D-DayD-Day““Day of Days”Day of Days”

What was D-Day?What was D-Day?

►On June, 6 1944 Allied troops invaded On June, 6 1944 Allied troops invaded France in the largest sea invasion in France in the largest sea invasion in history.history.

►The “D” stood for The “D” stood for DAYDAY.. 150,000 Allied troops crossed the English 150,000 Allied troops crossed the English

Channel onto the beaches of Normandy.Channel onto the beaches of Normandy.►GoalsGoals

Bombing behind enemy lines to trap the Bombing behind enemy lines to trap the Germans.Germans.

Invade the coast and push the Germans Invade the coast and push the Germans out of France.out of France.

No army had attempted to

cross the treacherous

English Channel since 1688!

Impressive NumbersImpressive Numbers► 5,000 ships transported 150,000 soldiers and 5,000 ships transported 150,000 soldiers and

30,000 vehicles across the channel.30,000 vehicles across the channel.

► 13,000 paratroopers were flown over in 800 13,000 paratroopers were flown over in 800 airplanes.airplanes.

► Before the invasion, 300 planes dropped a Before the invasion, 300 planes dropped a total of 13,000 bombs on the Normandy total of 13,000 bombs on the Normandy coast.coast.

► Projected daily use of gasoline: 5,000 tons.Projected daily use of gasoline: 5,000 tons.

► By nightfall on June 6:By nightfall on June 6: 9,000 dead or wounded Allied soldiers9,000 dead or wounded Allied soldiers 100,000 Allied troops made it ashore100,000 Allied troops made it ashore

Eisenhower giving orders to Eisenhower giving orders to troops: troops: “Full victory-nothing “Full victory-nothing

else.”else.”

ParatroopersParatroopers► A Weight on Their A Weight on Their

ShouldersShouldersParatroopers carried an Paratroopers carried an average of 70 pounds of average of 70 pounds of equipment. Officers averaged equipment. Officers averaged 90 pounds of gear. With the 90 pounds of gear. With the parachute, men weighed in at parachute, men weighed in at 90 to 120 pounds over their 90 to 120 pounds over their body weight.body weight.

► The paratroopers were jumping The paratroopers were jumping into unknown territory and into unknown territory and needed to be prepared for any needed to be prepared for any encounter or conditions. Here's encounter or conditions. Here's what they took:what they took:

► Standard Parachutist packStandard Parachutist packM-1 Garand Rifle with 8-round M-1 Garand Rifle with 8-round clipclipcartridge belt with canteencartridge belt with canteenhand grenadeshand grenadesparachute and packparachute and packanti-flash headgear and glovesanti-flash headgear and glovespocket compasspocket compassmachetemachete.45 caliber Colt automatic rifle.45 caliber Colt automatic rifleflaresflaresmessage bookmessage book

► Officer packOfficer pack(British, but similar to American (British, but similar to American officer pack)officer pack)Sten gunSten gunspare magazines with 9mm spare magazines with 9mm ammunitionammunition2 lb. plastic high explosives 2 lb. plastic high explosives (HE)(HE)2-36 primed hand grenades2-36 primed hand grenadestwo full belts of Vickerstwo full belts of Vickers.303 ammunition.303 ammunitionwire cutterswire cuttersradio batteriesradio batteriessmall-packsmall-packbasic equipment webbingbasic equipment webbing48 hours' worth of rations48 hours' worth of rationswaterwatercooking and washing kitcooking and washing kit

► Spread throughout pocketsSpread throughout pocketsloaded .45 automatic pistolloaded .45 automatic pistolmedical kitmedical kit2 additional lb. HE2 additional lb. HEknifeknifeescape/survival kitescape/survival kittoggle ropetoggle ropeadditional personal itemsadditional personal items

Storming the BeachesStorming the Beaches

Virtual Map of InvasionVirtual Map of Invasion

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/launch_ani_d_day.shtmlwwtwo/launch_ani_d_day.shtml

►Most of the beaches were taken easily, Most of the beaches were taken easily, except for Omaha Beach.except for Omaha Beach. This landing site was almost declared a This landing site was almost declared a

failure, and was won at the cost of 2,000 failure, and was won at the cost of 2,000 U.S. casualties.U.S. casualties.

►Within 24 hours the Allies secured 50 Within 24 hours the Allies secured 50 miles along the Normandy beaches.miles along the Normandy beaches.

►There were many casualties, but the There were many casualties, but the losses would have been worse without losses would have been worse without the element of surprise.the element of surprise. The Germans were surprised both by the The Germans were surprised both by the

location and time of the invasion.location and time of the invasion.

As the Allies move through France they As the Allies move through France they encounter several setbacks…encounter several setbacks…

►German resistance German resistance prevents the capture prevents the capture of the key port of of the key port of Cherbourg until late Cherbourg until late June.June.

► This delayed the This delayed the arrival of arrival of reinforcements and reinforcements and supplies.supplies.

►Difficult terrain made Difficult terrain made transportation transportation difficult.difficult.

Ultimately SuccessfulUltimately Successful►By the end of August 1944 all of By the end of August 1944 all of

northern France was liberated.northern France was liberated.

August 29, 1944

The Liberation

of Paris

SignificanceSignificance►D-Day signaled the beginning of the end of D-Day signaled the beginning of the end of

WWII.WWII.

► Now the Allies could reorganized for the drive Now the Allies could reorganized for the drive into Germany, where they would eventually into Germany, where they would eventually meet with Soviet troops advancing from the meet with Soviet troops advancing from the east to bring an end to the Nazi Reich.east to bring an end to the Nazi Reich.

► It was a psychological blow to Germans and It was a psychological blow to Germans and questioned their ability to defend Western questioned their ability to defend Western Europe.Europe.

► It strengthened Allied confidence and It strengthened Allied confidence and determination to win.determination to win.

Remembering D-Day: The 60Remembering D-Day: The 60thth AnniversaryAnniversary

A Place to RememberA Place to RememberPhotograph by Alexandra BoulatPhotograph by Alexandra BoulatFlowers of peace and barbed wire of war evoke the history of Flowers of peace and barbed wire of war evoke the history of the Normandy coast. Occupied by German troops after France the Normandy coast. Occupied by German troops after France fell in 1940, Normandy became a center for the French fell in 1940, Normandy became a center for the French Resistance. People of Normandy risked their lives to report on Resistance. People of Normandy risked their lives to report on German defenses to British listening posts. Finally came the German defenses to British listening posts. Finally came the invasion, a fight from the beaches—and then liberation. Allies invasion, a fight from the beaches—and then liberation. Allies triumphantly entered Paris on August 25, two and a half triumphantly entered Paris on August 25, two and a half months after D-Day. months after D-Day.

Port in a StormPort in a StormPhotograph by Alexandra BoulatPhotograph by Alexandra Boulat

A massive reminder of the D-Day invasion lies off Arromanches-les-A massive reminder of the D-Day invasion lies off Arromanches-les-Bains in Normandy, one of the sites where Allied troops stormed Bains in Normandy, one of the sites where Allied troops stormed ashore on June 6, 1944. This block is a remnant of a mile-long ashore on June 6, 1944. This block is a remnant of a mile-long artificial harbor—code-named Mulberry—made of huge concrete artificial harbor—code-named Mulberry—made of huge concrete caissons and old ships that were towed from England by tugboats. caissons and old ships that were towed from England by tugboats. The Mulberry provided an offshore dock where as many as seven The Mulberry provided an offshore dock where as many as seven ships at a time could tie up and unload vital cargo and supplies into ships at a time could tie up and unload vital cargo and supplies into Allied trucks or landing craft. Allied trucks or landing craft.

An Immortal CoastlineAn Immortal CoastlinePhotograph by Alexandra BoulatPhotograph by Alexandra Boulat

Beneath the highlands of Normandy, low tide widens the D-Day Beneath the highlands of Normandy, low tide widens the D-Day shore. On June 6, 1944, obstacles studded the sand as 200,000 Allied shore. On June 6, 1944, obstacles studded the sand as 200,000 Allied troops stormed Hitler’s “Fortress Europe.” The five invasion beaches troops stormed Hitler’s “Fortress Europe.” The five invasion beaches encompassed some 45 miles (72 kilometers) of coastline. In this encompassed some 45 miles (72 kilometers) of coastline. In this view, tucked in the distance, is the seaside town of Arromanches-les-view, tucked in the distance, is the seaside town of Arromanches-les-Bains off Gold Beach, which was stormed by the British and became Bains off Gold Beach, which was stormed by the British and became the site of the Mulberry harbor that served as an artificial port for the site of the Mulberry harbor that served as an artificial port for Allied reinforcements and supplies. Farther east lies Juno Beach, Allied reinforcements and supplies. Farther east lies Juno Beach, taken by Canadian forces, and Sword Beach, scene of another British taken by Canadian forces, and Sword Beach, scene of another British assault. To the west are the U.S. beaches of Utah and Omaha. assault. To the west are the U.S. beaches of Utah and Omaha.