On June 6, 1944, Allied powers including troops from Britain, Canada, and the US, crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, thus beginning the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control. Within three months, the northern part of France would was free and turned their sights on Germany.
With Germany controlling most of mainland Europe, the Allies knew that a successful invasion of the continent was critical if they were to win the war. Hitler expected an assault on northwestern Europe in the spring of 1944, thinking the Allies would retry the failed Dieppe plan.
The master plan involved 6,000 landing craft, ships and other vessels carrying 176,000 troops began to leave England for the trip to France. On the evening of June 5, 822 aircraft filled with parachutists headed for drop zones in Normandy. An additional 13,000 aircraft were mobilized to provide air cover and support for the invasion.
By dawn on June 6, 18,000 parachutists were already on the ground; the land invasions began at 6:30 a.m. The British and Canadians overcame light opposition to capture Gold, Juno and Sword beaches; so did the Americans at Utah.
The Americans at Omaha beach, however, had a hell of a day and 2,000 troops were lost and it was only through the tenacity and quick-wittedness of troops on the ground that the objective was achieved. By day's end, 155,000 Allied troops--Americans, British and Canadians--had successfully stormed Normandy’s beaches.
No comments:
Post a Comment