[intrestedviewer]

The unfortunate soldiers of the 1st division, one of the Army's toughest and most experienced, were in effect expected to carry out a frontal assault on a fortified position with no cover and only light weapons. Only two of their twenty-nine tanks made it to the beach but even they only survived a few minutes. The engineers, part of the initial assault, were expected to clear gaps, dismantle obstacles, demolish roadblocks, and lift mines by hand while defenseless and under fire.

They somehow succeeded.

The 1st Division, and parts of the 29th Division, took over 3000 casualties this first day of the invasion on Omaha Beach.