The D-Day Invasion How did the D-Day invasion fit into the Allied plans for the war in Europe? How did the Allies successfully liberate the country of France?
The furthest extent of Hitler s empire in 1942
The Ba'le of Stalingrad (1942)
Operation Torch (US Enters the European War)
The Invasion of Italy (1943)
How did the D-Day invasion come about? Following the US landings in North Africa / Italy, Allied leaders met to plan the next phase of the war in Europe Casablanca Conference (1943) Tehran Conference (1943) At Tehran, the Big 3 met for the first time to discuss Europe s Second Front
Tehran Conference & The Big 3 (1943)
Why was the Tehran Conference significant? At Tehran, Stalin again asked for a second front in Europe Unhappy with progress in Italy In need of more support against Hitler FDR and Churchill assured him a second front would be opening up by the end of 1944
What challenges did the Allies face for the planning of D-Day? The Allies knew that no one had successful done a cross-channel invasion since the Middle Ages 1066 - Battle of Hastings The Dieppe Raid (1942) D-Day s dress rehearsal Target = test German defenses
Roman Occupation of England
The Battle of Hastings
Napoleon's Failed Invasion of England (1803-1805)
Operation Sealion (1940)
The Dieppe Raid (1942)
Complete Disaster
Daily Telegraph crossword
Ian Fleming (1908-1964)
Allied Dead on the Dieppe Beach
Allied Dead on the Dieppe Beach
British POWs from the Raid
What lessons did the Allies learn from past failed invasions? The Dieppe raid had a major influence on the planning for D- Day The Americans would not commit to an invasion until they had ensured the following: Overwhelming force was assembled Air superiority over the invasion zone Launch the attack when they were ready NOT WHEN STALIN WAS!!!
The Relationship between FDR & Stalin
Allied (American) build-up in England (1942-1944)
Southampton docks
Allies Once Again..
What was the Allies plan for the D- The Allies developed a multi-part invasion plan for the D-Day landings Operation Overlord Day invasion? Two (2) parts: Operation Fortitude= deception / preparation Operation Neptune = air / sea landings on French soil
Why did the Allies pick Normandy for the site of their landings? The Allies knew that Hitler was expecting an invasion Pas-de-Calais (northern France) Why Normandy? Expectations Softer defenses Favorable beaches
Operation Overlord (1944) Normandy Hitler expected the invasion here in the Pas de Calais
How did the Allies prepare for D-Day? Building an Army: Three (3) million Allied troops in southern England (US, British, Canadian) 17 armed camps 43 miles of parking (tanks, aircraft, etc.) Largest naval flotilla ever assembled in world history
Arrival of American / Allied Troops
Arrival of American / Allied Troops
Soldiers in mess line in one of the marshaling camps in southern England
Troop Interaction with the British locals
Troop Interaction with the British locals
Allied training and preparations
Landing Craft
Massive Naval Flotilla
How did the Allies prepare for D-Day? Setting Up Commanders: Overall commander: Gen. Dwight Eisenhower British commander: Gen. Bernard Montgomery Fake commander: Gen. George Patton Patton was the most feared general by the Germans Perfect commander for Operation Fortitude
Who was Gen. Dwight Eisenhower? Gen. Dwight Eisenhower was the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe 1890-1969 Ike Had commanded American troops in North Africa / Italy Would lead Allied troops to final victory in Europe
General Eisenhower General Montgomery Operation Overlord planning meeting.
Ike and Monty s Relationship
How did the Allies prepare for D-Day? Tricking the Germans: Building of completely separate Allied camp Creating a fake army Using German doubleagents Bogus radio traffic Enlisting the help of the French resistance SELLING IT!!!
Inflatable rubber tank
Canvas aircraft
Fake radio signals / broadcasts Enormous amounts of fake wireless messages were transmitted relating to possible invasion plans in the Calais region in the hope the Germans would believe them.
Gen. Patton s Showmanship
Agent Garbo The British Secret Service (SIS) managed to infiltrate a double agent in to the German intelligence apparatus. Agent Garbo (Juan Pujol Garcia) passed false intelligence to the Germans leading them to believe the invasion would come in the Pas de Calais region of France.
The Help of the French Resistance The French resistance assisted the preparations for D-Day by disrupting French railways and causing other acts of sabotage to the telegraph and telephone system. Such acts brought terrible retribution on the local populations.
What was the German preparations Despite all Allied efforts, the Germans were preparing as well Expected an Allied invasion somewhere in France for D-Day like? The Atlantic Wall A massive line of fortification along the Channel coast Hitler appoints Gen. Erwin Rommel to command it
Building of the Atlantic Wall
Gen. Rommel in France
Hitler s Festung Europa (Fortress Europe)
Despite gaps in the line, the defences were formidable in some places.
Futuristic looking German blockhouse on the island of Jersey.
The remains of a German blockhouse today.
Anti-Landing Craft / Tank Obstacles
Rommel inspects anti-tank defences on a French beach.
Beach Obstacles
How was the invasion organized 5 major beaches in Normandy Utah and Omaha US Gold and Sword British Juno Canadian Each had own objectives / missions Everything depended on the weather by the Allies? Massive airborne attack behind German lines the night prior 101 st Airborne Division June 6, 1944 = Let s Go
The capture of Cherbourg was a key objective. It was not captured until the end of June and was badly damaged. The Allies could not risk launching the invasion without a useable port. They constructed an artificial harbour which could be towed across the channel.
Sections of a Mulberry Harbour today in Normandy.
Towed to France in sections the Mulberry Harbours allowed the Allies to unload supplies until Cherbourg was captured.
Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight Eisenhower gives a pep talk to American paratroopers the evening before D Day.
Churchill visits the troops too
Allied Airborne Assault on Normandy
A paratrooper boards an airplane that will drop him over the coast of Normandy for the Allied Invasion of Europe, D- Day, June 6, 1944. Soldiers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions parachuted behind enemy lines during the night, while fellow Soldiers assaulted Normandy beaches at dawn
The troops spent up to four hours in the landing craft and most were violently seasick.
American troops on Omaha Beach, scene of the heaviest fighting and over 5,000 US deaths on D Day.
British troops approaching Sword Beach
British troops landing at Sword Beach
In the end, how successful were the D-Day landings? Despite heavy looses (9,000+), the Allies landing at Normandy were successful Superior technology / manpower Hitler did not completely believe the Normandy landings were the main attack Held back reinforcements that could have turned the battle around
Secured beachhead area D Day +1 156,000 men ashore on Day 1
German POWs as the invasion continues
German POWs arriving at Southampton
French citizens survey the destruction with Allied troops
The Mayor of Southampton, France honours the millionth American soldier to embark for France
French civilians place flowers at a US cemetery in Normandy
How is the D-Day landings impact the overall strategy of the war in Europe? The successful landings at Normandy helped to open the second front Stalin had wanted The landings also opened up a base for the successful liberation of France / Occupied Europe