D-Day June 6 th, 1944

What was the situation in 1944? The Russians have defeated the Germans and are advancing in the East The Russians have defeated the Germans and are advancing in the East The Allies are victorious in Africa and launch an assault on mainland Italy through Sicily The Allies are victorious in Africa and launch an assault on mainland Italy through Sicily

The Move on to France Having the Germans occupied in Italy allowed the allies to move forward with their plan to open up the long awaited western front in Europe Having the Germans occupied in Italy allowed the allies to move forward with their plan to open up the long awaited western front in Europe

The Plan Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt agreed it was time to open up a new front in the West through the beaches of France Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt agreed it was time to open up a new front in the West through the beaches of France The obvious choice for a landing area was the Pas de Calais so the Allies decided to attack in Normandy instead but believed they had to deceive the Germans they intended to attack elsewhere The obvious choice for a landing area was the Pas de Calais so the Allies decided to attack in Normandy instead but believed they had to deceive the Germans they intended to attack elsewhere

Normandy It Is! Normandy is a peninsula on the French Coast Normandy is a peninsula on the French Coast It was chosen because the Germans expected the attack to be on the Pas de Calais It was chosen because the Germans expected the attack to be on the Pas de Calais

The Criteria 1. The enemy must remain ignorant of the proposed landing site 2. The enemy must be prevented from bringing up reinforcements quickly once the allies landed 3. Complete Allied air and naval superiority in the English Channel 4. Local defences must largely be destroyed by air and sea bombardment

Operation “Overlord” There would be five sectors that would be attacked: There would be five sectors that would be attacked: 1. Utah – American 2. Omaha – American 3. Gold – British 4. Juno – Canadian 5. Sword - British

D-Day Diagram Picture from k/RsLkTtTbCKI/AAAAAAAAASw/DU3shZ4G- sA/s800/P JPG&imgrefurl= HVcorEnpiQXFwKo0eA&h=600&w=800&sz=122&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid= HcfyrGSVTHjGlM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3DD- Day%2Bdiagram%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den

The Atlantic Wall The Atlantic Wall was an extensive system of coastal fortifications built by the Germans between 1942 and 1944 The Atlantic Wall was an extensive system of coastal fortifications built by the Germans between 1942 and 1944 Built along the western coast of Europe to defend against an anticipated Anglo-American led Allied invasion of the continent from Great Britain. Built along the western coast of Europe to defend against an anticipated Anglo-American led Allied invasion of the continent from Great Britain. Fritz Todt, the designer of the Siegfried Line along the Franco- German border, was the chief engineer Fritz Todt, the designer of the Siegfried Line along the Franco- German border, was the chief engineer Thousands of forced laborers were forced to construct these permanent fortifications along the Dutch, Belgian and French coasts Thousands of forced laborers were forced to construct these permanent fortifications along the Dutch, Belgian and French coasts

The Atlantic Wall Early in 1944, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was assigned to improve the defenses of the Wall. Early in 1944, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was assigned to improve the defenses of the Wall. Rommel believed the existing coastal fortifications were entirely inadequate. Rommel believed the existing coastal fortifications were entirely inadequate. A string of reinforced concrete pillboxes were built along the beaches to house machine guns, antitank guns, and light artillery. A string of reinforced concrete pillboxes were built along the beaches to house machine guns, antitank guns, and light artillery. Minefields and antitank obstacles were planted on the beaches and underwater obstacles and mines were planted in the waters just off shore to destroy incoming craft Minefields and antitank obstacles were planted on the beaches and underwater obstacles and mines were planted in the waters just off shore to destroy incoming craft By the time of the invasion, the Germans had laid almost 6 million mines in northern France. By the time of the invasion, the Germans had laid almost 6 million mines in northern France.

The Atlantic Wall!

Operation Fortitude The Allies began a massive deception of operation to conceal the intended landing zone. A massive build-up of fake armies and equipment was concentrated in Kent to fool the Germans in to thinking Calais was the intended target. Canvas and rubber tanks were assembled to confuse any German aerial reconnaissance aircraft. (In fact there were no German spy planes over England in 1944)

Fortitude – an inflatable rubber tank

Fortitude – canvas aircraft What do such operations reveal about Allied planning for D day ?

Fortitude- fake radio signals Enormous amounts of ‘fake’ wireless messages were transmitted relating to possible invasion plans in the Calais region in the hope the Germans would believe them.

The Time Has Come On the evening of June 5 th paratroopers dropped in to secure bridges for the allied advance On the evening of June 5 th paratroopers dropped in to secure bridges for the allied advance Heavy bombers dropped their payloads on what was supposed to be the beach defences Heavy bombers dropped their payloads on what was supposed to be the beach defences In the early morning the largest armada of ships left Britain for the French coast In the early morning the largest armada of ships left Britain for the French coast

The Canadians on D-Day Of the nearly 150,000 Allied troops who landed or parachuted into the invasion area, 14,000 were Canadians Of the nearly 150,000 Allied troops who landed or parachuted into the invasion area, 14,000 were Canadians The Royal Canadian Navy contributed 110 ships and 10,000 sailors in support of the landings while the R.C.A.F. had helped prepare the invasion by bombing targets inland The Royal Canadian Navy contributed 110 ships and 10,000 sailors in support of the landings while the R.C.A.F. had helped prepare the invasion by bombing targets inland Canadians suffered 1074 casualties, including 359 killed. Canadians suffered 1074 casualties, including 359 killed.

The Battle for Normandy For the first month following the D-Day landings, a stalemate developed during which the Allies built up their forces For the first month following the D-Day landings, a stalemate developed during which the Allies built up their forces In July Canadian troops helped capture Caen and then turned towards Falaise where they aimed at joining an American advance from the south to encircle the German forces in Normandy. In July Canadian troops helped capture Caen and then turned towards Falaise where they aimed at joining an American advance from the south to encircle the German forces in Normandy. By August 21, the Germans had either retreated or been destroyed between the Canadian-British and American pincers By August 21, the Germans had either retreated or been destroyed between the Canadian-British and American pincers The ten-week Normandy Campaign cost the Canadians alone more than 18,000 casualties, 5000 of them fatal. The ten-week Normandy Campaign cost the Canadians alone more than 18,000 casualties, 5000 of them fatal.