Invading Gallery

D-Day - Landing in France - Omaha Beach

American assault troops prepare to disembark their landing craft as it approaches the beach head, Omaha Beach. The smoke visible in the background attests to the massive naval artillery assault, supporting the landing. Snakes of troops wind their way up the beach. D-Day began on June 6th, 1944 at 6:30am and was conducted in two assault phases - the air assault landing of allied troops followed by an amphibious assault by infantry. The Normandy landings were the largest single-day amphibious actions ever undertaken, involving close to 400, 000 military and naval personnel"

© Robert Hunt Library/Mary Evans

Maidens defending a castle from invading knights, 13th C

Maidens defending a crenellated castle from invading knights by throwing flowers, from a carved ivory mirror. Women combing their hair and making floral wreath from a parchment drawing 13th century. Chromolithograph from Hefner-Alteneck's Costumes, Artworks and Appliances from the Middle Ages to the 17th Century, Frankfurt, 1889. Illustration by Dr. Jakob Heinrich von Hefner-Alteneck, lithographed by C.R. Dr. Hefner-Alteneck (1811 - 1903) was a German museum curator, archaeologist, art historian, illustrator and etcher

© Florilegius

Warfare in the future - as predicted in 1932

An impression of what warfare might look like in 2032, as predicted by The Modern Boy magazine in 1932. It suggests that invading troops might attack via a shell, with bumpers to save the shock of landing. The accompanying caption also advises, The men will have to be strapped up in special spherical tanks inside the shells so that they will remain upright however much the shell twists about during its journey through the atmosphere. As shells usually become red-hot owing to the speed they travel, the fellows inside will also need a bit of ice-cream with em to prevent them from frizzling like bacon in a pan! It concludes by saying, We certainly all ought to be glad this is only a forecast - at present. Date: 1932

© Mary Evans Picture Library