The Battle of Normandy or D-Day
D-Day
The Battle of Normandy, codenamed Operation Overlord, known as D-day, lasted from June 1944 to August 1944, and resulted in the Allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany’s control. It involved five separate landings by American, British, and Canadian troops that were commanded by American general Dwight D. Eisenhower, and was the largest amphibious landings in history. Germany invaded and controlled northwestern France in May of 1940. After the Americans entered WWII in December 1941, they were thinking about an invasion across the English Channel. Adolf Hitler, however, was aware of their plans, but didn’t know where exactly they would strike. Dwight Eisenhower was appointed the commander of the operation. Before D-day, the Allies carried out a big deception operation meaning to trick the Germans into thinking the wrong place was their target. The day before the intended D-day, June 5, there was bad weather and the plan was delayed 24 hours. On June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied troops landed in Normandy, France and secured four out of five of the intended beaches in Normandy, signaling the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany. There were more than 4,000 Allied deaths and thousands more wounded or missing. The last beach, however, wouldn’t be conquered so easily. Omaha was only four miles long and surrounded by cliffs on both ends. The Germans built forts along the top of the cliffs, digging trenches lining the beach. This action by the Germans caused many deaths of the Allied troops before they even got off the landing crafts. The remaining soldiers ran onto the beach in groups and were easy targets. Progress on the beach was very slow and many died. The Allied forces reached their first day’s goal on the second day of fierce fighting. After many deaths, the Allied troops finally took control of the beach. By the end of August 1944, Paris was liberated and the Germans were gone from northwestern France. The Allies then prepared to enter
The Battle of Normandy, codenamed Operation Overlord, known as D-day, lasted from June 1944 to August 1944, and resulted in the Allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany’s control. It involved five separate landings by American, British, and Canadian troops that were commanded by American general Dwight D. Eisenhower, and was the largest amphibious landings in history. Germany invaded and controlled northwestern France in May of 1940. After the Americans entered WWII in December 1941, they were thinking about an invasion across the English Channel. Adolf Hitler, however, was aware of their plans, but didn’t know where exactly they would strike. Dwight Eisenhower was appointed the commander of the operation. Before D-day, the Allies carried out a big deception operation meaning to trick the Germans into thinking the wrong place was their target. The day before the intended D-day, June 5, there was bad weather and the plan was delayed 24 hours. On June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied troops landed in Normandy, France and secured four out of five of the intended beaches in Normandy, signaling the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany. There were more than 4,000 Allied deaths and thousands more wounded or missing. The last beach, however, wouldn’t be conquered so easily. Omaha was only four miles long and surrounded by cliffs on both ends. The Germans built forts along the top of the cliffs, digging trenches lining the beach. This action by the Germans caused many deaths of the Allied troops before they even got off the landing crafts. The remaining soldiers ran onto the beach in groups and were easy targets. Progress on the beach was very slow and many died. The Allied forces reached their first day’s goal on the second day of fierce fighting. After many deaths, the Allied troops finally took control of the beach. By the end of August 1944, Paris was liberated and the Germans were gone from northwestern France. The Allies then prepared to enter