British uproar: France to host US WWII veterans on Normandy beaches

[dipsydoodle]

The French are set to spend thousands of pounds hosting US Second World War veterans on the Normandy beaches this summer.As many as 300 ex-American servicemen are set to attend ceremonies marking the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the largest seaborne landing in military history. All of their accommodation and train transport when in France will be paid for by the French government, said Paris veterans minister Kader Arif. Reports standard.co.uk

But he has yet to offer the same hospitality to the hundreds of British veterans who are set to make the journey to France. Referring to his generosity to American veterans during a trip to Washington DC, Mr Arif said: “The plans are being put in place.” He said he wanted to salute the courage of “these American soldiers, who came to die on the beaches of France in the name of liberty.” But such words will once again lead to accusations that the French are over-emphasising the US contribution to victory against Nazi Germany at the expense of the British.

The Hollywood view of the Normandy campaign – emphasised in films like Steven Spielberg’s ‘Saving Private Ryan’ and his TV series ‘Band of Brothers’ – is that the USA alone liberated France.In fact British troops spearheaded the D-Day invasion, with thousands storming ashore on June 6th 1944, or landing by parachute and glider. A spokesman for France’s veterans ministry said plans were “still underway” for the D-Day commemorations, and financing was not yet finalised.

Stuart Robertson who is a Battlefield guide in Normandy said: “This is an outrage and it is a clear agenda to undermine British involvement and to enhance the Franco-American love-in. The fact that British (2nd Army) forces represented almost two-thirds of those forces who landed on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, the British gave 85 per cent of Naval forces on D-Day but is consistently ignored by an ungrateful and ignorant administration who should be ashamed that they constantly fail to acknowledge those who liberated their nation from tyranny. Thousands of Brits died freeing France because the French could not protect their own borders. Those who fought, and especially those who fought and died to liberate an ungrateful nation deserve better”.

http://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/british-uproar-france-host-us-wwii-veterans-normandy-beaches.html

[broiles]

1. This is bull. 2 or 3 years ago I was there.

On D-day that year, the Brits were all over the place. At Juno Beach where the Brits landed there was a very moving special ceremony honoring them and a very nice museum depicting the landings focused on the British invasion forces. I recommend visiting on the D-day celebrations. Its quite something. The old military gear and uniforms are every where. A lone bagpiper in kilts playing Amazing Grace will bring tears.