From our special correspondent – The trauma experienced by World War II veterans of D-Day left a lasting impact on their children at a time before post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was recognised, leaving families struggling to understand and cope with the psychological scars. Recent gatherings of experts in Normandy highlight both the enduring challenges and the resilience that was passed down through generations.
For the largest seaborne invasion of World War II – along Normandy’s coastline on June 6, 1944 – to be a success, three important conditions had to be met. There had to be a full moon, so Allied paratroopers could have more visibility when landing. The tide had to be low enough that thousands of amphibious landing craft could reach the shores of Utah, Omaha, Juno, Gold and Sword beaches. And a morning fog on the horizon was needed to hide the arrival of Operation Overlord from German forces.
