1. D-Day and Opening of Western Europe By: Lynanne Satorius, Yamili Rodriguez, and Isidro Serna

2. D-Day: What ● The day (June 6, 1944) in World War II in which Allied forces invaded northern France by means of beach landings in Normandy to liberate Western Europe from Nazi Germany. ● Marked the beginning of the end of WW 2 ● First part in the liberation of Western Europe ● A step towards defeating Nazi Germany

3. D-Day: Who Allies ● United States, United Kingdom, Canada, o ( Australia, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Greece, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, and Poland) Axis ● Germany ( support from Italy and Japan)

4. D-Day: Planning ●Planning began in 1943 ●FDR appointed General Dwight D. Eisenhower Supreme Commander of the op. ●Normandy was chosen because: ➔ In range of fighter planes, based in England ➔ Open beaches- not defended well ➔ Had a large port ➔ Provided the best entry to France’s interior

5. D-Day: Planning - Continued ● Allied forces damaged railways and bridges in France and immobilized the strength of the German air force. ● Also had to assemble equipment such as landing craft and transport ships. ●Made sure to keep this a secret from German forces.

6. D-Day: Where ● The sight of D-Day (code-named Operation Neptune), took place on the beaches of Normandy, France and helped the French to regain their land which would then be called the French Republic. ➔ They landed in the beaches of Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword

7. D-Day: Why The invasion of Normandy happened for many reasons……. ● Stop the advancement of the German Empire ● To liberate the Western Europe ● To help the Allies win another victory in World War 2 ● To help end of World War 2 ● To open a route to bring troops fighting farther inland supplies more easily

12. Work Cited ● “Normandy Landings.” White House. September 6, 2014. www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/06/06/fact-sheet- normandy-landings www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/06/06/fact-sheet- normandy-landings ● “D-Day, 1944.” The National Archives. September 6, 2014. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/battles/dday www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/battles/dday ● “D-Day.” The History Channel. A+E Networks. History.com. September 7, 2014. www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-daywww.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day