Every great conflict has a traumatic shift or unexpected turning point in which one side takes the lead over the other, sometimes being the underestimated side. For World War Two, this turning point would be the prominent, large-scale, Allied invasion of Normandy that broke into Nazi Europe on June 6th, 1944. This was known as D-Day. It was one of the most notable days throughout all of World War Two. Setting the stage for the Allied push to end the war once and for all.
By 1943, the balance of World War Two was shifting toward the side of the allies. They had won crucial battles in Africa, driving out the Nazi occupiers. Also. Benito Mussolini, the dictator of the Axis power of Italy had been overthrown and killed on April 28th, 1945. The …show more content…
160,000 soldiers, 5,000 thousand ships, and 13,000 aircraft were assembled and ready to move into France. In addition, concrete slabs were made and prepared to be used to construct harbors and breakwaters to allow ships to land safely. An oil pipeline was also placed beneath the English Channel to manage war machines supplies. Before the invasion would attain, Allied bombers hit key German targets such as warehouses and command centers to soften up the enemy defenses. The plan was to advance using the Caen and Douvre rivers with paratroopers and then capture the 50 miles of beach in between with the sea invasion. The invading Allies would strike at 4 codenamed beaches known as Sword, Juno, and Gold. The idea was to develop forces quickly because the initial 24 hours would determine the success of the operation. Military leaders remained patient, awaiting for the conditions that would be best for the invasion: low tide at sunrise. Eisenhower made his final decision: June 6th, …show more content…
The state of affair was chaos as the landing craft and ships approached the shoreline. "The beach was almost invisible behind the smoke of gunfire and bombs and the dust of the churned up sand" (Edwards 38). But the troops drove on towards the shore as mines and enemy artillery exploded about them. At Juno beach, the Canadian divisions landed and set out. 20 out of 24 crafts were blown up in the water and there was excessive gunfire. They bravely managed to acquire the villages of Courselles and Bierweres. However, Gold beach was the location of the main British attack. There was a large amount of ship debris in the water as the troops arrived ashore. The soldiers were faced with very heavy resistance and had to migrate east, where they had destroyed key German defenses such as the La Havel sanatorium. At Utah beach, the US soldiers did not discover as much German protection, but rather they had to manage exceptionally risky oceans and unpleasant territory. Omaha beach was the location of the most fierce combat between the US and German soldiers. German defenses were powerful and incurred significant injury upon the landing US troops. The terrain was also difficult to invade. Losses were high but US soldiers pushed on and took key German defensive sites (Edwards
By 1943, the balance of World War Two was shifting toward the side of the allies. They had won crucial battles in Africa, driving out the Nazi occupiers. Also. Benito Mussolini, the dictator of the Axis power of Italy had been overthrown and killed on April 28th, 1945. The …show more content…
160,000 soldiers, 5,000 thousand ships, and 13,000 aircraft were assembled and ready to move into France. In addition, concrete slabs were made and prepared to be used to construct harbors and breakwaters to allow ships to land safely. An oil pipeline was also placed beneath the English Channel to manage war machines supplies. Before the invasion would attain, Allied bombers hit key German targets such as warehouses and command centers to soften up the enemy defenses. The plan was to advance using the Caen and Douvre rivers with paratroopers and then capture the 50 miles of beach in between with the sea invasion. The invading Allies would strike at 4 codenamed beaches known as Sword, Juno, and Gold. The idea was to develop forces quickly because the initial 24 hours would determine the success of the operation. Military leaders remained patient, awaiting for the conditions that would be best for the invasion: low tide at sunrise. Eisenhower made his final decision: June 6th, …show more content…
The state of affair was chaos as the landing craft and ships approached the shoreline. "The beach was almost invisible behind the smoke of gunfire and bombs and the dust of the churned up sand" (Edwards 38). But the troops drove on towards the shore as mines and enemy artillery exploded about them. At Juno beach, the Canadian divisions landed and set out. 20 out of 24 crafts were blown up in the water and there was excessive gunfire. They bravely managed to acquire the villages of Courselles and Bierweres. However, Gold beach was the location of the main British attack. There was a large amount of ship debris in the water as the troops arrived ashore. The soldiers were faced with very heavy resistance and had to migrate east, where they had destroyed key German defenses such as the La Havel sanatorium. At Utah beach, the US soldiers did not discover as much German protection, but rather they had to manage exceptionally risky oceans and unpleasant territory. Omaha beach was the location of the most fierce combat between the US and German soldiers. German defenses were powerful and incurred significant injury upon the landing US troops. The terrain was also difficult to invade. Losses were high but US soldiers pushed on and took key German defensive sites (Edwards