Looking Back
From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History
accessible at thejewishnews.com
62 | MAY 30 • 2024
J
N
D
-Day. Even in today’s world, mention “D-Day” and
most people know precisely which day and what
event you are referring to. “D-Day,
” the sixth of June
1944, was the day during World War II when the Allied mil-
itary forces launched a massive invasion of German-occupied
Europe. After four years of Nazi occupation, Adolph Hitler
had declared his defensive fortifications on the Atlantic coast
of France to be “Fortress Europe.
” The battle was tough and
deadly for American, Canadian and British forces.
This year, June 6 will mark the 80th anniver-
sary of this extraordinary day in American and
world history. And, I wondered, what was the
JN’s role in reporting on this monumental event?
Moreover, and most significantly, what was the
Jewish Detroit participation in this monumentally his-
toric event? The William Davidson Digital Archive of
Jewish Detroit History had the answers.
First, the JN and Detroit Jewish Chronicle did indeed
cover D-Day. The June 16, 1944, issue is the best contem-
porary reading. For a very good synopsis of the JN’s coverage, see the
50th anniversary of D-Day editorial on June 3, 1994, by JN Editor Phil
Jacobs: “What We Were Saying.
” He makes this salient point: “Without
the benefit of E-mail, CNN, Fax and any other high-tech aids, the [JN’s]
picture of what was happening was amazingly complete.
”
The front page of the June 16, 1944, JN gave me the general answer
to my second question: “Jewish Youths First to Land During Invasion.
”
This second headline is also a reminder that the vast bulk of the forces participating in the invasion consisted of
young men, often in their teens or early-20s. The story also pointed out that the boats taking first-wave of troops to
the beach were commanded by a 22-year-old Jewish Navy officer from the New York, Lt. Abraham Condotti.
Stories in the JN, both from June 1944 and since D-Day, make it obvious that Jewish Detroiters did their part
toward victory. Here are stories of just six of these remarkable veterans:
Dr. Milton Steinhardt was an Army medical officer on D-Day. He wrote about his recollections of the invasion
in the June 1, 1984, JN. The article, “Remembering Normandy: Man of Valor,
” is about U.S. Navy Lt. Leonard
Lewis. Unfortunately, Lewis was among the 9,000 Americans killed at Omaha Beach (March 1, 1994).
Aubry Ettenheimer was an Army engineer, who helped clear Omaha Beach of barricades and land mines. By the
end of the war, Ettenheimer had earned five Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart (Dec. 21, 2006).
Corporal Simon Kaplan landed on D-Day and would continue to fight into 1945. Kaplan won 11 medals for
valor, including in 2010, France’s highest military honor, the Chevalier (Nov. 29, 2012).
Bernard Vern “Lucky” Lieberman, a member of the elite 101st Army Airborne regiment, parachuted behind
enemy lines on D-Day. “Lucky” would earn three Bronze Stars (July 16, 2020). Perhaps surviving extensive combat duty
was how he earned his nickname?
Airman Mort Harris flew and survived many bombing missions in Europe. This included two over the beaches of Normandy
on D-Day (May 20, 2021).
None but the men who were there can really understand what it was like on D-Day. But we can read about them, marvel at their
bravery, and honor their memory and their sacrifice.
Want to learn more? Go to the DJN archives, available for free at thejewishnews.com.
Mike Smith
Alene and
Graham Landau
Archivist Chair
D-Day’s 80th Anniversary