Operation+Overlord

**By Brett Scruton**
Operation Overlord is more commonly known as "D-Day". The operation was a joint allied operation to enter Northern France in the attempt to spearhead the liberation of Europe from Hitlers Germany and win the war. Many historians have noted this as the turning point in the war. The initial beach landings and parachute jumps were successful and paved the way for the end German game battles such as the Battle of the Bulge. U.S. Troops storm the streets of France.

"You will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world. Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped, and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely....The free men of the world are marching together to victory. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory. Good luck, and let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking." - General Dwight D. Eisenhower

German Occupation of France
The German offensive against France was launched on May 10, 1940. The German strategy was to attack France, Belgium, and the Netherlands at the same time. German Panzer divisions made a surprise attack through the Ardennes forest (future sight of the Battle of the Bulge). This was ultimately a defeat for the allied forces. The French military was neither strong nor organized enough under the Vichy government to deal with the efficient and powerful German military. French resistance was crushed and France fell in mid June. The new government of France, headed by Marshal Petain gave complete surrender and occupation to Hitler. France served as a cornerstone in conquering Europe, and became a a critical focus point for the allies. {3}, {1}

The African campaign ends in May of 1943 with the surrender and/or retreat of German and italian forces. The allied forces then move into Italy. Italy surrenders in September of 1943. France becomes less secure with allied forces pressing in the south and the west. German forces are starting to spread thin trying to secure territory. The northern coast, around Normandy, proves to be an ideal striking force for the allies.

Eisenhower and the SHAEF
SHAEF stands for Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force. SHAEF was a unified military operation that fused British and American officers and units together under the same command. For the sake of military title differences, the head of the SHAEF was referred to as the Supreme Commander. The designated Supreme Commander was one General Dwight D. Eisenhower of the U.S. Army. Eisenhower was called to Washington D.C. by President Franklin D. Roosevelt the week following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor to play a role in winning the war. He was ordered in 1942 to begin planning what would become Operation Overlord. In 1943 the official title of Supreme Commander was bestowed on Eisenhower who assembled his chiefs of staff for the invasion.{4}

The SHAEF high command was composed of:

Supreme Commander: General Dwight D. Eisenhower (U.S.) Deputy Supreme Commander: Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur W. Tedder (U.K.) Chief of Staff: Lieutenant-General Walter Bedell Smith (U.S.) Naval Commander-in-Chief Admiral Sir Bertram H. Ramsay (U.S.) Air Commander-in-Chief: Air Chief Marshal Sir Trafford L. Leigh-Mallory (U.K.) Commander-in-Chief Allied Ground Forces: General Sir Bernard L. Montgomery (U.K.)

The Allied Strategy
The German military, due to the proximity of the Britain and the Italian defeat in southern Europe, predicted an allied attack in the English Channel. However German intelligence had no information as to where and when the invasion would be. Nonetheless, The French coast was well guarded. Eisenhower wouldn't every advantage possible. He advocated for bombings of German lines along the coast in an attempt to disrupt communications. Other members of the SHAEF thought the bombers should be kept for the continuing raids on Germany. Eisenhower threatened to quit if the bombers were not directing missions over northern France. The bombers were sent to Northern France in January of 1944.{2}

With communications dampened, the allies would take advantage of the German lack of preparation for an invasion at Normandy. The German military thought an invasion would come at the town of Calais on the northernmost shore. Also, bad storms would prove to be dangerous. On the axis side, General Rommel was confident that the allies would not attempt an invasion in the then near future. He was so confident, he flew to Germany for his wife's birthday. This would be a serious underestimate of Eisenhower's plan.{4}

The plan was to launch sixty American and twenty British and Canadian divisions into Normandy. Most of the invasion would be a frontal beach assault with LCIs (Landing Craft Infantry). However, behind enemy lines, American airborne units would be dropped in. Ideally, the ruined communications would buy the LCIs more time for a sneak attack without the German beach forces knowing about the airborne deployments. After the coast was taken, Waves of supplies and additional troops would be deployed and begin the gradual battle for France.{4}

The Six Beaches
The beach assault would be divided amongst six beaches. These included from west to east: {4}

Utah Beach Omaha Beach Gold Beach Juno Beach Sword Beach



The heaviest casualties occurred on Omaha beach with 75% casualties before the first wave hit the beach. The Germans had been running a training exercise. Army rangers had to scale the cliffs and take out the machine gun nests to secure safe passage for the second wave.{4}

The Execution


Airborne Units were deployed the night before. Many were killed before they even hit the ground, but a substantial amount made it in. Fighting began in the night, while the airborne units struggled to hold ground until the beach invasion broke through.

The biggest problem was that the beach invasion almost didn't happen. The invasion had been scheduled for the early hours of June 5th, but a major storm had Eisenhower move the assault back 24 hours. This was all that was needed, as a lucky break in the weather allowed the invasion to go through. It took only a day of intense fighting to take the beaches. It would take six weeks to completely secure them. {2}

Hitler had slept through the entire invasion, and refused to believe that the allies had taken the beaches. General Rommel tried to organize German forces, but it was too late. The French coast had fallen.{2}

The Aftermath
Overlord paved the way for an allied victory. After the fall of Africa and the invasion of France, many Germans began losing faith in Hitler. A coup was instigated by Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg that would have worked had Hitler died in the necessary assassination at his bunker, the Wolf's Lair. Rommel, the defender of the French coast was in league with Stauffenberg and ultimately had to commit suicide to avoid torture. {2}

After the Allied victory at the Battle of the Bulge, Germany was subject to British and American forces to the west, and Soviet forces to the east. Germany would surrender in 1945 after the fall of Berlin and the suicide of Hitler with the Russians only blocks away from his bunker. {2}


 * {1} Campbell, Miles W.** __**AP European History**__**. Piscataway: Research & Education Association, 2002.**
 * {2} English, June A.** __**Scholastic Encyclopedia of the united States at War**__**. New York: Scholastic Reference, 1998.**
 * {3} Grenville, J.A.S.** __**A History of the World in the 20th Century**__**. Cambridge: The Belknap P, 2000.**
 * {4} Nalty, Bernard C., ed.** __**D-Day: Operation Overlord**__**. New York: Smithmark, 1993.**