Operation Overlord (D-Day) By: Sreeja Stanam, Min Kim, Selena Ando, Trisha Prasant, Deeya Sharma

Background Allied forces launched a combined naval, air and land assault on Nazi-occupied France. Ground troops first landed across five assault beaches - Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. The Allies assembled 2 million troops of numerous nationalities, nearly 5,000 ships, and 11,000 aircrafts without the Germans knowing where or when the invasion would take place. First stage of liberation for Western Europe and was a major step in the defeat of Nazi Germany

THESIS: After years of meticulous planning and seemingly endless training, the Allied Forces were able to bring Operation Overlord to life. In order to release Germany’s hold on France, the Allies utilized deceptive offensive strategies, ultimately executing the invasion on five beaches in Normandy. After succeeding in conquering the five beaches, the Allied forces suffered nearly 10,000 casualties; more than 4,000 being deaths. Due to the courage, loyalty, and sacrifices of the Allied Armies, the Nazi Fortress in Europe had been breached, signifying the beginning of the end for the Nazi Regime.

Timeline April 30, 1945 Hitler commits suicide May 1940 Invasion of France Starts June 6, 1944 D-Day May 8, 1945 Germany Surrenders 1943 Preparation for D-Day/ Operation Bodyguard August 1944 Liberation of Northern France

Preparation Germany had invaded Northwestern France (May 1940). America and Britain then considered the possibility of an Allied invasion of the English Channel (1941). This was successful. Hitler was made aware of a possible invasion on November of 1943, and put Erwin Rommel in charge of spearheading defense operations in the region. Germans did not know exactly where the Allies would strike. Hitler charged Rommel with finishing the Atlantic Wall—a 2,400-mile fortification of bunkers, landmines and beach and water obstacles. Allied side: General Dwight Eisenhower was appointed commander of Operation Overlord. ( Eisenhower=presidency)

Operation Bodyguard False sense of security + spreading out German troops

Operation Bodyguard Allied Deception Tactics: Carried out Operation Bodyguard because the entire D-Day mission would be a failure if the Nazis gained even 48 hours of advanced notice on its location and timing. (Operation Overlord took a year to plan) Made the Germans think the main invasion target was Pas-de-Calais (the narrowest point between Britain and France) rather than Normandy. Led the Germans to believe that Norway and other locations were also potential invasion targets. Phantom army commanded by George Patton, supposedly based in England across from Pas-de-Calais ** Double agents** Fraudulent radio transmissions.**(FAKE NEWS)

Operation Bodyguard Double Agents: Fake News: Dozen German spies in Britain who had been discovered, and were spoon-fed faulty information to the Nazi double agents to pass along to Berlin ex:a pair of double agents nicknamed Mutt and Jeff relayed detailed reports about the fictitious British Fourth Army that was in Scotland with plans to join the Soviet Union in an invasion of Norway. Fake News: Allies fabricated radio chatter about cold-weather issues: (ski bindings, operation of tank engines in subzero temperatures.)Ruse worked,Hitler sent one of his fighting divisions to Scandinavia just weeks before D-Day.

Operation Bodyguard Phantom Army: To give the appearance of a massive troop buildup in southeast England, the Allies created a fake fighting force, the First U.S. Army Group, headed by George Patton, whom the Nazi’s considered to be the Allies best commander. Broadcasted hours of fictitious radio transmissions about troop and supply movements. Deceived Nazi planes by fashioning dummy aircraft and decoy landing crafts, composed of painted canvases pulled over steel frames. Deployed inflatable tanks--moved to different locations under the cover of night, and used rollers to simulate tire tracks. Allies knew they were successful by listening to the intercepted messages from the German Army Fun Fact! Patton was put in charge of this army because of slapping two soldiers who had been taken from the front lines to be treated for combat fatigue

Operation Bodyguard: D-Day: After D-Day: Allied aircraft flying toward Pas de Calais dropped clouds of aluminum strips False radar readings that made it appear as if a large fleet was approaching. Aircraft far from Normandy dropped hundreds of dummy paratroopers wired to simulate the sounds of rifle fire and grenades when they hit the ground. After D-Day: Allies sent Spanish businessman Juan Pujol Garcia (Britain’s Double Agent) Fed information to Berlin that Normandy was a fluke, and that the most critical attack was at Pas de Calais. Hitler delayed releasing his troops in Pas de Calais to Normandy for seven weeks after D-Day gave time for the Allies to secure victory in Europe Juan Pujol Garcia

Germany May 1940, Invades and occupies Northwestern France By June 1944, Germany in control of most of Europe Thought that they were at an advantage in reality, they were being fooled Unprepared False sense of security Little counter-attacks Their secret code is cracked Allowed Allies to manipulate them Division and confusion within ranks Hitler refuses to withdraw troops As a result, Germany was destroyed by Allies

Timeline of D-Day 7:55am 6:30am May, 1943 The Trident Conference Attack on Juno 6:30am Attack on Utah May, 1943 The Trident Conference Nov.-Dec. 1943 The Sextant and Eureka Conferences 7:25am Attack on Sword August, 1943 The Quadrant Conference June 6, 1944 D-DAY 7:00am Attack on Omaha 7:35am Attack on Gold

Map

Important facts about Operation Overlord Primarily a combination of American, British, and Canadian forces Officially started on June 6th, 1944 Originally supposed to take place on May 1st, 1944 Delayed due to weather, tide, and moonlight conditions Also wanted to test the operation beforehand The Bocage landscape of Normandy, “small fields surrounded by thick hedges and narrow sunken lanes” * Hitler’s orders constrained the German troops

The Main Sectors

Omaha Beach Operation Omaha most brutal battle of all American troops are dropped down by planes and ships Goal: secure beach head of 5 miles (from Port-en-Bessin and the Vire River) Importance: links with the British troops on “Gold” many died even before they could make it off the plane Germany’s defense was strong Allies victory *** Allies were able to win because they were able to come off the coast by airplane or ship. The goal was to secure and link all of the beaches in Normandy. (successful)

Gold Beach British troops vs. German troops Goals: secure the beach and link with Omaha secure small port at Port-en-Bessin to link with Canadian forces at Juno 2,000 German men stationed After landing soldiers, British uses DD Tanks and guns Allies Victory

Utah Beach US troops vs. Germany At Utah Beach Goal: secure a beachhead on the Cotentin Peninsula Cotentin Peninsula lead to many ports such as Cherbourg Allies victory

Juno Beach 3rd Canadian Infantry Division is sent to establish a bridgehead on the beach codenamed “Juno” and try to take Carpiquet airport Lands on June 6th, 1944 The Canadian assault troops faced opposition from German strongholds and mined beach obstacles. Through hand-to-hand combat and a heavy use of firearms, Canadian troops move their way into the towns of Bernières, Courseulles and St. Aubin and then advanced inland, securing a critical bridgehead for the allied invasion. #metgoal Successful (except the airport part)

Sword Beach British troops land on June 6th, 1944 Before landing, there is an air raid and naval bombardment Airborne British Troops immediately get a hold of Pegasus Bridge over the Caen Canal and nearby Horsa Bridge over River Orne. #metgoal1 Destroyed bridges over Dives River. #metgoal2 Neutralize German Artillery Source at Merville #metgoal3 While troops met with some fire upon landing, managed to secure the shores of the beach and move inland (where they met stronger resistance in villages and farmland) Successful

The Effects of Operation Overlord Successful invasion of German-occupied Western Europe A victory for the Allies Lots of Casualties 10,000 Allied Victims (4,000 Killed) 4,000-9,000 German Victims By the end of July: roughly 600,000 military victims and 20,000 civilian victims Opened the long-awaited second front to Germany Forced the Germans to fight a two-front war (like they did in WW1) Many U-boat ports, V-weapon sites, and a large section of Germany’s air defiance networks were captured or rendered useless Drained German resources and blocked their access to key military sites

Effects Continued On June 26th, 1944, the Allies captured the French Port of Cherbourg--after that day, Germans began to retreat August 25th, 1944, the liberation of Paris Hitler commits suicide on April 30th, 1945 Nazi Germany is forced to surrender on May 8, 1945 Eisenhower for Presidency (Operation proved his leadership)

Memorials -National D-Day Memorial in Virginia -Normandy American Cemetery in France -9,387 burials -1,557 Missing in Action National D-Day Memorial

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Work Cited Klein, Christopher. “Fooling Hitler: .” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 3 June 2014, www.history.com/news/fooling-hitler-the-elaborate-ruse-behind-d-day. Accessed 26 Apr. 2017. Jalter. “What Happened After D-Day?” Imperial War Museums, 7 Apr. 2014, www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-happened-after-d-day. Accessed 26 Apr. 2017. Jalter. “Why D-Day Was So Important To Allied Victory.” Imperial War Museums, 27 Feb. 2014, www.iwm.org.uk/history/why-d-day-was-so-important-to-allied-victory. Accessed 26 Apr. 2017. “Juno Beach.” Juno Beach - The Canadians On D-Day. Accessed 26 Apr. 2017. “National D-Day Memorial.” Home - National D-Day Memorial, www.dday.org/. Accessed 27 Apr. 2017.