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D-Day 75th Anniversary; Trump Presidency; Australia Police Defend Two Media Raids; George Pell Appeals Child Sex Abuse Conviction; Chinese and Russian Presidents Meet. Aired 2-3a ET
Aired June 06, 2019 - 02:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Remembering D-Day: world leaders prepare to gather for ceremonies on the beaches of Normandy where, 75 years ago, Allied troops landed to push Nazi forces out of France. We are live on the shoreline.
The U.S. president faces a Republican revolt; members of his own party are threatening to block Donald Trump's plan to punish Mexico with tariffs.
And concerns over press freedoms as police walk out with documents after raiding the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world, I'm Rosemary Church and this is CNN NEWSROOM.
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CHURCH: A solemn day of remembrance in Normandy, France, as the world pauses to honor the thousands of troops who fought and died on D-Day exactly 75 years ago.
U.S. president Donald Trump will be on hand in Normandy to commemorate the event, just as previous presidents have done before him. A key difference now: few survivors of that historic battle are still alive. The majority of D-Day troops came from the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.
But there were also troops from Australia, Belgium, France and other European countries. Before the beach landing started, thousands of paratroopers dropped behind enemy lines to capture key bridges and roads. Allied air forces flew some 14,000 missions against German positions.
An armada of Allied ships of all types filled the Channel plus thousands of landing craft brought troops, tanks and equipment to the beaches. More than 132,000 ground troops landed at Normandy, the beginning of the end for Hitler's Third Reich.
Our Jim Bittermann joins us now from Normandy. It is good to see you, Jim. Of course, it marked the beginning of the
end of World War II with the most meticulously coordinated military operation in history.
How did it all come together and what happened 75 years ago on the beach you are standing on right now as we mark the D-Day landings?
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SR. INTL. CORRESPONDENT: It's pretty amazing, Rosemary, how it all came together because you have to think this was all done before the days of Excel spreadsheets and every single movement of every single troop was planned right down to the smallest detail, minute by minute.
The planning went on for months ahead of time and there was still some arguing over what the best strategy was up to about a month before the D-Day landings. The generals were still arguing about whether it was such a good idea to come in where they were coming in.
This, where we are, is Arromanches, and this particular area was crucial to the effort because they did bring in floating harbors across from Great Britain, these caissons, these big cement caissons. And they sunk them to make a breakwater and then they were able to bring in ships with all the supplies that were necessary to keep those thousands of men going and the vehicles, as well, they had to bring in fuel and whatnot.
So it was a massive effort and it required a great deal of cooperation and coordination between the various Allied forces to pull this whole thing off. And it was crucial to the liberation of Europe.
If it had failed, who knows what Europe would look like today. So I think we are standing on the shoulders of the people who came ashore just behind me, 75 years ago and about an hour and a half ago, they came in around 6:30 local time.
CHURCH: Right. And it is interesting when we watch what's happening behind you. Do talk a little more about what is going on there.
BITTERMANN: Well, in fact, these are reenactors who are on the beach, guys who like to restore vehicles who were left behind, the Americans left all their vehicles behind, practically. They just basically --
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BITTERMANN: -- thought it was smarter to leave them here rather than try to get them back to the United States.
So over the years, over the decades, locals who were interested in restoring vehicles restored them. So we see this morning all kinds of amphibious vehicles going out into the waters of the English Channel. We are also seeing some ships being pulled out, there's going to be a couple of ships from the era that are going to be just down the beach at the British monument about a half hour from now.
Theresa May and President Macron of France will get together and lay the first stone towards a permanent British monument just down the way here. So there is going to be a big display of ships down there.
All day long, there's all kinds of things, flying displays as well as the ships, as well as, a little bit later on, we will hear from President Trump and from President Macron at the American Cemetery in Colleville, which is up the shore the other direction.
CHURCH: We will be covering all of that and we will come back to you in about 30 minutes. Jim Bittermann, reporting live from Normandy. Many thanks.
Well, Portsmouth, England played a crucial role in the invasion. It was there that many troops boarded ships on their journey toward destiny decades ago. And it was there that world leaders and citizens from around the world came together to remember and say thank you. Our Hala Gorani has that.
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HALA GORANI, CNN HOST (voice-over): 75 years on from the D-Day landings, world leaders gathered in Portsmouth to remember the turning point of World War II. Alongside President Trump and the first lady, some of the last remaining veterans of the operation.
A display of military prowess watched by leaders from 16 countries, many of which had sent troops to take part in the landings three- quarters of a century ago.
D-Day was the largest amphibious invasion ever undertaken. In just one day, June 6th, 1944, 4.5 thousand Allied troops and at least the same number of Germans were killed. Remembering that loss, President Trump took to the stage to read a prayer that Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke on the radio during the landings in 1944.
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Almighty God, our sons, pride of our nation, this day, have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our republic, our religion and our civilization and to set free a suffering humanity.
GORANI (voice-over): The queen thanked the assembled veterans in the crowd for their heroism and courage.
ELIZABETH II, QUEEN OF ENGLAND: It is with humility and pleasure on behalf of the entire country, indeed, the whole free world, that I say to you all, thank you.
GORANI (voice-over): And they received a standing ovation from the crowd.
After the formal event, a flypast from the Royal Air Force. And the queen and President Trump met one on one with some of the veterans to hear their experiences.
As part of the commemorations, all 16 countries' presidents signed a joint declaration, committing to never allow the unimaginable horrors of the Second World War to be repeated -- Hala Gorani, CNN, London.
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CHURCH: And it's worth noting that very few of the men who survived the invasion are still alive. But for every one of them who was there, it was a defining moment. Today, the French coastline at Normandy is peaceful and inviting. But as Nick Glass shows us, there are still scars from what took place there 75 years ago.
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NICK GLASS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sunrise and the sea mist lifting, just about the time the Allies landed after 6:30 in the morning. In the utter, utter serenity that now, as we all need reminding, it was all so different on D-Day.
The 60 miles of Normandy coast was a killing ground, a terrible killing ground, and the sea green water once awash with blood. The old footage, of course, is in black and white. Choppy seas, landing craft, infantry wading ashore. And hauntingly and anonymously, men falling on the beach.
Could we ever really imagine what it was like?
Not perhaps until Steven Spielberg --
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GLASS (voice-over): -- made "Saving Private Ryan."
This concrete skeleton is all that remains of an artificial harbor. As we know, the Americans took their heaviest casualties here at Omaha Beach. Many troops never reached the shore, killed by artillery and machine gun faster than their landing craft. A lot of men simply drowned.
On the beach itself, you can find particles of shrapnel, glass and iron still mixed in with the sand; 75 years on you just have to climb the bluff above Omaha to be reminded of the cost of the Allied landing.
Meticulously kept and intensely moving in its symmetry in the fading evening light, the American cemetery, thousands and thousands of white marble crosses and their lengthening shadows, over 9,000 of them.
You look at the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc and marvel at the bravery of the American Rangers.
How did they managed to scale them with ropes and rickety ladders under German machine gunfire and a rain of grenades from above?
The Rangers went on to neutralize the German artillery battery; 225 Rangers climbed up. Only 90 or so were still standing by day's end.
The relics at Gold Beach are perhaps more visible than anywhere else along the Normandy coast. The elaborate concrete harbors, one now a roosting spot for a colony of cormorants. This is where, right in the center of things, the British famously
quickly secured a beachhead. Total Allied losses on day one were as many, they estimate, as 4,400 dead, 9,000 wounded or missing. As the great war poem goes, "At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them."
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CHURCH: Extraordinary report, there.
Any moment, the U.S. president departs Ireland and heads to those beaches of Normandy. He will take part in ceremonies there later in the day, marking the D-Day invasion.
But even in Europe, he is creating controversy. He tweeted that, "No deal has been reached in talks with Mexico," and that "tariffs will cause companies to move back to the United States," even as senators from his own party revolt. Our Jim Acosta has our report.
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JIM ACOSTA, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Landing in Ireland one day before the world marks the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, President Trump is making waves, stepping up his warning that he will impose new tariffs on Mexico to crack down on the border.
TRUMP: I think Mexico has to step up and, if they don't, tariffs will go on and the people aren't going to have to worry about paying the tax, because the companies are going to move back into the United States. There won't be any tariff.
ACOSTA (voice-over): But part of that is not quite true, as economists predict those tariffs will lead to higher prices for American consumers. Still, the White House is sending mixed messages. After GOP lawmakers began to rebel against the plan, aides to President Trump cautioned, the tariffs may not happen after all.
PETER NAVARRO, TRUMP TRADE ADVISER: After the tariffs are put in place, the Mexican government will bear costs of that. We believe that these tariffs may not have to go into effect, precisely because we have the Mexicans' attention.
ACOSTA (voice-over): Heading into the D-Day anniversary, the president addressed criticism that he avoided service during the Vietnam War, arguing in an interview on British television that he's helping the military as commander in chief.
TRUMP: Well, I was never a fan of that war, I'll be honest with you. I thought it was a terrible war. I thought it was very far away. And I think I'm making up for it rapidly, because we're rebuilding our military at a level that it's never seen before.
ACOSTA (voice-over): The president also defended his decision to ban transgender people from serving in the military, insisting their prescription drug costs are too high, while ignoring that other service members run up medical bills, too.
TRUMP: They take massive amounts of drugs. They have to. And also -- and you're not allowed to take drugs. You know, in the military, you're not allowed to take any drugs.
ACOSTA (voice-over): Mr. Trump was also back to denying climate change, something the scientific community agrees is happening.
TRUMP: I believe that there's a change in weather and I think it changes both ways. Don't forget, it used to be called global warming. That wasn't working. Then it was called climate change. Now it's actually called extreme weather.
ACOSTA (voice-over): The president also found time to launch a Twitter attack on Bette Midler, calling her "a washed-up psycho" and "a sick scammer" after the actress mistakenly misquoted Mr. Trump. Despite the odd timing of that insult, the RNC's chairwoman said the president should be celebrated on D-Day.
RONNA ROMNEY MCDANIEL, RNC: We're celebrating the anniversary, 75 years of D-Day. This is a time where we should be celebrating our president, the great achievements of America and I don't think the American people like --
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MCDANIEL: -- this constant negativity.
ACOSTA (voice-over): Republicans may be feeling more confident about Mr. Trump's chances in 2020 after a new CNN poll found most Americans think he will win re-election.
Back in Ireland, the president still has his mind on his real estate business, as he swatted away questions that he was only stopping in the country to promote his golf course there, where he's spending the night.
TRUMP: No, this trip is really about great relationships that we have with the U.K. and I really wanted to do this stop in Ireland. It was very important to me because of the relationship I have with the people and with your prime minister.
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CHURCH: Jim Acosta with that report.
The freedom of the press, some say it's under attack in Australia, as police make two controversial raids against journalists.
And Australia's distressed cardinal Pell returns to court. Why his lawyer says Pell's child sex abuse convictions should be overturned and Pell set free.
And while the U.S. and China battle over a trade war, Beijing and Moscow are working to strengthen their economic and military relationship. We will take a closer look at that. (MUSIC PLAYING)
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CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone.
Australia's acting police commissioner is defending two raids in two days on the news media. Officers raided the Australian Broadcasting Corporation a day after they raided the house of a News Corp editor. Sky News reporter Charlotte Mortlock joins us now from Sydney with the details.
Charlotte, it has to be said that Australia is not a country that usually witnesses raids on the media and it certainly has many people worried about the freedom of the press.
How are Australian authorities justifying this?
CHARLOTTE MORTLOCK, SKY NEWS CORRESPONDENT: That's exactly right. The Australian federal police are justifying this by saying these raids stemmed, in fact, from basically the publication of classified documents, they say, that they have had separate referrals from agency heads linking the leaking of documents from the department of defense.
Now as you say this is something Australians are not accustomed to. We do have a well regarded media industry and certainly this has come as quite a bit of a shock. The Australian prime minister Scott Morrison, he spoke this morning from the U.K. and said that certainly our --
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MORTLOCK: -- national security laws could be reviewed following fallout from this. As you say, it's now reached an international level and he's really having to come out and defend and distance himself from these raids.
CHURCH: It is simply extraordinary, certainly as an Australian living overseas, watching what's happening there, it's hard to believe.
What has been the reaction in Australia to these two raids on the news media?
MORTLOCK: Well, Rosemary, I think, as you say, not many people can believe it. It's a shock; not only do Australians want the media to hold the government to account but they also expect us to do that.
A lot of questions have been raised about the timing of this as well. The first story was published back in 2017 and that alleged that there was misconduct by Australian elite special forces in Afghanistan.
The second story was released in April last year. Now keep in mind, we only just had our federal election a few weeks ago, so a lot of people are drawing lines to that. The prime minister has said that's absolutely not the case; not only did he not have any idea that the raids were taking place, he actually said that he was not involved at all and the AFP have said themselves that they acted independently and impartially in this investigation.
The Labor opposition has said, however, they think the government was the one who referred these matters to the Australian federal police. You can imagine the opposition, they are saying they want a briefing now, potentially asking for a senate inquiry.
CHURCH: Charlotte Mortlock, it's an extraordinary story, many thanks to you for bringing us up to date on the situation.
Cardinal George Pell returned to a court in Melbourne, Australia, for a second day in the appeal of his sexual abuse conviction. He was found guilty of abusing two 13 year old boys when he was archbishop of Melbourne back in the 1990s.
If the convictions are overturned, he could be freed. Anna Coren joins us now, live from Melbourne, with the very latest on this.
Good to see you, Anna, part of Pell's appeal involves undermining the credibility of the victim in this case.
How did the prosecution respond to that?
ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Well, Rosemary, the Peel hearing has just wrapped up so it is now finished. We have just heard from chief justice Ferguson on the court of appeals, saying that the court will reserve its decision. No guidance as to when that decision will be handed down but it will not be today.
She thanked both the prosecution and the defense for their oral and their written submissions. They will now go away, those three court of appeal judges. They will go away, review the evidence and then make a decision as to whether or not they will overturn the verdict for George Pell's crimes of child sex abuse and acquit him.
So as it stands at the moment, Rosemary, George Pell will leave the supreme court in Melbourne and be taken back to prison. That is where he has been for the past three months, at the Melbourne Assessment, not far from where we are standing here in the central business district.
That is where he will spend his 78th birthday. He turns 78 on Saturday. Today it was very much made up by the prosecution's legal argument. We heard from the prosecution's barrister, Christopher Boyce, saying that the witness, the sole surviving choir boy, was credible and trustworthy, which is why this jury of 12 Australians convicted George Pell of these five charges of child sex abuse.
He said, quote, "The complainant was a very compelling witness. He was clearly not a liar, not a fantasist. He was a witness of truth."
Now some of the key points were that he knew the layout of the sacristy, where the event took place in 1996, 1997, when that surviving choir boy was sexually abused; his friend, molested. His friend, of course, died of a heroin overdose back in 2014.
So the prosecution's case was hinged solely on the evidence and the testimony of the surviving choir boy.
As we heard from the defense, from Pell's legal team yesterday, they said it was impossible for Pell to have committed these crimes. Late this afternoon before the proceedings wrapped up, we heard, once again, from Pell's barrister, who gave very strong reasons as to why the legal tests had been met for overturning the verdict.
We also heard from one of those appeal judges this afternoon, saying that juries, most of the time, are right but not all the time. We don't know if that's --
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COREN: -- an indication as to where this is heading, whether or not they see that there is doubt in the convictions, whether this was unreasonable, the conviction of George Pell.
But we spoke to some of the survivor groups here who have been attending these hearings, attending the trial of George Pell. And I put to them what will happen if he is acquitted and this is what they had to say.
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ROB HOUSE, SEXUAL ABUSE SURVIVOR: I think it would just be a further message that we have to keep fighting. It would be only an absolute disaster for survivors. It would bankrupt a lot of people's hopes and possibly send a few of them possibly to wanting to commit suicide out of despair. This is why the Catholic Church has operated cleverly for at least over 100 years.
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COREN: That was activist and survivor of child sex abuse Rob House, speaking to me a little bit earlier. But it doesn't end here, Rosemary. Either Pell's team or the prosecution, if they're not happy with the decision from the court of appeals, can take this to the high court.
But as it stands right now, we do not have a decision on whether or not George Pell has been acquitted.
CHURCH: Indeed. Of course, a lot riding on this. People watching this very closely, we will continue to follow it. Anna Coren joining us there from Melbourne, coming up to 4:30 in the afternoon there. Many thanks.
Well, the presidents of China and Russia are meeting in Moscow to strengthen their economic and military relationship amid the Trump administration's ongoing trade war with Beijing. The leader's visit also includes some candid diplomacy, as our Frederik Pleitgen reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): Two self-proclaimed friends, Russian president Vladimir Putin and China's leader Xi Jinping, opening a panda exhibit at the Moscow Zoo. Another sign, they say, of an ever deepening relationship between Moscow and Beijing.
Vladimir Putin earlier taking a not so veiled shot at a common adversary, the U.S., for exiting the INF treaty.
"Our views on global affairs aligned," he said, "and the signed joint statement on strengthening global strategic stability in the modern era emphasizes the principle position of Russia and China, that it is unacceptable to destroy the existing system of agreements in the field of arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation."
While Russia has long been facing sanctions from the Trump administration over meddling in the 2016 election and a range of other issues, China is now also involved in a trade war with the Trump administration. The two nations hitting each other with massive tariffs, neither side willing to back down.
Meanwhile, Russia and China expanding their relations, signing some 30 agreements and contracts on the first day of Xi Jinping's visit to Moscow. The Chinese leader saying relations between Russia and China could improve even more.
"We are ready to work together with Russia in order to continuously increase the effect of our countries' high-level cooperation," he said, "so that our cooperation could give our two peoples a bigger sense of achievement and so that we could promote a Russian-Chinese agenda in the international affairs."
Russia and China continue to strengthen their economic ties. They're also expanding the military cooperation. Chinese troops taking part in massive drills with Russian forces last year, a clear sign to Washington that that pressure from the U.S. is driving these long-term allies even closer together -- Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Moscow.
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CHURCH: All right, I want to take you live to Normandy and the beach codenamed Gold Beach. U.K. prime minister Theresa May and French president Emmanuel Macron will soon arrive there. We are waiting for their arrival to pay tribute to the British troops who captured that section of the French coastline on June 6th, 1944.
Now Gold Beach was right in the center of the Normandy coastline. Of course, all of these Allied troops landed on five separate beaches simultaneously. And American troops were to the west of Omaha -- sadly, that did not end well, a lot of lives lost there -- and Utah Beaches.
And Canadian forces were immediately to the east at Juno Beach. You see there Prime Minister Theresa May, the outgoing British prime minister, she is turning up there in Normandy. She is shaking hands there with the dignitaries and will stand side by side with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, who will arrive very soon. And the two of them will honor those lives lost. Of course, as we were mentioning this is the beach, codenamed Gold Beach, where the British troops landed by air and by sea.
[02:30:00] And lives were lost, there were some 4,000 lives in all lost on that first day of the D-Day landings as we mark them on the 75th anniversary. And we will have much more on this, on the events that follow throughout the morning. Do stay with us. We're back in just a moment.
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CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. I'm Rosemary Church. I want to update you now on the main stories we've been following this hour. U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron will mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day. They will soon pay tribute to the British troops who captured that section of the French coastline known as Gold Beach. We're looking at live pictures there and of course we will bring that to you as soon as the commemoration gets underway there.
Well, high-level talks in Washington aimed at diverting U.S. tariffs on Mexico did not lead to a deal on Wednesday. But officials from both countries say they will try to hammer out an agreement when they meet again in the coming hours. The Trump administration wants Mexico to do more to keep migrants from crossing the border, otherwise new tariffs in imported Mexican good kick in on Monday.
Opposition groups in Sudan say protests will continue until the ruling military council is replaced by a civilian government. Tensions have escalated along with the death toll. A group of doctors says 108 people were killed in Monday's attack on demonstrators. The numbers jumping significantly after dozens of bodies were found dumped in the Nile River.
Well, British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron are commemorating 75 years since the D-Day landings in Normandy. Gold Beach is the site where British troops came ashore on the coastline of Nazi-occupied France. British-American and Canadian troops made up the bulk of the allied invasion, the largest joint military opposition ever undertaken.
The top secret planning had been exhaustive and was known by the code name Operation Overlord. As we are bringing you this, we are watching those live pictures.
[02:35:01] Of course, none of the allies on the morning of June 6th, 1944, knew if it would succeed. That was the big question. One of the objectives must to open a second front against Germany and relieve pressure on the Soviet Union which had been under relentless attack by the Germans to the east.
Now before the invasion started, some 18,000 paratroopers were dropped behind enemy lines, allied air forces flew more than 14,000 missions to support the landings. Thousands of naval vessels, battleships, destroyers, minesweepers and assault craft kept German defenses under constant bombardment as 132,000 troops made their way to the beach. And the German defenses known as the Atlantic Wall were formidable but could not withstand the overwhelming allied assault.
Now it sometimes difficult to appreciate just how massive the Normandy invasion was. It covered 100 kilometers of French coastline. Gold Beach was right in the center, you see there, American troops were to the west of Omaha and Utah beaches. And Canadian forces were immediately to the east at Juneau Beach. And our Jim Bittermann joins us now from Normandy.
Now, Jim, it is just extraordinary, the history of all of this and what is very interesting is that the Germans, they knew there was going to be an invasion but they had no idea it would be of this magnitude, and they thought that this landing here was actually a decoys. A diversion. Talk to us about that part of the history.
BITTERMANN: Well, in fact, the deception part of it was one of the biggest parts that worked very, very well for the allies. Basically, the Germans thought that the allies were going to harbor, a very good working harbor to bring in all the tons and tons and tons of material and bring in the soldiers that had to be brought in to support the invasion effort.
And in fact, they really didn't need that and I'm going to show you why because what they did was over in Great Britain, they had built these enormous concrete shelves and they constructed what was called mulberry harbor. They sank when they -- whey they told them across the English Channel, when they got here they sank them and that created a breakwater for the ships to come in and deliver supplies onshore.
Unfortunately, it only lasted until June 19th when in fact a storm went through here and kind of broke up the breakwater. But nonetheless, the mulberry harbor served a fair amount of time up to June 19th and then afterwards as well they were able to still use them, bringing in a half million vehicles in a very short order in order to support the invasion effort. So, all of this is very necessary.
And also misled the Germans because they thought, for sure, the allies will be further up the coast where there were some natural harbors that could have been used. So it was all part of the great plan and -- I mean, the idea that you're building months in advance, the gigantic concrete shelves to be a total cross and sank here, obviously there was a fair amount of planning going on and some fair amount of experience too at fighting in combat. Rosemary?
CHURCH: Indeed. Of course, Jim, you know we looked at live pictures of Prime Minister Theresa May arriving there at Gold Beach and French President Emmanuel Macron will join her. And the two will of course honor those who fell the lives lost in Normandy marking the 75th anniversary of D-Day. At that beach, it was code named Gold Beach, wasn't it? Talk to us about the British troops landing there and the element of surprise that of course allowed them to get a footing.
And eventually, I mean, this was the beginning of the end of World War II, but it took awhile, didn't it?
BITTERMANN: Oh, absolutely. Yes. The landings here were just the very first part of what turned out to be months and months of battle until the allies finally reached Berlin, just about a little under a year afterwards. In any case, the -- yes, the -- these beaches along here were all vital to the effort. Gold Beach where the British landed, this is actually part of it (INAUDIBLE) the very farthest western end of Gold Beach where the cornerstone is going to be laid by Theresa May and Emmanuel Macron in just a few minutes.
They're going to lay a cornerstone for what will be a permanent monument to the British in a town called Ver-Sur-Mer, just up the shore that way. In any case, it was a huge effort by the allies and the kind of planning that went in is -- it's just astounding today when you think back, it was all done with pencil in typewriters. And excels, spreadsheet or anything like that to work all this out.
[02:40:03] In minoot detail. I mean, minute by minute, the various units, the military units were brought ashore or landed from planes, in fact, had their objectives and they had to follow that plan and sometimes they met the objectives and sometimes they didn't. The first day of fighting on the 6th of June is as Ronald (ph) said was going to be said the longest day and it certainly was for many of those troops who landed about 75 years ago.
CHURCH: It is extraordinary when you think of just how meticulous all this planning was, and you wonder how some of these young men what they would have been feeling as they were getting on board of some of these boats, on the planes, as they were parachuting in. It is just an incredible thing to think about what these young men went through. And of course few veterans still living now who witnessed that landing.
How are they in their fallen comrades being remembered?
BITTERMANN: Well, I think they're being commemorated everywhere they go. We've seen quite a few veterans being honored here. We were up at the ceremony where the 75-year-old Tom Rice, I shouldn't say 75, 97-year-old Tom Rice parachuted out of the sky again to recreate the parachute landing he made there 75 years ago. And he was -- he was treated like a rock star up there. He was encircled by people.
Everybody wanted to get his autograph and whatnot. There had been a number of veterans, I mean, it's hard to tell exactly how many veterans have been able to make it back but it's somewhere in the hundreds. Probably around 300 or so who have been able to make it back to relive their moments -- their moments that they lived at 75 years ago. And, you know, it's about memory for them.
It's about bringing back memories but I think it's also a sense of pride that they have because I think now 75 years later, they understand a little bit. Back then, I mean, a lot of the ones that were -- that are being honored today are just privates and corporals and they really didn't understand the bigger picture. They didn't know what was going on. They were told to get on a boat, get off the boat and start fighting. And most of them had a very little experience in combat. Some of the European troops had more but in fact the American troops were -- a lot of them were -- had no experience at all in combat. And so, you know, they were kind of green and they didn't know what to expect. Some of them told me in the last couple of days, we've been talking to them, basically that they weren't really afraid so much because they had no idea what was going to be like.
And then they found out in a very short order that it turned out to be very, very tough indeed. Rosemary?
CHURCH: Yes, very much so. And they are heroes, indeed. And our Jim Bittermann joining us there live from Normandy. And as we were talking to you, Jim, we're looking at these live pictures. French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived there. He and Theresa May, the British Prime Minister who will actually leave her post on Friday. The two of them there at Gold Beach. It was code him Gold Beach and that is where the British troops landed D-Day on June 6th, 1944.
And the two leaders will remember and honor those lives lost. The British troops lost and they will put a permanent monument for the British there at Gold Beach. Of course we're looking at these live pictures. And we know too that this was one of five beaches where these allied troops landed. And on that first day, more than 4,000 troops lost their lives. And this did take the Germans by surprise.
They were expecting an invasion but they were not expecting an invasion of this magnitude. In actual fact, they thought with the landing of these troops that this was some sort of a diversion. A decoys perhaps and that was what allowed many of these troops to get a footing in this first day as they marched their way to liberate Western Europe. Let's just listen in.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Members of the Normandy Veteran Association, distinguished guests, lords, ladies and gentlemen. General Sir Bernard Montgomery, Commander-in-Chief, Allied Land Forces, in a personal message to all forces on the 5th of June, 1944 wrote, to us is given the honor of striking a blow for freedom. Which will live in history and in better days that lie ahead, men will speak of pride of our doings.
[02:45:00] Today is a better day. As the sun rises over Ver-sur-Mer, we gather to commemorate the events of 75 years ago. We give thanks for those who served by land, sea, and air, in the Armed Forces or auxiliary organizations. Between the fifth of June and 31st of August 1944.
Who to paraphrase Churchill's words, were allowed each according to their station to play a part in making those days memorable. Operation Overlord was the largest amphibious landing ever seen in military history.
The courage and determination of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines on land, at sea, and in the air on 6th of June 1944 pave the way for the successful Normandy campaign and the end of the Second World War.
22,442 servicemen and women under British command lost their lives in Normandy. As did many thousands of French civilians. It is only right and proper that their sacrifice and service is acknowledged and commemorated here as we gather to inaugurate the site of this British Normandy Memorial. We pray that it may be a unifying commemorative focus of this extraordinary campaign.
[02:48:01] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's all came down to a bunch of 18 to 20-year-olds. They were magnificently trained and equipped and supported. But only a few of them had ever been in combat. Only a few had ever killed or seen a body killed. They were citizen soldiers not professionals from D-Day, by Stephen E. Ambrose.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: None of them wanted to be part of another war. But when the test came, when freedom had to be fought for or abandoned, they fought. They were soldiers of democracy, they were the men of D-Day, and to them, we owe our freedom.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
[02:49:40] EMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE (through translator): It's an honor today to be here with you. Prime minister, dear friends, the British memorial of the D-Day landings. This memorial which the British have been imagined for a long time. From our first meeting in Paris in June 2017. The 18th -- the Germany 2018, and we are here 1-1/2 years later.
Where 75 years ago, on the 6th of June, 1944, around 20,000 British soldiers arrived to liberate France from Nazi domination. Many people who had never been on French soil at all risk landed early in the morning to the German fire which was progressing.
From the evening of the 6th of June, victory began to reach its destiny. In junction with the Canadian troops. And then, from the following day, the taking of by one of the first French towns to be liberated from the third's right, barbarian rule.
On the 6th of June, 1944, more than 400 Britons were killed or wounded, the liberty of the French brothers and those of Europe. This monument will be corrected in their honor. More broadly, in honor of the 22,000 soldiers who lost -- (INAUDIBLE) who lost their lives in the Normandy battle. As well as those of the civilians.
We had to repair this abnormality with no contribution to the British soldiers in the name of the past because it was intolerable that the sacrifice of this young man was not part of the collective sacrifice in the name of the future.
Because as -- when we look at our history, face-to-face when we bow down to those who left us to be free that we visit our future.
This monument will also be a powerful singular symbol of the unity of our two nations. United Kingdom and France. Nothing will wipe them out. Nothing will ever wipe out these links and these shared values. The debate of the present is in no way a relevant to this on the contrary. We, together with the prime minister, have ensured that the relations of our two countries are based on trust, friendship, and shared projects. And I will always pursue this because our history goes beyond us. Because our veterans oblige us.
We owe our freedom to our veterans. And whatever it takes, we will never surrender. And whatever it takes, we will always stand together because this is our common destiny.
And I to say to Theresa May, or my friendship to work and act together and trust with her. Leaders move on but the work continues. And our strong links that go beyond the differences of the president on, I'd like to say we can be proud -- (INAUDIBLE) Theresa May, of the actions that we've carried out together -- our two countries.
Internationally, we can be proud of the results that we received and this memorial which is an illustration, and I thank you for this. Long live friendship of our two countries, and thank you to all those women and men who fought so that French soil can become free.
[02:55:04] THERESA MAY, PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM: Thank you, President Macron for your support to ensure a lasting monument to the service and sacrifice of those who fought in the Battle of Normandy. Something which means so much to our veteran community and to the whole of the British nation.
It is incredibly moving to be here today, looking out across beaches where one of the greatest battles for freedom this world has ever known took place. And it is truly humbling to do so with the men who were there that day.
It is an honor for all of us to share this moment with you. Standing here is the waves wash quietly onto the shore below us. It's almost impossible to grasp the raw of courage it must have taken. That day to leap from landing craft and into the surf despite the fury of battle.
No one could be certain what the 6th of June would bring. No one would know how this the most ambitious, amphibious, and airborne assault in all of human history would turn out.
And as the sun rose that morning not one of the troops on the landing craft approaching these shores. Not one of the pilots in the skies above. Not one of the sailors at sea knew whether they would still be alive when the sunset once again.
If one day can be said to have determined the fate of generations to come, in France, in Britain, in Europe, and to the world, that day was the 6th of June 1944. More than 156,000 men landed on D-Day of which 83,000 were from Britain and to the Commonwealth.
Over a quarter million more supported operations from air and sea, while the French resistance carried out extraordinary acts of bravery behind enemy lines. Many were terribly wounded and many made the ultimate sacrifice that day and in the fierce fighting that followed. As together our allied nations sought to release Europe from the grip of fascism.
Men like Lieutenant Den Brotheridge of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. 28 years old. Husband. Father-to- be. Thought to be the first Allied soldier killed in action after leading the charge over Pegasus Bridge.
Marine Robert Casson of 46 Royal Marines Commando who was killed on the approach to Juno Beach, three weeks before his brother Private Joseph Casson was also killed in Normandy.
And twins Robert and Charles Guy, 21, who both served in the RAF and were shot down and buried separately. Their names will now be reunited here.
These young men belonged to a very special generation, the greatest generation. A generation whose unconquerable spirit shaped our post- war world. They didn't boast. They didn't fuss. They served. They did their duty. And they laid down their lives so that we might have a better life and build a better world.
The memorial that will be built here will remind us of this. Of the service and sacrifice of those who fell under British Command in Normandy, of the price paid by French civilians, and of our duty, and our responsibility, to now carry the torch for freedom, for peace, and for democracy.
I want to thank all those involved in this memorial. George Batts and the veterans who have campaigned so hard to make it happen. The people of Ver-sur-Mer, and Phillipe Onillon, the town's mayor.
Here in Normandy, the names of those British men and women who gave their lives in defense of freedom will forever sit opposite their homeland across the Channel, along with those of our allies.
Here, in Normandy, we will always remember their courage, their commitment, their conviction.
And to our veterans, here in Normandy today, I want to say the only words we can: Thank you.
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