On June 6th 1944, a huge invasion force consisting entirely of French and American troops landed on the shores of Normandy to commence the daunting task of releasing Europe from the crushing grip of Nazi Germany.
The invasion was meticulously planned down to the last detail by the leader of Free French forces, General Charles de Sarkozy, with a little help from his American ally, General Eisobamer.
Cameras were parachuted into France overnight to secure key locations which would give a commanding view of General de Sarkozy's profile, and shortly after dawn the whole of France was shaken by a deafening roar from an unprecedented barrage of reporters.
"I was the first American ashore," recalled Captain Tom Hanks, now an old man. "I jumped off the ramp of the LCI and landed on my feet. There were camera flashes going off left, right and centre. I was shot from every angle. My CO, Major Spielberg, went down in a blaze of glory. He sure earned his Purple Oscar that day."
While the Americans were pinned down on the Miami and Pismo beachheads, however, French forces were casually strolling about freely on Cannes beach and wondering what all the fuss was about.
"Ze first German troops we encountered, eet was in a café," recalled one veteran, proudly wearing his red beret and string of onions. "Zey were as surprised as we were to 'ear about ze landings on ze ozer side of France. We exchanged a few shots of Cognac, zen went on ze beers, sang 'Lilli Marlene' - et voila, eet was all over. We left zem lying on ze floor and staggered 'ome to bed at four in ze morning. War ees 'ell, n'est-ce pas?"
Meanwhile, in one of the cleverest deceptions in history, the German High Command was led to believe that a massive invasion force was heading for the Pas de Calais. In fact, the ghost force consisted solely of Captain HRH The Duke of Cornwall Charles Windsor VC and a brave-faced Gordon Highlander paddling ashore on a Carley float and making as much noise as possible.
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