1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. Western European Theater

5. “Atlantic Wall”
- Extensive German fortifications

6. LCVP – “Higgins Boats”

7. 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

8. * Strategy:
- “Operation Overlord” (Neptune)

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

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

11. ** In this situation, what would you do?

12. 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

13. Omaha Beach Recreation

15. Omaha Beach Today