| 82nd Airborne Division, 101st Airborne Division, 29th Division, 2nd Armored Division, and the U.S. Army Rangers are depicted in this print by James Dietz. "We Happy Few" |
| “From this day to the ending of the world. But we in it shall be remember’d; We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he today that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother...” Henry V William Shakespeare |
General Omar Bradley, commanding the First U.S. Army, had waited
anxiously for the linkup of Omaha and Utah beachheads before
declaring success in the American sector following D-Day. He
considered this final event critical before the Allied invasion of Europe
could be put into full swing. His concern over the linkup delay was
confirmed when he received an Ultra flash from British intelligence at
Bletchley Park indicating the German high command was aware of a
gap existing between the American V and VII Corps. They ordered the
17th SS Panzergrenadier Division to counter attack and split the two
forces. It is interesting to note that this was one of the few times that
information obtained from the German Enigma Code breaking was
deemed so critical it was passed to a tactical commander. Such
intelligence had previously been withheld for fear of tipping the
Germans to the fact their secret code system had been broken.
For days the American Parachute Infantry had been engaged in
combat with the German Army’s 6th Parachute Regiment in the vicinity
of Carentan. It was now D+7, June 13, 1944. “…what a wonderful sight
it was to see those tanks pouring it to the Germans with those heavy
50-caliber machine-guns and just plowing straight from our lines into
the German hedgerows with all those fresh infantry soldiers marching
along beside the tanks,” remembers then LT Richard Winters who
commanded Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne
Division, “the band of brothers.” The scene, which followed, has finally
been captured by renowned military artist James Dietz in We Happy
Few. Infantry from the National Guard’s famed 29th Division, supported
by the 2nd Armored Division’s “Hell on Wheels,” had raced forward to
relieve the airborne troops from the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions
seizing and holding ground since their historic jump on the eve of D-
Day. What a joyous occasion it had to be as the American airborne,
joined by the grateful French civilians, welcomed the arriving ground
troops.
Clearly there was a difficult task ahead. Tragically many of the joyous
American soldiers depicted in the print would not be there for another
happy day, May 8, 1945, some eleven months later when Germany
finally surrendered. But for a moment, they were “We few, we happy
few.” The suffering and sacrifice of the past week was behind them,
and they could briefly pause to enjoy a moment in time. This very
historic moment, previously not depicted, is captured here in dramatic
detail by the artist whose works continue to capture the American
soldier in the best of times and the worst of times. The Band of
Brothers is seen swapping tales with the Blue and Gray 29ers from
Omaha Beach before heading to defensive positions in Carentan. The
tankers of Hell on Wheels share smokes with the “All Americans”
before beginning their difficult sweep across France. It is a scene
which passed quickly, but is now reborn in the superb detail of this
historic print.
Generals Eisenhower and Bradley were greatly relieved with the news
of the successful linkup. At noon on the next day, July 14, 1944, XIX
Corps, comprised of the 29th and 30th Divisions, was formed and
ordered to attack south to St. Lo, while protecting the critical area
between V and VII Corps. V Corps with the 1st and 2nd Divisions
would link up with the British and continue attacking south, while VII
Corps with the 4th and newly arrived 9th and 90th Divisions would
continue west to capture Cherbourg. Any chance for the Germans to
split the corps’ seam had been eliminated. The Allies were beyond the
beachhead, and Germany’s fate had been sealed by American soldiers
like those depicted in We Happy Few.
Illustration by James Dietz - Copyright © 2005.
All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this website may be reproduced
or utilized in any form without the written consent of American Art & Antiques, Inc.
anxiously for the linkup of Omaha and Utah beachheads before
declaring success in the American sector following D-Day. He
considered this final event critical before the Allied invasion of Europe
could be put into full swing. His concern over the linkup delay was
confirmed when he received an Ultra flash from British intelligence at
Bletchley Park indicating the German high command was aware of a
gap existing between the American V and VII Corps. They ordered the
17th SS Panzergrenadier Division to counter attack and split the two
forces. It is interesting to note that this was one of the few times that
information obtained from the German Enigma Code breaking was
deemed so critical it was passed to a tactical commander. Such
intelligence had previously been withheld for fear of tipping the
Germans to the fact their secret code system had been broken.
For days the American Parachute Infantry had been engaged in
combat with the German Army’s 6th Parachute Regiment in the vicinity
of Carentan. It was now D+7, June 13, 1944. “…what a wonderful sight
it was to see those tanks pouring it to the Germans with those heavy
50-caliber machine-guns and just plowing straight from our lines into
the German hedgerows with all those fresh infantry soldiers marching
along beside the tanks,” remembers then LT Richard Winters who
commanded Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne
Division, “the band of brothers.” The scene, which followed, has finally
been captured by renowned military artist James Dietz in We Happy
Few. Infantry from the National Guard’s famed 29th Division, supported
by the 2nd Armored Division’s “Hell on Wheels,” had raced forward to
relieve the airborne troops from the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions
seizing and holding ground since their historic jump on the eve of D-
Day. What a joyous occasion it had to be as the American airborne,
joined by the grateful French civilians, welcomed the arriving ground
troops.
Clearly there was a difficult task ahead. Tragically many of the joyous
American soldiers depicted in the print would not be there for another
happy day, May 8, 1945, some eleven months later when Germany
finally surrendered. But for a moment, they were “We few, we happy
few.” The suffering and sacrifice of the past week was behind them,
and they could briefly pause to enjoy a moment in time. This very
historic moment, previously not depicted, is captured here in dramatic
detail by the artist whose works continue to capture the American
soldier in the best of times and the worst of times. The Band of
Brothers is seen swapping tales with the Blue and Gray 29ers from
Omaha Beach before heading to defensive positions in Carentan. The
tankers of Hell on Wheels share smokes with the “All Americans”
before beginning their difficult sweep across France. It is a scene
which passed quickly, but is now reborn in the superb detail of this
historic print.
Generals Eisenhower and Bradley were greatly relieved with the news
of the successful linkup. At noon on the next day, July 14, 1944, XIX
Corps, comprised of the 29th and 30th Divisions, was formed and
ordered to attack south to St. Lo, while protecting the critical area
between V and VII Corps. V Corps with the 1st and 2nd Divisions
would link up with the British and continue attacking south, while VII
Corps with the 4th and newly arrived 9th and 90th Divisions would
continue west to capture Cherbourg. Any chance for the Germans to
split the corps’ seam had been eliminated. The Allies were beyond the
beachhead, and Germany’s fate had been sealed by American soldiers
like those depicted in We Happy Few.
Illustration by James Dietz - Copyright © 2005.
All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this website may be reproduced
or utilized in any form without the written consent of American Art & Antiques, Inc.
Here at Ozark Airfield Artworks we offer a large selection art prints. These prints mainly
depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We also deal
with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are from all the top
national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of our prints are
signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking for a specific
plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We also deal
with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are from all the top
national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of our prints are
signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking for a specific
plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
Copyright © Ozark Airfield Artworks 2005 All Rights Reserved
All sales are subject to availability.
All sales are subject to availability.
All images are copyrighted by the individual artist and may not be reproduced
without their consent.
without their consent.
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