The Lone German Gunner of Omaha Beach

A single German machine gunner claimed to have inflicted over 1,000 casualties alone during the D-Day landings. Stationed at WN 62, he fired his weapon for nine straight hours against Allied forces.

Heinrich Severloh served as a machine gunner on Omaha Beach, one of the most brutal sectors of the D-Day invasion. He later wrote a memoir detailing how he maintained fire against incoming troops from early morning until late afternoon. While historians debate the exact number of his victims, his account remains one of the most chilling testimonies from the conflict. This story highlights the immense tactical advantage held by fortified defensive positions during the historic assault.