those which had landed in normandy on june 6. this juncture close to the last escape route for the germans in the south and west of france. the fighting qualities of the soldiers, sailors and airmen of the united nations defeated the enemy in southern france. their valor, stamina and devotion to duty were beyond great. (music) >> you can learn more about the 517th parachute regimental combat team at 517prct.org. you will find a regimental history, photographs, and a collection of soldier stories. you can watch this and all other american history tv programs online at c-span.org.

he got a spot as assistant commanding officer during the normandy invasion. roosevelt pleaded with his commander, general raymond barton. he was unceasing. he wanted to go ashore with his men. barton finally acquiesced and barton realized, at that moment, that this is probably going to be the end of this general. his health was failing. he was suffering from chest pains and not telling anyone about it. he had that arthritis. his mobility was very limited in some cases. nonetheless, he went ashore with the fourth division in one of the secondary waves on june 6th. he had a cane in one hand and a revolver, a pistol, in the other. he stayed with his men through thick and thin. he rode around in his jeep which was called rough rider. of course, named after his father's unit. unfortunately though, his poor health caught up with him. only a few weeks after the invasion he suffered a fatal heart attack. he also becomes one of the highest ranking americans to be killed in france as the invasion was ongoing. he rests in the normandy american cemetery to this very day,

it was one of the spearhead units involved in the normandy invasion. it was some of the first amphibious troops who were ashore. they waded ashore on utah beach. unbeknownst to many of them, they had landed on the wrong sector. they had landed half a mile off course. there was a little bit of uncertainty, perhaps hesitation as to exactly what they should do. theodore roosevelt junior, son of the president, who is the oldest american participant in the invasion, said defiantly we are going to start the war right here. they carried the fight inland to the normandy countryside, where they really began to tally up casualties. the units fought all around mainland europe. they were the first american troops into germany. unfortunately it inflicted a grim toll. the unit suffered about 250% casualties. there is a perpetual stream of wounded, killed, and then replacements, and their replacement after that were being wounded and killed. it was a devastating affair, but many of the men in the unit had the firm conviction they needed to do this because there was r

in normandy you have the famous divisions that went in the night before the main beach forces. airborne soldiers went in the night before to secure important towns and crossroads. we find the invasion beaches before the infrantary divisions hit the beach head. at that time there was no large airborne division in the mediterranean needed for this. 101st and 82nd airborne divisions were already in normandy. there were multiple, independent airborne units, one was the 517th pulled together to make what was called the first airborne task force which was another ad hoc unit. other units were the 509th parachute infantry battalion, 550th, 551st. there was an independent british airborne regiment. and actually if you heard of the 442nd regimental combat team the famed japanese american unit of the war there was a company of their antitank, their antitank unit that was actually giving very quick glider training. they were pulled from the unit and given quick glider training and attached to the 517th for a month, month and a half. that is important to know because the airborne troops yo

but nonetheless it was one of the spearhead units involved in the normandy invasion. it was some of the first amphibious troops who were ashore, and they waded ashore on utah beach. unbeknownst to many of them at that time they had landed on the wrong sector. they had landed about half a mile off course, and there was a bit of uncertainty, perhaps hesitation as to what exactly they should do. but the assistant division commander, theodore roosevelt, jr., son of the president who was the oldest american participant in the invasion said very defiantly we're going to start the war right here. and indeed, that is what they did. they carried the fight inland into the normandy countryside where they really began to tally up casualties. the unit fought all throughout mainland europe. they were the first american troops into paris. the first american troops into germany. but unfortunately it inflicted a very grim toll, the unit in its entirety throughout the war suffered about 250% casualties. there is just a perpetual stream of wounded, killed and then their replacements and

second invasion of france, the forgotten invasion overshadowed by operation overlord, the famous normandy operations. originally both operations were designed to take place simultaneously. they were co-named hammer and anvil being that the hammer and anvil would trap the germans and liberate france and due to landing craft and aircraft, the command was want able to have both operations at the same time and normandy was the more important operation and as we know from history what happened there, but operations were doing the southern operations war delayed until august 1944 and that originally took place on august 15th. >> troops began to scramble up the beach. they were prepared for an enemy onslaught, but not a single german soldier appeared. not even a lift bopper soared overhead. mine detector squads cleared the roads to permit our tanks to continue on their way. german prisoners were herded on to the beaches for removal to ships. by midnight august 16th, the french commandos had been contacted. operations had progressed so smoothly that by noon the following day a beachhead 20 miles

that was overshadowed by the famous normandy operations. originally both operations were designed to take place simultaneously. they were co-named hammer and anv anvil, but unfortunately due to lack of landing craft and aircraft, higher command was not able to have both operation, and normandy was deemed the more important operation. the southern operations war was delayed until august. >>> troops were prepared for an enemy onslaught. but not a single german soldier appeared. not even a -- soared overhead. mine detector squads cleared the roads to permit or tanks to continue on their way. german prisoners were herded onto the beaches for remove to ships. by midnight of august 16th, the french commandos had been contacted. operations are progressed so smoothly that by noon the follow day, a beach-dead 29 miles, nine miles deep, had been established. >>> as i said we are representing them during their maritime alps campaign after the initial invasion when they were protecting the right flank of the main advance. they were in combat for approx

well on august the 7th, the same day as an hour was up in normandy setting up his headquarters shall burst. this man, the trump ankle toots was named as the general commander of paris. great, good luck, or horrible look depending on how you might look at it. he had extensive experience in the war including overseeing occupied cities. he was known as a tough guy in the german army, and he was hitler's handpicked choice to oversee paris and ensure that it remained out of allied hands. so from that day on august 7th he began joining the forces under his command to ensure that hitler's decree would be carried out. and of course, the french had been thinking about paris. always thinking about paris, four pairs to the french was more than just a political capital. it was more than the political capital, it was more than the cultural center of france. paris is the spiritual center of france, it's where the french sole resided. even when the city was under the heel of an occupying military force. and this man, the general, had emerged almost by default as the leader of those french who were

in normandy, when you go to normandy, there are american and british and french flags everywhere. i tell you on just about every trip, someone has done the same thing to myself or a member of our group thanking the united states for our contributions to the war. so, a agree. i affirm your experiences very much. yes, ma'am. >> i was just wondering, did hitler ever actually go to paris? >> did hitler ever go to paris? he did. soon after paris was occupied in the late spring/early summer of 1940, he went to paris. and i will bet you everybody in this room did what hitler did what he went to paris. you got your picture made with the eiffel tower in the background, exactly what hitler did when he went to paris. it's a photograph where most people go on the opposite side of the river. you can do a side by side of your picture there next to hitler's. so, he did the tourest thiist t. and that was as far as i know the only time he went to paris. so, he did travel to paris as sort of the conquering hero and then went back to germany. good question, good question. all right. if anyone has ot

waters would be particularly devastating to the fisherman from the normandy coast because so many of the boats like this one off family owned and run small businesses and that is why so many of the fishermen here say that they won't give up their livelihoods without a fight to corrected with the need to british export some 70 percent of their fish if we get to december 31st and they throws out of their waters then we will block our ports stop the ferries no british french saw the french and british fishermen have clashed before in 2018 around of the scalloped sphere laid up a sea his fishing rep. isn't it dave says that the u.k.'s reliance on the e.u. as an export market is a valuable bargaining card it breaks in negotiations but is not necessarily a winning hand. the e.u. market needs fish it imports france imports 80 percent of the seafood it consumes so we need u.k. fish so although we can pressure the british press and tarps and border controls is not a long term solution because proficient they need to fish. ties between britain and france run deep on this coast where the d.-day

for some time there had been doubts as to who would command the invasion of normandy.s to see generalize an hour and to say that he was to command overlord. the drive for the victory in europe was now complete. but so far as the allies in italy were now concerned, france and across channel invasion were a long way off. it was to be a tragically long winter of hard fighting in italy. (noise) there was the battle for monte casino. to bypass the mountainous terrain holding up for a events in southern italy, our forces made an amphibious landing 35 miles south of rome. there was a breakout from the beaches.

for some time there had been doubt as to who would command over-lord, the invasion of normandy.o see general eisenhower and to tell him he was to oversee over-lord. the grand design for victory was now completed. so far as the allies in the italy were concerned, france and the cross channel invasion were a long way off. it was to be a tragically long winter of hard fighting in italy. there was the battle for montecasino. to bypass the mountains, our forces made an amphibious landing. heavy nazi resistance stalled the attack from the beaches. finally we blasted our way out of the pocket. the landing convinced hitler that we were launching an all-out campaign in italy. he rushed eight more divisions to reinforce his army in italy and the stalemate was resumed. in total war there is no easy road to victory. had we entered world war ii unprepared for global war of such unprecedented magnitude, against ago grgressors by the hundreds. lack of time was what delayed our victory. three times in the last 50 years aggressors underestimated our capability and will to fight. our military wea

for some time there had been doubt as to who would command the invasion of normandy.tehran stopped off to see generalizen hower. the grand design for victory in europe was now completed. but so far as the allies in italy were concerned france and the cross channel invasion were a long way off. it was to be a tragically long winter of hard fighting in italy. there was the battle for monticasino. to bypass the mountainous terrain our forces made an amphibious landing only 35 miles south of rome. hea heavy nazi resistance followed the break out from the beaches. finally we blasted our way out of the pockets. the landings convinced hitler we were launching an all-out campaign in italy. he rushed eight more divisions to reinforce his army in italy, and the stalemate was resumed. in total war there is no easy road to victory, and we had entered world war ii unprepared for global war of such unprecedented magnitude against aggressors who numbered their trained combat divisions by the hundred. it was two long years from pearl harbor to the winter stalemate in italy. during th

he geared up for his mission before he parachutes into normandy. when he got back on the scale, he weighed 315 pounds. so they were weigh overloaded and then parachuting in ammunition and all sorts of things, machine guns. with that much weight, plus the other things you had to carry, these carts were a godsend. two man team, you could throw some gear on and bring more gear into the battlefield. this is an airborne bicycle. now, this is where the british really enjoyed these. the american troops also brought some of these in. but this folds up, and you could jump with this. hey, mike. this is a british one, right. >> this is made by bsa, birmingham small arms. and if you look at the sprocket, you see the bsa insignia right there. that is their trademark. that was a british company that took a civilian bicycle and modified it to suit the needs of a pair -- paratrooper. the deal was that the paratrooper had to go out of the plane and he literally had to carry this thing out. so the bicycle folds up and the paratrooper actually jumped out of the plane

would dunk in a paste before normandy because of the fear of gas. it gave them a darker appearance was wax in the formula and it left a white, flaky residue. the chemicals were cancerous. details of that were a darker color, white flaky residue, smelled, and it was a very stiff uniform. it was pretty gross to begin with. also, if it detected gas, it would turn a pink color. now, they went a little bit overkill and gave them basically a paper, painted with paint, and it would turn pink as well if it detected gas. this is actually a big difference between a lot of guys losing their weapons and not. we are going to bring him up in a scenario where he did not lose his weapon. so they sewed this extra d ring onto the harness and then put it across their stomach. from here, the best you can, we are going to try to fit this reserve on him. you can get a sense of how much gear and how much of a hassle it really was with all of this stuff. click. try to lift it up. tight squeeze. ok. so then -- then you would make this. you never wanted to go back to both. i

and ryan is going to go through a jump load for guys who are jumping into normandy. brian, take it away. >> so here we already have a paratrooper gear. but i'll take you through a display before we put the parachute on top of him and i'll run you through everything and we'll go from there. they have had camouflage kit and a backpack to store k rations and food items and a first ate kit which a lot of guys would tear to anywhere they could. you have a grand belt which held the ammunition for the rifle. they were given a bayonet and a canteen and a cup and an-3 fighting knife which guys tied to their legs or wrist, in where they could get it. and this is a gas mask bag and most of it was useful, the gas mask. but it was a rubberized waterproof bag and they put papers in them, paper and cigarettes and stuff like that. here is an m-1 ammunition bag for anything else they could fit in there. you have a let-down rope if they got stuck in a tree or needed a rope, you would help them get out of the tree. a lot of guys tossed those quickly. you wore given a shovel to dig fox

. >> this picture is taken on june 5th taken off to the normandy coast. and the reason this particular picture is wonderful look at his face. he is smiling because his decision about the airborne drop was the toughest of the normandie enterprise. his technical experts and air marshall, the british air marshall responsible for the 24000 paratroopers, warned ike one week before the d-day assault was to take place that the paratroopers should be canceled because the germans reinforced a position and he thought it was dangerous. between 50 and 70 percent of paratroopers would be lost in this exercise. so ike went into a room for two hours and decided against that decision because they were crucial to open the pathway on utah and omaha beach. so making that decision a week earlier and have written a note for his pocket that said the landings fail the responsibility is mine alone. he looks the paratroopers in the eyes thinking the technical expert says between 50 and 70 percent of these boys are not coming home. >> another thing you detail is the fact the origi

the night of the fifth, we went over to normandy but prior to this, the ship had a little bit of damagealtogether. however, we survived that. and the convoy we picked up at midnight proceeded over to the port. and at that time at the port, we were given orders to do this and do that and we had eventually to go to... that is where most of the orders came from. we discharged a little bit of cargo there but most of our cargo was kept for further down the coast. hello? and just tell us, how i would wear you at this time. you were very young, weren't you ? wear you at this time. you were very young, weren't you? i mean, it must terrifying to take part in such a massive military operation. we were not mystified at all about it. enjoyed it mainly because being cadets, our salary was have crown a week. by being a volunteer, we got 500 cigarettes, american cigarettes, which were very valuable. i never smoked in my life but this was a currency of the time for couple of yea rs. currency of the time for couple of years. in addition to getting the cigarettes free there were drinks, also. and all of

night had to pass through their and then all spread out all across the channel heading towards the normandyrm in the middle of the night —— mines, it is not a laugh. we carried on sweeping, making an area from bombardment. my undying thought and memory is firstly the noise. all the allied warships were hurling tonnes of shells at the german guns. and the noise was like a bad thunderstorm times ten. the other memorable thing, as i looked over the stern, i could not see the horizon. the channel was full of ships, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of them. all different types of warships coming into the beach. the morning of the 6th of june 19114, in my mind, was a man—made holocaust full of horror and death. when i was demobbed, i decided if i was going to lead a normal life in the future, i would just have to forget about the three and a half years i've spent in the navy. but there are some memories that will not fade away. you have to picture me standing on the attack of hms dunbar looking at the beach, a young soldier with his rifle runs up that beach and then quite suddenly stops running

to liberate the world from tyranny. 0ut normandy to liberate the world from tyranny.hes of the war, we made peace and we built the world. that was and remains exceptional. it is the opposite of everything donald trump stands for. this moment is a fight for the security of america and the world, onlyjoe biden can make america lead like america again. if you agree, textsjoin to 30 three three zero. thank you for. what were the headlines for you from that, laura? there is john kerry making the case that the world order is more chaotic because donald trump is leading america and doesn't believe in the traditional alliances of nato, that he has removed america from the paris climate accord. so this is really an appealfor a return accord. so this is really an appeal for a return to the america which supports the post—world war ii mack order really. and not an america lead by donald trump which is tearing up old alliances, starting trade wars, destabilising everything. 0f course, donald trump supporters like his disruptive approach to foreign policy, if they like that americ

to iwojima, gettysburg, from normandy to iwo jima, american patriots raced into canon blasts, bulletsnd bayonets to rescue american liberty. they had no fear but america did not stop there. we looked into this guy kept pressing on words and we build a £6,000 rock and launched it thousands of miles into space and we did it so that two brave patriots could stand tall and salute our wondrous american flag, planted on the face of the moon. —— 6000 lbs. for america, on the face of the moon. —— 6000 lbs. foramerica, nothing is impossible. over the next four years, we will prove worthy of this magnificent legacy, we will reach stunning new heights and show that the world, for america, there is a dream, and it is not beyond your reach. together, we are unstoppable. together, we are unbeatable. because together we are the proud citizens of the united states of america. cheering and applause. and on november three, we will make america safer. we will make america safer. we will make america stronger. we will make america stronger. we will make america proud of. and we will make america greater

taking us back and forward to normandy on numerous occasions.yes, we had 70 that were going to go, some to india, some to burma, some to thailand and singapore, but unfortunately, those rules changed. but all of the ones that had made a connection with us were either able to come or the individual posies that you will have been seen laying around had messages from them, so in total, 250 more people, veterans then we re here, had at least their thoughts brought here and laid by the guests. so, yes, i'm happy. without ever being satisfied that all the veterans are, you know, will feel quite as i do that at least we demonstrated our respect and acknowledge their service, which i think it is important. and of course, for the loss of all those who didn't come home. of course, foremost in our minds. the location seem to lend itself to social distancing. yeah, and actually you would argue that it has forced us down a path. we have never done a commemorative event like this, but in truth i hope your viewers would agree that it came over really well and

ryan is going to go through a jump load for guys who were jumping into normandy. take it away. >> here we have a parachutist geared up in loadout. i am going to take you through the display real quick before we put the parachute on top of him and i will run you through everything and we will go from there. they had camouflaging scrim and helmet net. they had their bag, basically a backpack they would store raincoats and rations, food, items. also a parachutist first aid kit. they would tie that anywhere they could. you have a grand belt, which held ammunition for the rifles. they were given a bayonet. canteen and a canteen cup. they were also given an m3 fighting knife, which guys tied to their legs, wrist, anywhere they could. this is a gas mask bag. a lot of guys found it to be useless, the gas mask. -- the gas mask at least. but it was a waterproofed bag. they would put things in it they did not want to get ruined. cigarettes, things like that. here's an ammunition bag. it carried ammunition and anything else they could fit in there. you have a letdown rope. if

before we could build up and coordinate the massive ground, air and sea forces for the invasion of normandyitter fighting in italy and the vast island chain in the pacific. ♪ >> have you watched lectures in history lately? every saturday at 8:00 p.m. eastern on c-span3 go inside a different college classroom and hear about topics ranging from the american revolution, civil rights, and u.s. presidents to 9/11. >> thanks for your patience and for logging into class. >> with most campuses closed due to the impact of the coronavirus, watch previews transfer teaching to a virtual setting to engage with their students. >> reagan met him halfway, reagan encouraged him, reagan supported him. >> freedom of the press i should just mention, madison called it freedom of the use of the press and it is indeed freedom to print things and publish things. it's not a freedom for what we now refer to as the press. >> lectures in history, on american history tv on c-span3 every saturday at 8:00 p.m. eastern. lectures in history is also available as a podcast. find it where you listen to podcasts. >>> weeknight

this past year, we remember the bravery and sacrifice of americans at normandy. we finally pay tribute as we should have done years ago to the unknown soldier who represents all the brave young americans who died in vietnam. let no one doubt we will defend america's security and the cause of freedom around the world. but we want a president who tells us what america's fighting for. not just what we are fighting against!for, not just what we are fighting against. [ cheers and applause ] we want a president who will defend human rights. not just where it is convenient, but wherever freedom is at risk, from chile to afghanistan to poland. to those who have watched this administration's confusion in the middle east as it has tilted to one and then another of israel's longtime enemies and wonder will america stands by her friends in sister democracy. we say america knows who her friends are in the middle east and around the world. america will stand with israel always. [ applause ] finally, finally, we want a president who will keep america strong but use that strengt

this past year we remember the bravery and sacrifice of americans in normandy. we finally paid tribute as we should have done years ago to the unknown soldier who represents all the brave young americans who died in vietnam. (applause) let no one doubt we will defend america's security and the cause of freedom around the world, but we want a president who tells us what america is fighting for, not just what we are fighting against. (applause) we want a president who will defend human rights, not just where it is convenient but wherever freedom is at risk. from chile to afghanistan to poland to afghanistan. (applause) to those who have watched the administration's confusion in the middle east at its tilted first towards one and then and of israel's old enemies and then wonder will america stand by her friends, sister, democracy, we say america knows who the friends are in the middle east and around the world. america will stand with israel always. (applause) finally, finally, we want a president who will keep america strong. but use that strength to keep america

before we could build up and coordinate the massive ground air and sea forces for the invasion of normandyks for your patience and lock into class. >> watch professors transfer teaching to a virtual setting to engage with their students. >> he did most of the work to change the soviet union but reagan met him halfway, reagan encouraged him, reagan supported him. >> i should just mention, madison originally called it freedom of the use of the press and it doesn't mean freedom to print things and publish things, it is not of freedom how we referred to as institutionally. >> lectures and history on american history tv on c-span3. every saturday at 8 pm eastern. lectures in history is also available as a podcast. find it where you listen to podcasts. one >> week nights this month we are fully treating american history programs at a preview of what's available every weekend on c-span3. tonight, a look at our series on the presidency. first, herbert hoover and fdr, the political relationships between the roosevelt and kennedy families, the portrayal of abraham lincoln at ford's theater and jfk's

before we could build up and coordinate the massive ground, air, and sea forces for the invasion of normandychain in the pacific. >> have you watched lectures in history lately, every saturday on american history tv on c-span 3, go inside a different college classroom and hear about topics ranging from the american revolution, civil rights and u.s. presidents, to 9/11. >> thanks for your patience and for logging into class. >> with most college campuses closed due to the impact of the coronavirus, watch professors transfer teaching to a virtual setting to engage with their students. >> gorbachev did most of the work to change the soviet union, but reagan met him halfway, reagan encouraged him, reagan supportd him. >> freedom of the press which we'll get to later, i should mention madison called it freedom of the use of the press and it is freedom to print things and publish things. it is not a freedom for what we now refer institutionally as the press. >> find it where you listen to podcasts. >> week nights this month we're featuring american history tv programs as a preview of what's availa

two days after the invasion forces hit the normandy beaches in a massive amphibious assault. despite bitter german resistance we built-up an enormous beach head and finally broke through. our seventh army commanded by general alexander thatch landed in southern france and pushed northward along the rome river valley. ten days later paris was liberated. in italy the fifth army crossed the river and swept on. in the pacific general mcarthur's forces invaded that put them within 300 miles of the philippines. general stillwell was making progress in burma with his mixed command of hand picked american infantryman and british and chinese units. the tide of war was turning against the aggressors with a vengeance. just 97 days after the fifth corp led the assault on omaha beach it had driven 500 miles inland and crossed the german border. the battle for france was nearing its end. the battle for germany was ability to begin. the nazi like was full to reach. ♪ the immensity of global war as it adered at the height of world war ii staggers the naejination. on the ground in jungles and

you add to the mix the fact that the bill comes up in june of 44 when we've invaded normandy. the debate goes on throughout the month, and is that the end of the discussion. people were helpful in the fall of 1944. people thought they would be done by christmas if so, the decision is the vote is made to not make them part of the military. it's a technical vote too simplified. there's another vote that could come up in the senate that fall but by september the 44, we are moving forward and the question is do we need these women anymore, and it all goes back to skills and whether women could have jobs when men wanted them. the idea behind this program is that when men were releasing them for other duties and by the fall of 1944 there were thoughts that the women were instead replacing men and that just wasn't socially acceptable so just as we see after the war and towards the end of the war, whoever gets kicked out of the factories and good paying jobs because men are coming home from overseas, the women are going to lose their jobs because they are in the way. that is the long

leaders failed to agree on everything but one thing they did agree on was that than a vision of normandymer of 1944. for some time, there had been doubt as to who would command and over see the invasion of. normally roosevelt on route home from two iran stopped home from to see generalize and howard's tell him that he was to command overlord. the grand plan for europe was now completed. but so far as the allies in italy were now concerned, france and a cross channel invasion were a long way off. it was to be a tragically long winter of hard fighting in italy. there was the battle for monte casino. to bypass them out just rain holding up our advance in northern italy, our forces made an amphibious landings 35 miles south of. rome air force stalled breakup from the beaches. monte cassino finally, we blasted our way out of the pocket. we convinced hitler that we were launching an all out campaign in italy. he rushed eight more divisions to reinforce his army in italy and the stalemate was resumed. in total war, there is no easy road to victory. if we had entered world war ii unprepared for

destination normandy.ion with some 3 million soldiers, sailors and airmen. 4000 ships and boats. 20,000 vehicles of all types and an endless list of combat support weapons. ♪ ♪ operation overlord the code name for the invasion was close at hand. now d day and age our approach. the final logistical operation was underway. ♪ ♪ in the darkness before dawn on june 6th, 1944, the great invasion began to unfold. 17,000 men of the eight is second and 101st airborne division, with over 2 million pounds of combat equipment and supplies were airlifted to carefully selected drop zones behind the invasion beaches. where they would drop to can a secure strain objectives. the invasion armada, the largest ever assembled was now in position off the coast of france. ♪ ♪ well our our salute forces prepared for h. our, allied naval power began their concentrated shore bombardment. this was amphibious warfare on a scale that stagger the imagination. nothing like it had ever been seen. ♪ ♪ at omaha beach in the first assault,

d-day minus 1, invasion forces began embarking in england, destination, normandy.d in this massive amphibious invasion were some 3 million soldiers and airmen, 4,000 ships and boats, 20,000 vehicles of all types and an endless list of combat support weapons. operation overlord, the code name for the invasion, was close at hand. now at d-day and h hour approached the final logistical operation was under way. in the darkness before dawn on june 6, 1944, the great invasion began to unfold. 17,000 men of the 82nd and 101st airborne divisions with over 2 million pounds of combat equipment and supplies were airlifted to carefully selected drop lines behind the invasion beaches where they were dropped to secure key road junctions and other strategic objectives. the invasion armada, the largest ever assembled was now in position off the coast of france. while our assault forces prepared for h hour allied began their concentrated shore bombardment. this was amphibious warfare on a scale that staggered the imagination. nothing like it had ever been seen. 30,000 american troo

part of our series from normandy in northern france.e heading english channel, the picturesque harbor receding into the distance. jerome has worked as a fisherman for 30 years. he's passionate about his job, but scared for his future because of brexit. he worries that if britain and the e.u. failed to reach a deal, french fishermen like him could be barred from fishing in waters off the u.k. coast. >> we are scared because u.k. waters represent 40% to 60% of our revenue. for us it would be catastrophic. reporter: for decades french fishermen have fished legally in british waters. british fishermen have the same rights off the french coast. jerome's father was a fisherman. his brother runs a restaurant. fishing links generations. being denied access to u.k. waters would be particularly devastating to the fishermen from the normandy coast. boats like this one are family owned and run small businesses. that is why so many fishermen say they won't give up their livelihoods without a fight. >> the british export some 70% of their fish to the

but that lockdown most people are in their pajamas watching netflix it's not like the beaches of normandy but if this generation and is challenged at least they need encouragement to do so and the queen provides that. >> thinking of the challenges that our generation will be facing is not remotely the same but you talk about those challenges in your most recent book and a big part of that book talks about the rise of the social justice and the movement of mainframe politics and the workplace. i don't know how things look for you but here, it took about two minutes for all the various advocates and political institutions that exist to use the crisis to unleash content that reverse engineer the pandemic through their own ideology using covid-19 as evidence for family leave and healthcare they were fast and sophisticated and it's problematic in so many ways do you see that massive resurgence? >> i think it's part of the phenomenon of the critique my only expectation of the virus it makes people double down what they already thought the doesn't mean he gets much reach but there are figures wh

they stormed normandy knew casualties, going to be risks. >> the invasion of normandy resulted in a quarter million dead just on the allied side and football, of course, is hugely important to americans. it is an escape in a terrible time but this isn't war. it's sports. many college football players want to take the risk. they've taken to social media declaring, we want to play. ohio state qb and heisman trophy contender justin fields tweeted abbreviation for shaking my head. and a player from florida state wanted to play despite falling ill with coronavirus along with many members of his family including his father who since recovered after spending time on a ventilator. >> there's always going to be risk. they've put in place very strong standards to help daily screenings, mass everywhere. masks everywhere. 's consistent coronavirus testing i really feel and we as a team feel safe and putting in all this work. >> not all college football programs are being as careful as they should. lap la sta la state quarantined dozens once practices resumed in june. clemson had dusens test positive fo

this past year we remember the bravery and sacrifice of americans at normandy. tribute as we should have done years ago, to the unknown soldier, who represents all of the brave americans who died in vietnam. [cheers and applause] rep. ferraro: let no one doubt, we will defend america's security and the cause of freedom around the world. but we want a president who tells us what america is fighting for, not just what we are fighting against. [cheers and applause] we want a president who will defend human rights, not just where it is convenient, but wherever freedom is at risk. from chile to afghanistan, from poland to south africa. [applause] to those who have watched this administration's confusion in the middle east, as it is tilted first toward one, then another of israel's long-term enemies, and wonder, will america stand by her friends and sister democracies? we say, america knows who her friends are in the middle east and around the world. america will stand with israel always. [cheers and applause] finally, we want a president who will keep america strong.

when they stormed normandy, they knew there were casualties, there are risks. >> what do you make ofcomparison? he's comparing your football season to normandy beach where thousands of people died. >> a lot of people use metaphors and analogies, that's up to them. god bless all of the lives that died on the beach that day for our freedom and to help protect people around the world. but in my regard to that statement, people for sure have been going stir crazy without football. that's just football season is really just a good season and everyone loves watching it. so there's a lot of risks right now and a lot of lives that could be altered. and not only just football players' lives, because part of the issue was we didn't want to come back and have the university and the football team become a hot spot for the coronavirus and then have it, you know, wreak havoc throughout the community from us going to the gas station or going to the store and really starting to affect other people and possibly wind up with affecting someone with underlying cases of whatever it is. a heart condition,

storming normandy is his means of comparison here? there are a lot of people who died there.alking about a college football game. >> exactly, john. i wonder if lou holtz told all of his friends and relatives and went to the governors of certain states and said, will you tell people to wear masks back in april or may or june? i'm going to guess lou holtz, who i like very much, i'm going to guess that lou holtz did not do that. and what we're hearing from all of these politicians, the temper tantrums that were thrown by people from jim jordan to ben sasse to marco rubio to ron desantis, we want our football. where were you in april? where were you in may? where were you in june? they're all interconnected and one wonders they're more worried about their political careers than having college football. i don't know the answer to that, but i do know that we're seeing people arrive to this too late when we could see the warning signs, and the ivy league five weeks ago today, the ivy league canceled fall sports. five weeks ago, they knew exactly what they were doing. >> to be fair,

he actually did jump in to normandy on june 5th. he immediately spring his ankle, was immediately captured by the germans. where do you think they put him? they put him to work. he worked right alongside the germans. couldn't understand a word they said, but it was the same technique. where did we learn most of our technique from? it was from the germans. the first part of the war, we had a hard time getting surgical instruments. where were they made? germany. what is a battalion surgeon? i've got four years of medical school, i've got one year of general medical internship for a licensed physician. there goes my deferment. i was differed from a draft all through that time because they didn't want a medical student. they wanted a doctor. then i was eligible for the draft, they would get me or i would enlist. i enlisted in the airborne. they pushed me out of the airplane five times, screaming all the way, and then went on to be part of the 3:26 hospital core. this was the hospital corps that was attached to the hundred and first. a l

. >> he was at normandy. >> yeah, bob hart at normandy. he was upset by the way the black soldiers had been treated during the war and so when he came out of the war and went back to college he wrote his senior thesis in college on the unfair treatment of the black soldier in world war ii. this is an 1946 -- >> before the army was desegregated. [laughter] >> yeah, and for him to be thinking like that was really pretty astonishing and he wanted to teach at this all-black school. he never pulled these players that he was in the war, they did not know about it until i wrote this book and they were all astonished that he had never talked about the war. i mean, when you look at this fact none of those players had family members, as i said, would going to college and so this really was that first wave -- martin luther king's dream, you could say. i mean, high school kids, not in the south, not in mississippi or alabama but high school kids in the north who are still suffering for the pain of segregation. >> one of the threads that run through th

when we heard this, one of the first things i thought of was an interview that the president had at normandyw him there with all of those crosses in the background. and that really struck a chord with a number of people as well because it became so politicized. to think that now we're looking at gettysburg, where the president has in recent weeks really taken it upon himself to do his best to shore up the confederacy, right, that we keep confederate flags and monuments to confederate generals going. that, too, leaves you scratching your head. >> it's all a bit nutty. i mean, here is donald trump defending confederate monuments staying up, refusing to strip the name of rogue traitors like bragg from federal forts, now talking about speaking at gettysburg -- remember, not giving a speech there about public policy, but self-aggrandizing himself, making that the center of the republican national committee, the middle of the battlefield and cemetery at gettysburg. i can't think of a worse idea. going to places like normandy is important on anniversaries, and i would urge donald trump to go to get

the on the on the you know to put on the pre do a boss on the hours on the influential family in normandy. now the- yeah please only call to let me see you don't is sites circle for because k. six of sickle the. robert did you swititch t e job for on. genuine these at news as the old issue sharply to s see. facial j j. shown a growing city she her. total this word this was cool name tina- is seen not mine this is all to jump all the. when the change is the biggest global health right of thee t twenty first century thahat's according to the world's leading medical expects a risk to physical health through the direct impact of heat waves storms. one five. some may help can can always one in three people surveyed displayed signs of traumatic stress disorder he's also anticipation of a bleak future with concerns becomining so called. i called out. go anxiety a as a- - the farm intoe number off patients. the projects you test coated script upload speed derive to live off of- the best known restaurant across the city. there are some of the city they don't jump all the symptoms you are so *-*- m

. >> the normandy invagds left hitler's armies trapped in a vice. the allies began to tighten the vice. by 1945 time was running outfor the german and japanese forces. the year before the forces had pushed deep into japan's pacific empire by autumn of 1944 the liberation of the philippines was under way and american bombers had begun a devastating fire bombing campaign against japanese cities. in some of the bloodiest fighting of the war marines landed on the island o. on the morning of april 12, 1945 as world war ii entered its 2,051 an exhausted president awoke at his cottage in georgia. worn down by heart disease and the stresses of leadership he'd gone there for a brief vacation. at 1:00 p.m. he was studying papers and sit frg a portrait paper when he suddenly complained of a terrific headache. seconds later he collapsed. within hours the commander and chief was dead of a massive struck. less than a month later hitler committed suicide in his berlin bunker. four months later on september 2nd after suffering atomic bomb strikes the war formerly e