Learning OutcomeLearning Outcome

To know the series of events involved To know the series of events involved in D-Dayin D-Day

To understand the different To understand the different experiences of the D-Day landings.experiences of the D-Day landings.

How did the Allies prepare for D-How did the Allies prepare for D-day?day?

By 1944 the Allies were ready to retake By 1944 the Allies were ready to retake mainland Europe. ‘Operation Overlord’ was mainland Europe. ‘Operation Overlord’ was led by General Eisenhower and planned for led by General Eisenhower and planned for June. June.

The get an accurate picture of Normandy the The get an accurate picture of Normandy the Allies used aerial photos, holiday guides, the Allies used aerial photos, holiday guides, the public’s holiday photos (10 million were public’s holiday photos (10 million were sent), Sailing books, and French spies. A sent), Sailing books, and French spies. A secret landing was even made to test the secret landing was even made to test the sand was hard enough to bear the weight of sand was hard enough to bear the weight of tanks.tanks.

Some forces were sent even to Dover with Some forces were sent even to Dover with wooden models of tanks (called ‘Patton’s wooden models of tanks (called ‘Patton’s First Army’) to make the Nazis think that the First Army’) to make the Nazis think that the invasion was planned for Calais. Meanwhile invasion was planned for Calais. Meanwhile the real invasion force, gathered including the real invasion force, gathered including thousands of Americans. thousands of Americans.

The Allies trained for months, attacking The Allies trained for months, attacking copies of the Nazi emplacements, building copies of the Nazi emplacements, building ‘mulberries’ – floating harbours that could be ‘mulberries’ – floating harbours that could be towed across the Channel and set up. towed across the Channel and set up. Specialist machines were built (e.g. ‘crab’ Specialist machines were built (e.g. ‘crab’ tanks to clear mines/ bridge-carrying tanks).tanks to clear mines/ bridge-carrying tanks).

Calais was too strong to stage an invasion Calais was too strong to stage an invasion so it Normandy was chosen instead, but so it Normandy was chosen instead, but the Allies would need detailed intelligence the Allies would need detailed intelligence to succeed… to succeed…

However preparations on this scale did However preparations on this scale did not go unnoticed by the Germans...not go unnoticed by the Germans...

The Germans were not totally fooled and The Germans were not totally fooled and had to be convinced by a Spanish double had to be convinced by a Spanish double agent that Calais was the real target and agent that Calais was the real target and in fact Normandy was the diversion…in fact Normandy was the diversion…

Only time would tell if the Nazi’s were Only time would tell if the Nazi’s were aware of the operation and would be aware of the operation and would be ready for the Allies…ready for the Allies…

The invasion force was ready by 1 June – but the invasion was delayed because of bad weather. Forecasters predicted that the weather would clear on 6 June. Eisenhower ordered the attack.

What happened on D-Day?What happened on D-Day?

At 3 am on 6 June 1944, a 6,000 At 3 am on 6 June 1944, a 6,000 ships set sail for Normandy in 47 ships set sail for Normandy in 47 convoys. They carried 200,000 convoys. They carried 200,000 seamen, 185,000 soldiers and seamen, 185,000 soldiers and 20,000 vehicles20,000 vehicles

20,000 men were dropped behind 20,000 men were dropped behind enemy lines to disrupt enemy lines to disrupt communications and seize key communications and seize key points. 11,000 planes, attacked the points. 11,000 planes, attacked the Nazis from the air and battleships Nazis from the air and battleships bombarded the Nazi shore bombarded the Nazi shore defences.defences.

But by nightfall had captured a But by nightfall had captured a large area of coastline.large area of coastline.

But, by chance, found little Nazi But, by chance, found little Nazi resistance and captured the beach resistance and captured the beach with only 210 casualties. with only 210 casualties.

Men managed to struggle ashore Men managed to struggle ashore safely, and by nightfall the safely, and by nightfall the Americans still only had ‘a toehold’ Americans still only had ‘a toehold’ on the beach. on the beach.

A few Royal Navy ships raced back and forth A few Royal Navy ships raced back and forth between Dover and Calais to make Nazi between Dover and Calais to make Nazi radar operators think that the invasion was radar operators think that the invasion was going to take place at Calagoing to take place at Cala

The British and Canadians landed on 3 The British and Canadians landed on 3 beaches – Gold, Juno and Sword. They beaches – Gold, Juno and Sword. They experienced heavy casualties (over 4,500)…experienced heavy casualties (over 4,500)…

At Utah beach the Americans landed by At Utah beach the Americans landed by accident at the wrong place…accident at the wrong place…

At Omaha beach the B17 bombers overshot At Omaha beach the B17 bombers overshot the Nazi defences by 5km’s, and most of the the Nazi defences by 5km’s, and most of the naval bombardment fell short. The Nazi naval bombardment fell short. The Nazi defences (dug into the cliffs) were still very defences (dug into the cliffs) were still very strong. The expected 800 men had been strong. The expected 800 men had been joined by a crack Nazi Division. Many men joined by a crack Nazi Division. Many men and vehicles were swept back out to sea or and vehicles were swept back out to sea or sank due to the tide. sank due to the tide. 

However, casualties were massive - the However, casualties were massive - the Americans sustained 3,000 casualties in first Americans sustained 3,000 casualties in first few hours. few hours.

What was the result of D-Day?What was the result of D-Day?

By the end of D-Day, 132,715 men were ashore, By the end of D-Day, 132,715 men were ashore, which rose quickly (by 12 June 2 million men were in which rose quickly (by 12 June 2 million men were in Normandy) Normandy)

The Nazis fought desperately, but by August Paris The Nazis fought desperately, but by August Paris had fallen and (despite a short Nazi counter-attack had fallen and (despite a short Nazi counter-attack called ‘The Battle of the Bulge’) called ‘The Battle of the Bulge’)

The Allies pushed into Germany until they met up The Allies pushed into Germany until they met up with Russian forces advancing from the east (23 with Russian forces advancing from the east (23 April 1945). April 1945).

On 7 May, 1945, the Nazis surrendered – it was VE On 7 May, 1945, the Nazis surrendered – it was VE Day (Victory in Europe)!Day (Victory in Europe)!