D-Day June 6th, 1944

Operation Overlord Dwight D. Eisenhower – General Plan Cross the English Channel 82nd, 101st Airborne Hit Normandy, France 5 “beaches” or landing zones Omaha and Utah – U.S. Gold, Juno, Sword – British and Canadian

Operation Fortitude Designed to convince the Germans the attack was coming elsewhere Bombed other regions in attempt to “soften them up” Navy Air Force Created fake unit via radio Dummy paratroopers Germans were convinced the attack was somewhere else

German preperations General Rommel In charge of building Atlantic Wall Concrete bunkers Pillboxes Flooded areas to prevent glider landings Rommelspargel – poles in ground with explosives

Invasion Delayed one day due to weather Beaches: Sword – British, light casualties Juno – Canadians, heavy resistance, still reached objectives Gold – heavy casualties Omaha – U.S. – most heavily fortified, order to abandon beach almost given Utah – U.S. lightest casualties

Total Casualties Allies: Germans: Total – 10,264 Total – Between 4,000-9,000