Extract from Time to Remember, newsreel that shows the naval bombardment of the Normandy coastline. This film was produced by British Pathe for newsreel on D-Day and would have been shown to audiences soon afterwards. 1944.
What is this source?
This film was produced by British Pathe for newsreel on D-Day and would have been shown to audiences soon afterwards.
The film clip would have been edited before showing to audiences. It would also have had titles and a soundtrack added.
What’s the background to this source?
By late 1942 the tide began to turn against Germany. From 1943 to 1944, British Empire and US forces began a build up of troops and equipment to drive the Germans out of the lands they had invaded in 1940.
The date of the D-Day landings was June 6th 1944. It was an incredibly risky operation, because the Allies had to cross the English Channel. Weather and tides had to be perfect for the invasion to work.
It’s worth knowing that…
Britain and the USA the Allies were the world’s leading naval powers. One of the reasons why the Germans had not invaded in 1940 was the power of the Royal Navy.
The role of the navy was crucial on D-Day. They had to get the troops safely to Normandy. They also had to supply them with weapons and supplies. At the same time they also had to protect the troops from enemy ships and also use their big guns to try and destroy enemy defences. As well as these roles, naval ships also picked up wounded troops and took them back to Britain.