D-Day landing, 1944
With the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landing in France being observed on June 6, press action — or more precisely inaction at that time — on activity leading up to the event that led to liberation of Europe would never happen today, declares Grumpy Editor.
Those representing print and radio at that time were patriotically mum on the most heavily guarded secret on the planet: Invasion of Normandy across the English Channel. It was the major turning point in the war.
Nowadays most members of the media can't keep a secret, or even a rumor, without firing it off.
On that noteworthy day in 1944 surprise was crucial, especially with Germany’s 55 divisions in France.
Six parachute regiments, with more than 13,000 troops, flew from nine British airfields in more than 800 aircraft, part of a massive flight of more than 11,000 planes.
More than 300 aircraft dropped 13,000 bombs over coastal Normandy in advance of the invasion when more than 160,000 troops stormed the beaches.
The main Allied invasion force of almost 7,000 naval vessels carried troops, weapons and heavy equipment, including tanks. The armada included 1,200 warships that transported the troops and nearly 30,000 vehicles.
Ships of various sizes dotted the 100 miles across the channel, stretching as far as the eye could see.
True journalists at that time kept the secret that resulted in a surprise landing in Normandy.
Most of today’s media, with many members holding political science rather than journalism degrees, simply wouldn’t abide by a top-secret label on a major event.
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