6th June 1944 Operation Overlord Mr S. Fitzgerald The D-Day Invasion 6th June 1944 Operation Overlord Mr S. Fitzgerald

D Day In 1944, a huge army of British, US and Canadian troops gathered in Southern England. They were to invade France and free it from German occupation. Stalin had long demanded that the Allies open a 2nd front in the west. The operation was code-named Operation Overlord. They chose the Normandy coast because of its beaches, shallow water and it was near England. A double agent convinced the Germans that the Allied attack was to take place at Calais

Allied Commander Eisenhower’s orders morning of June 6th. 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.

The five beaches were code-named Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword.

D Day numbers 4000 ships used over 150,000 men nearly 30,000 vehicles across the channel to the French beaches. Six parachute regiments -- over 13,000 men -- were flown from nine British airfields in over 800 planes. More than 300 planes dropped 13,000 bombs over coastal Normandy immediately in advance of the invasion. By the end of June 6th, 9,000 Allies were dead but 100,000 made it ashore.

Allied troops set up artificial harbours called mulberries to allow tanks and trucks to land in France. An undersea pipeline called Pluto was laid down to provide fuel for the invading armies. 10,000 British and US aircraft provided ‘air cover’ for the invading troops. Mulberry Pier

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6PhbLxLGno

The invasion succeeded and nearly a million soldiers had landed in France by the end of June. On 18th of August 1944, Allied troops liberated Paris from German control. They then pushed eastwards towards Germany. With the Russians attacking from the East, Hitler was being attacked from both sides. The liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation had begun. On 7th May 1945 the Nazis surrendered.