In addition to the films of D-Day landings, there are also films of executions, and none are pretty. There is also a famous photo of a Spanish Civil War soldier who had just been shot and actually appears to be falling backwards in a classic movie pose. But you can't tell where he was hit. Another photo from WWI shows the moment a soldier is hit by a rifle bullet. He had not yet reacted but there is a puff of dust where he was hit.
An interesting series of photos published a long time ago showed a man shot during the liberation of Paris during WWII. There was a machine gun set up on a balcony and he is hit (can't tell the details). He collapses backwards and in the next three or four photos, all black and white, a pool of blood spreads across the floor.
Regarding the soldiers hit crossing the beach on D-Day, it is likely that all the soldiers were carrying so much equipment that none of them would have done anything but fall straight down after being hit. However, my father related that enough hits from machine guns would literally cut a body in two and multiple hits were highly likely from German machine guns. But he may have been exaggerating a little.
Although these references have all been to warfare, remember than there really hasn't been anything different since the first man picked up a rock to fight with his neighbor. It has always been bloody. Now mostly it is just noiser.
__________________
Shoot low, sheriff. They're riding Shetlands!
Underneath the starry flag, civilize 'em with a Krag,
and return us to our own beloved homes!
Buy War Bonds.
|