1. D-Day: The Normandy Invasion June 6 th, 1944

2. 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

3. The Russian Front On August 23 rd, 1939, Stalin and Hitler signed a “Non-Aggression Pact” which vowed not to interfere in each other’s business On August 23 rd, 1939, Stalin and Hitler signed a “Non-Aggression Pact” which vowed not to interfere in each other’s business On June 22 nd, 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union On June 22 nd, 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union Having purged his military of many of its best officers, Stalin and the Soviets were not ready for war Having purged his military of many of its best officers, Stalin and the Soviets were not ready for war

4. The Eastern Front Operation “Barbarossa” – began on June 22 nd, 1941 Operation “Barbarossa” – began on June 22 nd, 1941 The early days saw the Germans drive into the Soviet Union almost reaching Moscow by October The early days saw the Germans drive into the Soviet Union almost reaching Moscow by October The German army besieged Leningrad for what was to become a two year struggle ending in the death of more than one million civilians The German army besieged Leningrad for what was to become a two year struggle ending in the death of more than one million civilians When the severe Russian winter arrived the Nazi offensive broke down and the German attack was halted When the severe Russian winter arrived the Nazi offensive broke down and the German attack was halted

5. The Tide Turns The Nazis needed supplies and resources to continue the war so victory in the Soviet Union was essential The Nazis needed supplies and resources to continue the war so victory in the Soviet Union was essential From Sept. 14 th, 1942 – Feb. 2 nd, 1943 – the Germans and Russians fought for the strategic city of Stalingrad on the Volga River From Sept. 14 th, 1942 – Feb. 2 nd, 1943 – the Germans and Russians fought for the strategic city of Stalingrad on the Volga River Hitler and the Nazis lost the battle – 500 000 German and other troops were killed or taken prisoner Hitler and the Nazis lost the battle – 500 000 German and other troops were killed or taken prisoner By the Autumn of 1943 the Germany army of 2.5 million soldiers faced an army of 5.5 million Soviet soldiers By the Autumn of 1943 the Germany army of 2.5 million soldiers faced an army of 5.5 million Soviet soldiers

6. 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

7. Surprise: 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

8. 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 defenses must largely be destroyed by air and sea bombardment

9. 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 Saving Private Ryan Saving Private Ryan

10. The Attack – June 6 th, 1944 Operation Overlord Simulation Operation Overlord Simulation Operation Overlord Simulation Operation Overlord Simulation

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. The Atlantic Wall!

14. 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 defenses Heavy bombers dropped their payloads on what was supposed to be the beach defenses 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

15. 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 Canadian Third Division was responsible for landing at Juno Beach Canadian Third Division was responsible for landing at Juno Beach The Royal Canadian Navy contributed 110 ships and 10,000 sailors The Royal Canadian Navy contributed 110 ships and 10,000 sailors The R.C.A.F. had helped prepare the invasion by bombing targets inland 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.

16. By the end of the day the Allies had taken the beaches and begun marching inland By the end of the day the Allies had taken the beaches and begun marching inland The Canadians were the only Allied troops to reach their D-Day objectives The Canadians were the only Allied troops to reach their D-Day objectives

17. 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 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.