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Germany's Invasion of France
Germany invades northwestern France after the start of WW2 in May 1940. In December 1941 the United States enters the war and by 1942 the U.S. and Great Britain plan on a Allied invasion along the English Channel. -
General Dwight D. Eisenhower
January 1944 General Dwight D. Eisenhower is elected as the commander of Operation Overlord, the operation to invade Normandy. In the time before D-Day, the Allies lead Germany to believe that the invasion was going to be on Pas-de-Calais and other places but not on Normandy. -
The Deception
Once the Allies have chosen Normandy to be the location of the attack, they planned on deceiving Germany on where the attack would be. They used fake equipment, a phantom army led by George Patton based in England, and double agents. -
Allies
On D-Day the invasion mostly consisted of American, Canadian, and British troops; but also included Australian, Belgian, Czech, Dutch, French, Greek, New Zealand, Norwegians, Rhodesian, and Polish troops. This invasion was now named Operation Overlord by the Allies. -
Date for D-Day
General Eisenhower chose June 5, 1944, but because of the bad weather conditions it was delayed. Once the meteorologist informed General Eisenhower that June 6 would have optimal conditions for the attack, he then tells his soldiers “You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you.” -
D-Day
June 6, 1944, thousands of paratroopers and glider troops begin to arrive on the beaches of Normandy at about 6:30 a.m. By the end of the day, about 156,000 Allied troops have invade and with about 2,000 American casualties. -
German Ranks
Post D-Day, the German ranks where in shambles. When the attack began, Hitler believed it was just a distraction and didn't dispatch any more support on the beaches possibly costing him the battle. -
Post D-Day Allies
Following the aftermath of the battle in Normandy, the Allied powers continued inwards to rid the land of Germans. They fought through Normandy's countryside, and by the end of June, they have seized part of Cherbourg, landed about 850,000 men, 150,000 vehicles, and continued inward. -
Next Step
By the end of August 1944, the Allies have reached the Seine River, Paris now liberated, and Germany no longer in northwestern France. The Allied Forces now plan on entering Germany and meeting with the Soviet troops moving in from the East.