Vintage Military - Part 27

 WWII - D Day and Normandy

The Allied invasion of France, code-named Operation Overlord, began on June 6, 1944, known as D-Day.  It was the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany.  156,000 American, British and Canadian troops landed on five beaches on a 50-mile stretch of the coast of Normandy, in the largest seaborne invasion in history.

After the heavily-defended beaches were taken in fierce fighting, the Allied forces continued Operation Overlord by moving inland and liberating French towns and cities.  The Battle of Normandy lasted from June to August, 1944.

The continuing fight required continuing supplies.  The video above from June 26, 1944 shows soldiers on the beach who had been unloading supplies, at least one of whom did so naked.

Troops in Normandy tried to grab a bath or shower whenever possible, which was not often, like these guys bathing in a ditch or canal.

This soldier is taking a makeshift shower at a captured German military installation on June 26, 1944.

The invasion was supported by planes stationed in Britain.  Here, American airmen in Britain are washing by their plane on July 7, 1944.

These are Americans showering in Saint-Lô, Normandy, in July, 1944.

LIFE photographer Frank Scherschel captured these American troops enjoying a shower that they had set up in a road in Saint Georges d'Elle, Normandy in July, 1944.

Another view of the troops showering in Saint Georges d'Elle.

British troops on July 12, 1944 at a field hygiene station set up by the Royal Army Medical Corps.  The caption said: "Troops have a wash in hot water.  A tin full is supplied to each man.  Afterwards, they wash down under a cold shower."

This caption of this photo said: "French Luxury Hotel is now rest club for British troops.  Having a shower bath: Dvr. Lumley, Sheffield, Spr. Norris, Yeovil, Spr. Barrett Bude, Cornwall.  3rd Div Rest Club Hotel Belle Plage, Luc sur Mer."  Luc sur Mer is a coastal town in Normandy.

This photo shows men of the American Army Air Corps showering at a base camp in Normandy on Aug. 26, 1944.  By August, troops had captured airfields that were used to support the continued liberation of France.

We end with a video of American soldiers taking a break and swimming (naked, of course) in a lake in Normandy on June 26, 1944.