D-day, Nomandy Invasion

World War II was surely a war that changed the world in many ways. D-Day is a battle in the war that the Allies needed to win without exception. The First Infantry Division also known as the Fighting First or the Big Red One were a main part in the battle and helped in the outcome of the battle greater than any other infantry fighting force. The June6 1944 Normandy Invasion in France also known as D-Day was truly the biggest amphibious assault in history, and it affected the outcome of World War II greatly.

The Big Red One (First Infantry Division) were the main fighting force in the invasion of Normandy and helped the outcome of the battle the greatest. Big Red One was sent to Omaha Beach on D-Day, which was the most heavily defended beach of the invasion. Before the invasion however, the 1st infantry division was told that they were going to be the back-up units for the casualties at the invasion, but were soon informed that they were going to be “the big show.” (3). Also before the battle however, when the Big Red One entered England to be stationed there ready for battle, they were required to removed the “big red 1” patch on their shoulder. They had to remove this patch due to many German spies being in Britain, and they did not want Germany to know that they were there. This was so the Germans could not prepare for the best fighters of the war since they have learned about the Fighting Firsts success in Africa and Sicily. Many First Infantry Division soldiers went through training and that training was mainly the fighting in battle. They did go through training at the bases learning how to shoot guns and other things, but their main training was the battles that they fought in (2). Many were shocked that they were getting on the ships to go to Omaha Beach and many were scared. Joe Argenzio, a soldier from the Fighting First who survived the invasion recalls that he was comforted by the presence of all the veterans of the war on the boat with him, but when another soldier told him that as soon as the ramp dropped, he’d be a veteran, he wasn’t so comfortable. Big Red One was supposed to infiltrate the German heavy defenses on Omaha Beach, go up the hill, eliminate all opposing Germans and then continue on to help other infantry divisions. They achieved this goal and then helped the other divisions with their invasion (3). Though, when Big Red One stormed Omaha Beach, many were scared since they learned that Omaha Beach was five miles long. The five mile long beach was composed of mainly sand and rock, with many open areas that Germans could shoot in and pick off Allied units easily (1). Though there were roughly twenty thousand casualties, many Allied troops survived the invasion and infiltrated the German defenses (3). The Fighting First was able to infiltrate the beach due to many specialized units. These units specialized in clearing mines, both land and sea, and having sea-ground tanks, and air support. Really, the only specialized units to help in the Omaha Beach effort were the mine clearers. Almost all of the sea-ground tanks had either sunk or were lodged in sand when the First Infantry Division came. Also before Big Red One was supposed to infiltrate the beach, they were supposed to get air support from bombers who should have taken out almost all of the German defenses, but those failed miserably not killing any defenses, only civilians (1). Thus, Big Red One was a main part in the success of the Normandy Invasion.