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The Jewish Home | JUNE 2, 2022
Forgotten Forgotten Her Her es es
Jewish D-Day Heroes by Avi Heiligman by Avi Heiligman
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OctOber OctOber 29,29, 2015 2015 | the | the Jewish Jewish Home Home
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fter the British retreat at Dunkirk, fter the British retreat at Dunkirk, France, in June 1940, the Allies France, in June 1940, the Allies began planning for an attack on began planning for an attack on mainland Europe. The American arrivmainland Europe. The American arrival into the war in December 1941 added al into the war in December 1941 added greatly to the Allied arsenal and manpowgreatly to the Allied arsenal and manpower, but they weren’t ready to attack yet. er, but they weren’t ready to attack yet. In late 1942, the Americans and their AlIn late 1942, the Americans and their Allies landed in northern Africa. Once that lies landed in northern Africa. Once that area was conquered, they invaded Sicily area was conquered, they invaded Sicily and moved onto Italy. However, Allied and moved onto Italy. However, Allied planners knew that the way into Gerplanners knew that the way into Germany had to be through France, and the many had to be through France, and the invasion was set for a day in early June invasion was set for a day in early June 1944. The assault was pushed a day back 1944. The assault was pushed a day back by Supreme Allied Commander General by Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight Eisenhower: D-Day assault took Dwight Eisenhower: D-Day assault took place on June 6. place on June 6. Called Operation Overlord, the invaCalled Operation Overlord, the invasion was ultimately successful and paved sion was ultimately successful and paved the way for the Allies to enter Germathe way for the Allies to enter Germany and for the surrender of the Nazis. ny and for the surrender of the Nazis. The numbers for D-Day are staggering. The numbers for D-Day are staggering. 160,000 troops assaulted German posi160,000 troops assaulted German positions on the first day at the five beaches tions on the first day at the five beaches in Normandy, and by August, 2 million in Normandy, and by August, 2 million Allied soldiers were on French soil. 5,000 Allied soldiers were on French soil. 5,000 ships and other naval vessels took part ships and other naval vessels took part in the crossing of the English Channel in the crossing of the English Channel with close to 200,000 naval personnel with close to 200,000 naval personnel involved in the crossing. 9,500 planes, involved in the crossing. 9,500 planes, including bombers, fighters, transport, including bombers, fighters, transport, reconnaissance and gliders, took part reconnaissance and gliders, took part in the air assault that started soon afin the air assault that started soon af-
ter midnight. 23,000 paratroopers and ter midnight. 23,000 paratroopers and glider troops from the American 82nd glider troops from the American 82nd and 101stst and the British 6th Airborne Diand 101 and the British 6th Airborne Divisions were airlifted into France by the visions were airlifted into France by the end of the day. end of the day. The cost was high as there were over The cost was high as there were over 10,000 casualties in the bloody landings 10,000 casualties in the bloody landings with 4,414 soldiers killed on that day. with 4,414 soldiers killed on that day. Despite the tremendous losses, Allied Despite the tremendous losses, Allied troops inflicted serious casualties on the troops inflicted serious casualties on the Germans and soon were making their Germans and soon were making their way inland. way inland.
overlooked the landing zones. Leading the overlooked the landing zones. Leading the way were troopers known as Pathfinders way were troopers known as Pathfinders whose mission was to come in a half-hour whose mission was to come in a half-hour before the other planes and set up a series before the other planes and set up a series of lights to guide in the arriving planes. of lights to guide in the arriving planes. The day before the jump, there was a The day before the jump, there was a command change as the colonel in charge command change as the colonel in charge was unhappy with the officer who was was unhappy with the officer who was going to lead the three Pathfinder planes. going to lead the three Pathfinder planes. Plitt was told to lead the contingent of 54 Plitt was told to lead the contingent of 54 men that would be the first Allied troops men that would be the first Allied troops to land in France for an invasion since the to land in France for an invasion since the
His His messages messages to to the the ships ships were were dire: dire: “If “If you you don’t do something to blow a hole in the bluffs, don’t do something to blow a hole in the bluffs, we’re we’re never never going going to to get get off off this this beach.” beach.”
Many Jews participated in the invaMany Jews participated in the invasion and were noted for their bravery in sion and were noted for their bravery in battle. battle. New Yorker Henry Plitt was a Jewish New Yorker Henry Plitt was a Jewish soldier from New York City with 502nd soldier from New York City with st502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st AirParachute Infantry Regiment, 101 Airborne Division (the Screaming Eagles). borne Division (the Screaming Eagles). The paratroopers came in hours before The paratroopers came in hours before the main assault to help open up the exits the main assault to help open up the exits to the beaches and silence the guns that to the beaches and silence the guns that
failed invasion of Dieppe in 1942. failed invasion of Dieppe in 1942. Plitt was one of the first men to drop Plitt was one of the first men to drop into France, but there was a problem. into France, but there was a problem. They dropped miles away from the drop They dropped miles away from the drop zone so they were not able to guide the zone so they were not able to guide the incoming planes. Therefore, in the preincoming planes. Therefore, in the predawn hours, he gathered up over one dawn hours, he gathered up over one hundred men as other paratroopers had hundred men as other paratroopers had dropped into France at this point. Soldiers dropped into France at this point. Soldiers from the main drop were scattered all from the main drop were scattered all
over Normandy, and Plitt’s ad hoc group over Normandy, and Plitt’s ad hoc group knocked out a key gun position. knocked out a key gun position. There were five beaches that were asThere were five beaches that were assaulted on D-Day. Gold Beach and Sword saulted on D-Day. Gold Beach and Sword Beach were attacked by the British, and Beach were attacked by the British, and the Canadians invaded Juno Beach. That the Canadians invaded Juno Beach. That left Utah Beach and Omaha to the Amerleft Utah Beach and Omaha to the Americans. The 16th Infantry Regiment 1st Diicans. The 16th Infantry Regiment 1st Division landed on “Bloody Omaha,” and vision landed on “Bloody Omaha,” and many soldiers were hit by devastating many soldiers were hit by devastating German machine gun and artillery fire. German machine gun and artillery fire. Private Henry Berkowitz of C Company Private Henry Berkowitz of C Company of New York was a radioman, and as his of New York was a radioman, and as his landing craft was coming ashore, it was landing craft was coming ashore, it was hit by artillery fire. He jumped off the hit by artillery fire. He jumped off the stricken boat under heavy machine gun stricken boat under heavy machine gun fire and made his way to the shore with fire and made his way to the shore with his valuable Signal Corps radio in hand. his valuable Signal Corps radio in hand. Though seriously wounded, he refused Though seriously wounded, he refused treatment, navigated a path through a treatment, navigated a path through a minefield, and found his observation post. minefield, and found his observation post. Radio communication was vital to Radio communication was vital to maintaining a connection with ships that maintaining a connection with ships that could provide fire support. Many radios could provide fire support. Many radios had been lost in the surf or were destroyed had been lost in the surf or were destroyed by enemy fire, thereby making Berkowitz by enemy fire, thereby making Berkowitz and his radio even more vital to keep the and his radio even more vital to keep the connection with the ships. For his actions connection with the ships. For his actions on D-Day Private Berkowitz was awarded on D-Day Private Berkowitz was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. the Distinguished Service Cross. Arthur Seltzer, a signalman from Arthur Seltzer, a signalman from Cherry Hill, New Jersey, was with the Cherry Hill, New Jersey, was with the th 29th Division at Omaha Beach. As he 29 Division at Omaha Beach. As he jumped over the side of his landing craft, jumped over the side of his landing craft,
