June 6 th, 1944

 The Allies had been fighting in Italy in 1943fighting in Italy  Germany had been constructing the Atlantic Wall since 1942 Atlantic Wall Atlantic Wall was a series of coastal fortifications Invasion plan called Operation Overlord (Eisenhower led)Operation Overlord

 Began early June 6 th, 1944  20,000 paratroopers landed behind enemy lines  Consisted of 6,000 ships  150,000 men in first wave  Germans think this is a decoy, think invasion will be at Calais

 Landing zone was split into several different zones Sword Beach Juno Beach Gold Beach Omaha Beach (2,400 casualties) Utah Beach

 Allies launch Operation Dragoon, invade France from south (August 15 th, 1944)  Assassination attempt on Hitler’s life July 20 th, 1944  Allies liberate Paris August 25 th

 Germany is surrounded Soviets on the east Americans, British, French on the west  Germany is devastated by allied bombing  Germany continues to run low on oil  Hitler orders all men between to join the army

 Operation Shingle  Operation Avalanche  Back Back

 During the Second World War, the Germans took four years to build the Atlantic Wall. On four beaches it held up the Allies for about an hour; at Omaha it held up the U.S. for less than one day. The Atlantic Wall must therefore be regarded as one of the greatest blunders in military history. – Stephen Ambrose  Back Back

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