain Advantage
- Omaha Beach had similar defenses per mile as other beaches but had high cliffs giving Germans height advantage.
- The cliffs restricted exits from the beach, making vehicle and infantry movement extremely difficult.
Naval Demolition Units' Bravery
- Ensign Lawrence Kannowski blasted a 100-yard gap in obstacles at Easy Red on Omaha Beach despite heavy German fire.
- Naval combat demolition units played a crucial role in clearing landing paths under intense enemy fire.