Brexit forced British paratroopers to pass through French customs during D-Day commemorations
Marking 80 years since Allied troops converged on Normandy, France from land, sea and air in a pivotal battle, a major celebration began this week. British RAF paratroopers (joined by Belgians and Americans) jumped into a French rural field just as they did on June 6, 1944. However, this time they were met with French government officials and bureaucracy instead of Those Nazi bastards and gunfire. Upon landing, American and British amphibious forces were brought in Temporary passport checkpoint at a folding table on the field, while the Belgians, who are EU citizens, were allowed to proceed without being checked.
Jonathan Monti, a French immigration official, told Sun: “We are doing immigration control and we are not allowed to do it in a field. But in this special event, on the 80th anniversary, we welcome British soldiers.”
Since the Brexit referendum passed, British citizens have not been able to travel freely across European Union borders. Considering this was an official Royal Air Force operation on foreign soil, whether commemorative or not, the troops were lucky to be allowed on the ground.
Despite opposition from British tabloids (ironically pro-Brexit)the soldiers involved didn’t seem too bothered by the game’s minor delay.
Brigadier General Mark Berry, commander of the 16th Air Assault Brigade, said: Sun: “It was something we had never experienced before, but with the warm welcome we received from every other feature, it seemed a small price to pay for coming to France. ”
More than 300 paratroopers received cheers from the gathered crowd as they landed. For its part, passport control merely follows European Union regulations on screening foreign tourists.
The Battle of Normandy 80 years ago marked a real turning point in World War II. This was the beginning of serious efforts to liberate France from Axis control and lay the foundation for Allied victory on the Western front. Then-Major General Dwight D. Eisenhower led the efforts, which began shortly after midnight on June 6. All 24,000 paratroopers were deployed to the area. The battle’s objective of recovering the town of Caen was not achieved until 21 July. Recorded Allied casualties exceeded 10,000. There is no doubt that this was the most ambitious military operation of the war.
