“D Day” Dawns With Landings On French Coast

Northern Advocate, 7 June 1944, Page 6

“D Day” Dawns With Landings On French Coast

Beachheads Gained, Dromes Objectives For Parachutists

• Le Havre, River Estuaries Chief Goals (N.Z. Press Association) EXTRAORDINARY LONDON, June 6. GENERAL EISENHOWER AN, NOUNCED A LANDING ON THE COAST OF FRANCE AS OF A CONCERTED UNITED NATIONS’ PLAN FOR THE LIBERATION OF EUROPE. BROADCASTING TO THE PEOPLE OF' WESTERN EUROPE HE SAID THE HOUR OF LIBERATION IS APPROACHING. The German Overseas News Agency says the invasion was begun by parachutists at the mouth of the Seine River. German coastal forces are engaging enemy landing-craft. Le Havre is being shelled. The German News Agency announced that Allied parachutist troops have landed on Guernsey and Jersey Islands. “The long-expected invasion appears to have begun,” was the world-shaking announcement flashed by the German radio at 6.25 a.m. “Early this morning numerous landing-craft and light warships were observed in the area between the mouth of the Seine and the eastern coast of Normandy, said the radio, quoting the German Overseas News Agency. Paratroops simultaneously dropped from numerous planes on the northern tip of Normandy Peninsula. It is believed that these paratroops were given the task of capturing airfields to facilitate the landing of further paratroops. “The harbour of Le Havre at the moment is being bombarded. German naval forces engaged enemy landing-craft off the coast. Simultaneously with the landing of airborne troops in the area of the Seine Estuary, strong Allied bomber formations attacked the areas of Calais and Dunkirk. German air defences went into action immediately. No enemy troops so far have landed at these points.”

MONTGOMERY IN COMMAND

General Montgomery commands the army group carrying out the assault, which includes British,

’’The Allied High Command apparently aims to use the river estuaries between Le Havre ar.d Cherbourg to enable the Landing of further offensive formations with heavy weapons under protection of firm bridgeheads.

Canadian and American forces.

The German News Agency says further Allied reinforcements landed r.t dawn from the sea and air in the area of the Seine Estuary. Many British and Americans were taken prisoner. In addition to numerous landingcraft of various types, the Allies are employing light naval craft in considerable numbers. D.N.B. states that considerable parts of parachute units in Normandy Peninsula and the river mouths were wiped out. The centre of gravity or the fighting is at Caen. LARGE AREA AFFECTED Berlin radio announced that the combined British and American landing operations from the sea and air stretch over the entire area between Cherbourg and Le Havre. The D.N.B. Agency reports six heavy Allied warships and 20 destroyers are lying off the Seine Estuary. A 8.8. C Dutch language broadcast warned underground workers to report to their leaders speedily and prepare for anything. The German News Agency’s commentator (.von Alberg) said: “Today’s landing undoubtedly is a curtainraiser for an extremely serious three--dimensional Allied offensive. It makes no difference whether this is a diversionary landing or a- panther’s leap into the European continent. The invasion troops arc going into an inferno to which Dante’s would be child's play by comparison.” TWO BEACHHEADS SECURED The Allies already have secured two beachheads in France. Over 640 naval guns, ranging in size from four to 15inch are bombarding the beaches and enemy strongpoints, supporting the landing forces. An N.B.C. reporter, who flew over the invasion coast this morning, said not a single German coastal gun was firing in the entire invasion z„ne. Paris radio said the battle for Normandy seems to be gaining in depth. There are numerous landings all along the coast from the air and sea, while more concentrations were observed further north. The German News Agency says new landings were made before noon, particularly in the area of Marcouf. Tanks have been landed in the Arrcmanchos area. Landings continue in Seine Bay from landing barges. A strong air umbrella is making landings near Ouistreham. Berlin radio, quoting a German communique. claimed that German forces were not taken by surprise and also claimed that the Allies suffered particularly heavy reverses in Caen area. SLASHING WAY INLAND Pilots of photo reconnaissance planes report that Allied landing forces had established a beachhead on the northern French coast and were slashing their way inland. Swedish correspondents reported from Germany that the Allied forces landed at 12 points between the Orne and the Vire Rivers. The central assault was directed at Caen. The German radio described it as a grand-style operation and admitted that Normandy had been penetrated by air-borne troops in great depth. GERMANS ADMIT FIRST STAGE The German News Agency says: “The British and American attack on the Seine Estuary and Normandy is an operation in great scope in its territorial extension. In addition to the number of troops participating, its extent goes far beyond a commando action and must undoubtedly be considered as the first stage of the invasion.

“Air-borne attacks against Normandy are being staged rather deep inland, obviously designed to capture airfields to enable transport gliders ana other large transport planes to bring in troops and heavy weapons. The Allies’ intention also seems to be to capture Cherbourg Harbour as quickly as possible. “The main centres of air landing attacks are in rhe whole of Normandy in addition to die most important river mouths in the Seine Bight. Large-scale amphibious operations simultaneously have begun between the Seine Estuary and the mouth of the Vire River on a broad front. We already have wiped out considerable parts of parachute formations which had to carry out the initial attack against Western Europe by a massed descent on the river estuaries and near the most important airfields on the Normandy Peninsula. The first British Parachute Division, according to preliminary reports, may have been considerably mauled already. “Paratroops were dropped from numerous planes over the northern tip of Normandy Peninsula. It is believed thc-ir task is to capture airfields to facilitate the landing of further paratroops.”

FOUR AIR-BORNE DIVISIONS “At least four British and American air-borne divisions are in action between Le Havre and Cherbourg, with more strong air-borne formations at the Orne Estuary,” says the German radio. “Strong winds, and rain showers are harassing landing-craft laden with tanks and troops. They are trying to evade . withering shore fire. There is heavy Allied bombing, but the entire Atlantic Wall fortifications are in action in this area.” Strong Allied air attacks ai'e being made in the Dieppe area. Reports reaching London from across the Channel indicate that the Allies definitely control the air over the scene of operations. INSTRUCTIONS TO DUTCH The BBC., broadcast urgent Allied High Command instruction? to Holland. advising everyone within 35 kilometres of the coast to leave their homes immediately and keep off roads, railways and bridges. The radio also warned residents of France that a new phase of air war against the Continent had begun and request- J ed them to stand by for further., in-1 structions by leaflet. I The whole of Paris sadio network, j including Bordeaux, Normandy and Paris transmitters, went off the air at 7.25 a.m. in the middle of a broadcast. -'f