Operation Torch (1) Meant to attack the European periphery, - 8 Nov. 1942 (1) Meant to attack the European periphery, (2) Aid the British in securing the Suez Canal, and (3) Give U.S. troops some experience

Casablanca Conference - Jan. 14 to 24, 1943 [1] Ground invasion of Western Europe is delayed a year [2] Aerial bombing of Germany to begin [3] Policy of “Unconditional Surrender” established [4] No separate agreements

Strategic Bombing of Germany * Between Jan., 1943 to May, 1945, it is decided to intensify strategic bombing of Germany for three reasons: - [1] Destroy German morale - [2] Destroy German production capacity - [3] Soften Germany for possible invasion of Western Europe

Western European Theater

“Atlantic Wall” - Extensive German fortifications

LCVP – “Higgins Boats”

Operation Overlord – “D-Day” * Pre-Invasion Strategy & Considerations: - “Operation Fortitude” (Bodyguard) (the decoy) - Weather considerations - Paratroopers dropped night before - Aerial attacks on German defenses - Warships bomb German defenses from the sea

* Strategy: - “Operation Overlord” (Neptune)

Operation Overlord (Neptune) – “D-Day” * Western European Invasion Purpose: open-up a third front and put the Axis Powers (Germany really) on the defensive

* Omaha Beach: * Size of force: * Terrain: - Normandy landing was the largest seaborne invasion in history

** In this situation, what would you do?

Operation Overlord – “D-Day” * D-Day Objective: By the end of the day, the forces were to have established a bridgehead five miles (8 km) deep

Omaha Beach Recreation

Omaha Beach Today