The battle plan, code-named Operation Overlord, called for the largest amphibious assault ever to start the liberation of occupied Europe from Nazi Germany. It began in the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, now known as D-Day. Thousands of American, British, Canadian, and French soldiers-backed by paratroopers, bombers, and warships-stormed a 50-mile stretch of French beach called Normandy. .
This "invasion of Normandy" was the greatest event to occur between the years of 1919 and 1945. D-day was the beginning of the end of the war. The invasion of Normandy allowed the Allied forces to get their soldiers back on the European mainland and to start defeating Germany. It was the major turning point of World War II and perhaps one of the greatest strategic military operations that was ever created.
As the outcome of World War II began to change in favor of the Allies, U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower had the task of forming the largest naval invasion in history. If it was executed as planned, the landing would be the starting point for the massive attack on Germany. The attack would move eastward through France and into Germany territory.
In May, while millions of troops and equipment poured into the staging area of southern Britain, the Allies created a decoy. False radio transmissions and rows of inflated rubber tanks and landing craft were positioned far from the true sight. This kept the Germans confused about the size of the attack. It also fooled them about were they thought it was going to be.
The invasion of northern France from England was not launched in May, as it was planned originally, but on June 6. A huge fighting force had been assembled, including 1,200 fighting ships, 10,000 planes, 4,126 landing craft, 804 transport ships, and hundreds of amphibious and other special purpose tanks. During the operation, 156,000 troops landed in Normandy. 73,000 of them were American. They stormed by air and by sea.
Under Adolf Hitler the German empire extended from Russia to the west, to France on the east. Germany controlled much of Europe except for Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, and Sweden (Keegan 1). Hitler's army's gained control of much of Europe during the years of 1939 through 1941. It was not until December 11th 1941 that Hitler declared war on the United States. Soon afterward, Dwight D. ...
