D-DAY D-DAY OPERATION OVERLORD: THE ALLIED OPERATION OVERLORD: THE ALLIED

INVASION OF NORTHWESTERN EUROPEINVASION OF NORTHWESTERN EUROPE

JUNE, 1944JUNE, 1944

PLANNING FOR “D-DAY”PLANNING FOR “D-DAY”• LATE 1943-EARLY ‘44: LATE 1943-EARLY ‘44:

– ALLIED LEADERS HAVE DECIDED TO BEGIN PREPARATIONS FOR AN ALLIED LEADERS HAVE DECIDED TO BEGIN PREPARATIONS FOR AN INVASION OF N.W. EUROPEINVASION OF N.W. EUROPE

– ALLIED LAND, AIR, & NAVAL UNITS ARE MOVED TO ENGLAND FOR ALLIED LAND, AIR, & NAVAL UNITS ARE MOVED TO ENGLAND FOR TRAININGTRAINING

– SO WHAT? SO WHAT?

• UNITS ARE WITHDRAWN FROM OTHER OPERATIONAL UNITS ARE WITHDRAWN FROM OTHER OPERATIONAL AREASAREAS

• EX: ITALY & N. AFRICAEX: ITALY & N. AFRICA– WHY? WHY?

• MANY OF THEM HAVE COMBAT EXPERIENCE AGAINST MANY OF THEM HAVE COMBAT EXPERIENCE AGAINST GERMANSGERMANS

• MANY ARE FAMILIAR W/ AMPHIBIOUS TACTICSMANY ARE FAMILIAR W/ AMPHIBIOUS TACTICS

• RESULT?RESULT?– MASSIVE TROOP INCREASE IN ENGLANDMASSIVE TROOP INCREASE IN ENGLAND– GERMANS ARE ALERTED TO COMING INVASIONGERMANS ARE ALERTED TO COMING INVASION

PLANNING FOR D-DAYPLANNING FOR D-DAY• PROBLEM: PROBLEM:

– GERMANS KNOW ALLIED INVASION WILL BE ACROSS GERMANS KNOW ALLIED INVASION WILL BE ACROSS THE ENGLISH CHANNELTHE ENGLISH CHANNEL

– QUESTION? WHERE WILL THE INVASION LANDQUESTION? WHERE WILL THE INVASION LAND

• HITLER: CONVINCED INVASION WILL BE AT HITLER: CONVINCED INVASION WILL BE AT NARROWEST POINT ACROSS THE CHANNEL (the NARROWEST POINT ACROSS THE CHANNEL (the “Pas de Calais”“Pas de Calais”))

• RESULT?RESULT?– HITLER WON’T ALLOW REINFORCEMENTS MOVED INTO HITLER WON’T ALLOW REINFORCEMENTS MOVED INTO

NORMANDYNORMANDY– ANY TROOP MOVEMENT MUST HAVE HIS PERSONAL ANY TROOP MOVEMENT MUST HAVE HIS PERSONAL

APPROVALAPPROVAL– RESULTRESULT? ? GERMAN TROOP NUMBERS IN NORMANDY GERMAN TROOP NUMBERS IN NORMANDY

ARE NOT AS STRONG AS POSSIBLEARE NOT AS STRONG AS POSSIBLE

OPERATION OVERLORDOPERATION OVERLORD• JUNE 6, 1944JUNE 6, 1944• GOAL: GOAL:

– ALLIED INVASION OF NORTHERN EUROPEALLIED INVASION OF NORTHERN EUROPE– MASSIVE AMPHIBIOUS & AIRBORNE INVASIONMASSIVE AMPHIBIOUS & AIRBORNE INVASION– TO ESTABLISH AN ALLIED TO ESTABLISH AN ALLIED ””BEACHHEADBEACHHEAD”” IN N. FRANCE IN N. FRANCE

• WHO? ALLIES (156,000 TROOPS, 4,000 LANDING CRAFT, WHO? ALLIES (156,000 TROOPS, 4,000 LANDING CRAFT, 6000 SHIPS, 11,000 PLANES)6000 SHIPS, 11,000 PLANES)– U.S.: U.S.:

• U.S. ARMY: AIRBORNE, AIR CORPS, INFANTRY, RANGERSU.S. ARMY: AIRBORNE, AIR CORPS, INFANTRY, RANGERS• U.S. NAVY U.S. NAVY • U.S. COAST GUARDU.S. COAST GUARD

– BRITS.:BRITS.:• ARMY: AIRBORNE, INFANTRYARMY: AIRBORNE, INFANTRY• R.A.F.R.A.F.• ROYAL NAVYROYAL NAVY

– CANADIANS: INFANTRYCANADIANS: INFANTRY– FREE FRENCH: INFANTRY, NAVYFREE FRENCH: INFANTRY, NAVY

• WHERE? NORMANDY BEACHES, FRANCEWHERE? NORMANDY BEACHES, FRANCE• GERMANS EXPECTED ATTACK TO ARRIVE IN DIFFERENT PART OF GERMANS EXPECTED ATTACK TO ARRIVE IN DIFFERENT PART OF

FRANCEFRANCE• WHY? WHY?

– GEORGE S. PATTON USED AS “DECOY”GEORGE S. PATTON USED AS “DECOY”– HITLER WOULD NOT ALLOW REINFORCEMENTS MOVED TO HITLER WOULD NOT ALLOW REINFORCEMENTS MOVED TO

NORMANDYNORMANDY

HITLER’s HITLER’s ATLANTIC ATLANTIC WALL, 1944WALL, 1944

ALLIED ASSAULT AREAS, NORMANDY, ALLIED ASSAULT AREAS, NORMANDY, 19441944

OPERATION OVERLORDOPERATION OVERLORD

U.S. WAR U.S. WAR DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT PULBIC SERVICE PULBIC SERVICE POSTER, 1944POSTER, 1944

U.S. “DAKOTA” C-47 TRANSPORT PLANEU.S. “DAKOTA” C-47 TRANSPORT PLANE

DAKOTA C-47 & RE-ENACTORS, PRESENT-DAKOTA C-47 & RE-ENACTORS, PRESENT-DAYDAY

U.S. AIRBORNE TROOPERS PREPARE FOR DROP, U.S. AIRBORNE TROOPERS PREPARE FOR DROP, D-DAYD-DAY

U.S. AIRBORNE DROP, NORMANDY, JUNE 6, U.S. AIRBORNE DROP, NORMANDY, JUNE 6, 19441944

U.S. AIRBORNE DROP, ST. MERE-EGLISE, NORMANDY, JUNE 6, U.S. AIRBORNE DROP, ST. MERE-EGLISE, NORMANDY, JUNE 6, 19441944

ST. MERE-EGLISE, NORMANDY, FRANCE, ST. MERE-EGLISE, NORMANDY, FRANCE, PRESENT-DAYPRESENT-DAY

U.S. ARMY ASSAULT AREAS, D-DAYU.S. ARMY ASSAULT AREAS, D-DAY UTAH BEACH, POINTE-DU-HOC, AND OMAHA UTAH BEACH, POINTE-DU-HOC, AND OMAHA BEACHBEACH

POINTE-DU-HOC, POINTE-DU-HOC, NORMANDYNORMANDY

POINTE-DU-HOC, POINTE-DU-HOC, NORMANDYNORMANDY

U.S. ARMY 2U.S. ARMY 2ndnd RANGER RANGER BATTALION BATTALION SCALING SCALING POINTE-DU-POINTE-DU-HOC CLIFFS,HOC CLIFFS,JUNE 6, 2014JUNE 6, 2014

U.S. ARMY RANGER U.S. ARMY RANGER TRAINING ON TRAINING ON CLIFF-SCALING CLIFF-SCALING LADDER,LADDER,19441944

U.S. ARMY 2U.S. ARMY 2ndnd RANGERS ASSAULT POINTE-DU- RANGERS ASSAULT POINTE-DU-HOCHOC

POINTE-DU-HOC, NORMANDY, POINTE-DU-HOC, NORMANDY, FRANCEFRANCE

WWII GERMAN BEACH OBSTACLES, WWII GERMAN BEACH OBSTACLES, NORMANDYNORMANDY

U.S. U.S. INFANTRY INFANTRY APPROACH APPROACH OMAHA OMAHA BEACH, BEACH, NORMANDNORMANDYYJUNE 6, JUNE 6, 19441944

U.S ARMY SECOND WAVE ASSAULTS OMAHA U.S ARMY SECOND WAVE ASSAULTS OMAHA BEACHBEACH

BRIGADIER GENERAL BRIGADIER GENERAL THEODORE ROOSEVELT, JR.THEODORE ROOSEVELT, JR.U.S. 4U.S. 4thth INFANTRY DIVISION, INFANTRY DIVISION,RECIPIENT – MEDAL OF RECIPIENT – MEDAL OF HONORHONOR

CLOCKWISE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP FROM TOP LEFT:LEFT:44THTH INFANTRY INFANTRY DIV., DIV., 11STST INFANTRY INFANTRY DIV.,DIV.,2929THTH INFANTRY INFANTRY DIV.DIV.

OPERATION OVERLORDOPERATION OVERLORD• ATTACK BEGINSATTACK BEGINS::

– NIGHT, JUNE 5-6: ALLIED AIRBORNE ASSAULTNIGHT, JUNE 5-6: ALLIED AIRBORNE ASSAULT– 0600, JUNE 6: ALLIED AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT 0600, JUNE 6: ALLIED AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT

ON NORMANDY BEACHESON NORMANDY BEACHES– HEAVY CASUALTIES ON BOTH SIDES:HEAVY CASUALTIES ON BOTH SIDES:

• ALLIES: 4500 KIAALLIES: 4500 KIA• U.S.: 2500 KIAU.S.: 2500 KIA• GERMANS: EXACT FIGURE UNKOWN; 4000 – GERMANS: EXACT FIGURE UNKOWN; 4000 –

9000KIA9000KIA– EISENHOWER ALMOST CANCELS ATTACKEISENHOWER ALMOST CANCELS ATTACKGERMAN PROBLEMSGERMAN PROBLEMS::-GERMANS AT NORMANDY CALL FOR -GERMANS AT NORMANDY CALL FOR

REINFORCEMENTSREINFORCEMENTS-HITLER CAN’T BE REACHED – REINFORCEMENTS -HITLER CAN’T BE REACHED – REINFORCEMENTS

AREN’T MOVED QUICKLYAREN’T MOVED QUICKLY– ALLIES TAKE BEACHES – ESTABLISH ALLIES TAKE BEACHES – ESTABLISH

BEACHHEAD, MOVE INLANDBEACHHEAD, MOVE INLAND

BREAKOUT FROM BREAKOUT FROM NORMANDYNORMANDY• June – August, 1944: Allies slowly June – August, 1944: Allies slowly

drive Germans form Normandydrive Germans form Normandy

• August, 1944: Allies seize ParisAugust, 1944: Allies seize Paris

• Early Fall, 1944: Allies prepare to:Early Fall, 1944: Allies prepare to:– Attack German forces in Low CountriesAttack German forces in Low Countries– Move into GermanyMove into GermanyRESULT? OPERATION MARKET GARDENRESULT? OPERATION MARKET GARDEN

WHEN? September, 1944WHEN? September, 1944

WHAT? MASSIVE ALLIED AIRBORNE/ARMORED ASSAULT WHAT? MASSIVE ALLIED AIRBORNE/ARMORED ASSAULT INTO HOLLAND/N.W. GERMANYINTO HOLLAND/N.W. GERMANY

OBJECTIVE: SEIZE RHINE RIVER BRIDGES TO LAUNCH OBJECTIVE: SEIZE RHINE RIVER BRIDGES TO LAUNCH ATTACK INTO GERMANYATTACK INTO GERMANY

RESULT? FAILURE – HEAVY ARIBORNE LOSSESRESULT? FAILURE – HEAVY ARIBORNE LOSSES

OPERATION OPERATION MARKET GARDEN, MARKET GARDEN, SEPTEMBER, 1944SEPTEMBER, 1944

OPERATION OPERATION MARKET MARKET GARDEN GARDEN OBJECTIVEOBJECTIVES, S, SEPTEMBESEPTEMBER, 1944R, 1944

THE BATTLE OF THE THE BATTLE OF THE BULGEBULGE• NOV./DEC., 1944: GERMANS ARE LOSING WAR ON ALL FRONTSNOV./DEC., 1944: GERMANS ARE LOSING WAR ON ALL FRONTS

– Eastern Front: Soviets rapidly advancing through Hungary and Eastern Front: Soviets rapidly advancing through Hungary and Poland towards GermanyPoland towards Germany

– Western Front: U.S./U.K. forces have liberated France and the Western Front: U.S./U.K. forces have liberated France and the Low Countries and have stopped at German borderLow Countries and have stopped at German border

– Mediterranean Front: German forces have been reduced to Mediterranean Front: German forces have been reduced to small pockets in N. Italysmall pockets in N. Italy

– Scandinavia: Germans have withdrawn from Norway and Scandinavia: Germans have withdrawn from Norway and pulled back into Denmark, N. Germanypulled back into Denmark, N. Germany

• Germany is going to lose war, UNLESS…Germany is going to lose war, UNLESS…– They can win decisive battle, giving They can win decisive battle, giving

them time to regroupthem time to regroup– They can convince the U.S./U.K. to agree They can convince the U.S./U.K. to agree

to an armistice, separate from Russiansto an armistice, separate from Russians

THE BATTLE OF THE THE BATTLE OF THE BULGEBULGE• HITLER ORDERS WINTER OFFENSIVEHITLER ORDERS WINTER OFFENSIVE

• WHERE? THE ARDENNES REGION – FRANCE-BELGIUM-WHERE? THE ARDENNES REGION – FRANCE-BELGIUM-LUXEMBOURG BORDERLUXEMBOURG BORDER

• WHY THERE? WHY THERE? – U.S. FORCES THERE ARE THINLY SPREAD ON THE U.S. FORCES THERE ARE THINLY SPREAD ON THE

FRONTFRONT– U.S. FORCES THERE ARE UNDERSTRENGTHU.S. FORCES THERE ARE UNDERSTRENGTH– ALLIES THINK GERMANS CAN’T LANUCH A WINTER ALLIES THINK GERMANS CAN’T LANUCH A WINTER

OFFENSIVEOFFENSIVE

• GOALSGOALS: : – MASSIVE ARMORED/INFANTRY THRUST TO MASSIVE ARMORED/INFANTRY THRUST TO

ANTWERP, BELGIUM ANTWERP, BELGIUM – SPLIT ALLIED FORCES IN TWOSPLIT ALLIED FORCES IN TWO– FORCE ANGLO-ALLIES TO SIGN AN ARMISTICEFORCE ANGLO-ALLIES TO SIGN AN ARMISTICE

GRUPPENFUHREGRUPPENFUHRERR JOACHIM JOACHIM PEIPER, PEIPER, COMMANDING COMMANDING OFFICER,OFFICER,11stst S.S. PANZER S.S. PANZER REGIMENTREGIMENT

DEAD U.S. DEAD U.S. TROOPERSTROOPERS, , MALMEDY, MALMEDY, BELGIUM; BELGIUM; MEN WERE MEN WERE EXECUTED EXECUTED BY BY PEIPER’sPEIPER’sS.S. UNITS.S. UNIT

WAFFEN-SS WAFFEN-SS TROOPER, TROOPER, THE THE ARDENNES, ARDENNES, DECEMBER, DECEMBER, 19441944

NEW YORK TIMES NEW YORK TIMES HEADLINE, DEC., HEADLINE, DEC., 19441944

GERMAN “PANTHER” TANK, PRESENT-GERMAN “PANTHER” TANK, PRESENT-DAYDAY

GERMAN “KING TIGER” GERMAN “KING TIGER” TANKTANK

BATTLE OF THE BULGE BATTLE OF THE BULGE (cont’d.)(cont’d.)• DEC., 1944: DEC., 1944:

– GERMANS LAUNCH MASSIVE ASSAULT ON U.S. GERMANS LAUNCH MASSIVE ASSAULT ON U.S. FORCESFORCES

– 200,000+ TROOPS; 600+ ARMORED VEHICLES 200,000+ TROOPS; 600+ ARMORED VEHICLES (TANKS, APCs, etc.)(TANKS, APCs, etc.)

• INTIAL ATTACK PUSHES U.S. BACKINTIAL ATTACK PUSHES U.S. BACK

• FURTHEST GERMAN PENETRATION IS approx. 35-40 FURTHEST GERMAN PENETRATION IS approx. 35-40 MilesMiles

• BAD WEATHER PREVENTS ALLIED AIR SUPPORT UNTIL BAD WEATHER PREVENTS ALLIED AIR SUPPORT UNTIL LATE DEC./EARLY JAN.LATE DEC./EARLY JAN.

• JANUARY: JANUARY: – WEATHER/VISIBILITY IMPROVESWEATHER/VISIBILITY IMPROVES– ALLIED AIR COVER ATTACKS GERMAN SUPPLY LINESALLIED AIR COVER ATTACKS GERMAN SUPPLY LINES

• LATE JAN., 1945: GERMANS WITHDRAWLATE JAN., 1945: GERMANS WITHDRAW

BATTLE OF THE BULGE BATTLE OF THE BULGE (cont’d.)(cont’d.)• FINAL RESULTS:FINAL RESULTS:

– GERMANS HAVE USED UP THEIR LAST SIZEABLE GERMANS HAVE USED UP THEIR LAST SIZEABLE RESERVESRESERVES

– PERMANENTLY ON THE DEFENSIVE – OFFENSIVE PERMANENTLY ON THE DEFENSIVE – OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGNS IMPOSSIBLECAMPAIGNS IMPOSSIBLE

– GERMANS WITHDRAW INSIDE GERMAN GERMANS WITHDRAW INSIDE GERMAN BORDERSBORDERS

– CONQUEST OF GERMANY IS INEVITABLECONQUEST OF GERMANY IS INEVITABLE

• CASUALTIES:CASUALTIES:– GERMANS: 67,000 – 100, 000 (approx. KIA, WIA, GERMANS: 67,000 – 100, 000 (approx. KIA, WIA,

MIA, etcMIA, etc.).)– U.S.: 90,000 (approx. total)U.S.: 90,000 (approx. total)

•KIA: 19,000; WIA: 48,000; MIA/POW: 23,000KIA: 19,000; WIA: 48,000; MIA/POW: 23,000