manoir église merderet mère airbornes fière seaborne sainte avenues causeway troopers conduit 82nd insignificant reinforcements overlord lightly blocking inland converged superbly reinforce standoff suicidal armor interior utah artillery yard teeth airborne repeated

beaches normandy defenses ordered seize dropped crossroads chosen culminated narrow tide tanks supporting bridges la germans landing charge modest village heroic bloody formidable beach destroyed allow trained endured 1944 capable assault bridge

straight june daring secure reason areas 500 nazis fierce heavy armed troops defeat sides continued invasion necessary gone allies allied opportunity enemy region river attacks hold held miles simply taken hours hitler