Washington Times: Beachhead awed German soldier, May 23, 2004

"D-Day began for [Franz] Gockel when the alarm sounded around 1 a.m. as his Defense Unit 62 perched on what became known as Omaha Beach. ... Outside, all that could be seen were the flashes from fighting at the nearby village of Sainte-Mere-Eglise, where U.S. paratroops had landed. ... 'When dawn broke, all we could see on the horizon were ships: from left to right, nothing but ships. It seemed to me as if there were more ships than German soldiers on Omaha Beach. It was indescribable.'"

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Franz Gockel's Website: Click on the "privat" tab for further information (in German) regarding Franz Gockel and D-Day. Google's online translator can help translate it.

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Photograph: Franz Gockel [in the center with a flashlight], Marc the TV Producer for National Geographic TV and the photographer at Franz Gockels old resting place at WN 62. From the Omaha-Beach website.

[ 27. May 2004, 01:01 AM: Message edited by: Deep Web Diver ]

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This information has been posted for non-commercial, educational, and research purposes.
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"The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here." - Abraham Lincoln, Nov. 19, 1863
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"The past is not dead. In fact, it's not even past." - William Faulkner

Great story, as always, DWD. Thanks for posting. The personal experiences never cease to amaze me. Glad his story is ducumented.

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You're welcome Stevin.

I agree, the personal stories are amazing. I am a big believer in studying history through personal stories.

__________________
This information has been posted for non-commercial, educational, and research purposes.
- - - -
"The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here." - Abraham Lincoln, Nov. 19, 1863
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"The past is not dead. In fact, it's not even past." - William Faulkner

MSNBC News: War and emerging remembrance; German veterans begin to add narrative piece to WWII

__________________
This information has been posted for non-commercial, educational, and research purposes.
- - - -
"The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here." - Abraham Lincoln, Nov. 19, 1863
- - - -
"The past is not dead. In fact, it's not even past." - William Faulkner