D-Day: The Normandy D-Day: The Normandy InvasionInvasion

June 6June 6thth, 1944, 1944

What was the situation in 1944?What was the situation in 1944?

• The Russians have The Russians have defeated the defeated the Germans and are Germans and are advancing in the advancing in the EastEast

• The Allies are The Allies are victorious in Africa victorious in Africa and launch an and launch an assault on mainland assault on mainland Italy through SicilyItaly through Sicily

The Russian FrontThe Russian Front• On August 23On August 23rdrd, 1939, , 1939,

Stalin and Hitler signed a Stalin and Hitler signed a “Non-Aggression Pact” “Non-Aggression Pact” which vowed not to which vowed not to interfere in each other’s interfere in each other’s businessbusiness

• On June 22On June 22ndnd, 1941, , 1941, Germany invaded the Germany invaded the Soviet UnionSoviet Union

• Having purged his Having purged his military of many of its military of many of its best officers, Stalin and best officers, Stalin and the Soviets were not the Soviets were not ready for warready for war

The Eastern FrontThe Eastern Front• Operation “Barbarossa” – Operation “Barbarossa” –

began on June 22began on June 22ndnd, 1941, 1941• The early days saw the The early days saw the

Germans drive into the Germans drive into the Soviet Union almost Soviet Union almost reaching Moscow by reaching Moscow by OctoberOctober

• The German army The German army besieged Leningrad for besieged Leningrad for what was to become a two what was to become a two year struggle ending in the year struggle ending in the death of more than one death of more than one million civiliansmillion civilians

• When the severe Russian When the severe Russian winter arrived the Nazi winter arrived the Nazi offensive broke down and offensive broke down and the German attack was the German attack was haltedhalted

The Tide TurnsThe Tide Turns

• The Nazis needed supplies The Nazis needed supplies and resources to continue the and resources to continue the war so victory in the Soviet war so victory in the Soviet Union was essentialUnion was essential

• From Sept. 14From Sept. 14thth, 1942 – Feb. , 1942 – Feb. 22ndnd, 1943 – the Germans and , 1943 – the Germans and Russians fought for the Russians fought for the strategic city of Stalingrad on strategic city of Stalingrad on the Volga Riverthe Volga River

• Hitler and the Nazis lost the Hitler and the Nazis lost the battle – 500 000 German and battle – 500 000 German and other troops were killed or other troops were killed or taken prisonertaken prisoner

• By the Autumn of 1943 the By the Autumn of 1943 the Germany army of 2.5 million Germany army of 2.5 million soldiers faced an army of 5.5 soldiers faced an army of 5.5 million Soviet soldiersmillion Soviet soldiers

The PlanThe Plan• Winston Churchill and Winston Churchill and

Franklin Roosevelt Franklin Roosevelt agreed it was time to agreed it was time to open up a new front in open up a new front in the West through the the West through the beaches of Francebeaches of France

• The obvious choice for The obvious choice for a landing area was the a landing area was the Pas de Calais so the Pas de Calais so the Allies decided to Allies decided to attack in Normandy attack in Normandy instead but believed instead but believed they had to deceive they had to deceive the Germans they the Germans they intended to attack intended to attack elsewhereelsewhere

Surprise: Normandy It Is!Surprise: Normandy It Is!• NormandNormand

y is a y is a peninsulpeninsula on the a on the French French CoastCoast

• It was It was chosen chosen because because the the Germans Germans expected expected the the attack to attack to be on be on the Pas the Pas de Calaisde Calais

The CriteriaThe Criteria1.1. The enemy must The enemy must

remain ignorant of the remain ignorant of the proposed landing siteproposed landing site

2.2. The enemy must be The enemy must be prevented from prevented from bringing up bringing up reinforcements quickly reinforcements quickly once the allies landedonce the allies landed

3.3. Complete Allied air Complete Allied air and naval superiority and naval superiority in the English Channel in the English Channel

4.4. Local defenses must Local defenses must largely be destroyed largely be destroyed by air and sea by air and sea bombardmentbombardment

Operation “Overlord”Operation “Overlord”• There would be five There would be five

sectors that would sectors that would be attacked:be attacked:

1.1. Utah – AmericanUtah – American

2.2. Omaha – AmericanOmaha – American

3.3. Gold – BritishGold – British

4.4. Juno – CanadianJuno – Canadian

5.5. Sword – BritishSword – British

Saving Private Ryan

The Attack – June 6The Attack – June 6thth, 1944, 1944•Operation Overlord Simulation

The Atlantic WallThe Atlantic Wall• The The Atlantic WallAtlantic Wall was an was an

extensive system of coastal extensive system of coastal fortifications built by the fortifications built by the Germans between 1942 Germans between 1942 and 1944 and 1944

• Built along the western Built along the western coast of Europe to defend coast of Europe to defend against an anticipated against an anticipated Anglo-American led Allied Anglo-American led Allied invasion of the continent invasion of the continent from Great Britain.from Great Britain.

The Atlantic WallThe Atlantic Wall• Early in 1944, Field Marshal Erwin Early in 1944, Field Marshal Erwin

Rommel was assigned to improve Rommel was assigned to improve the defenses of the Wall. the defenses of the Wall.

• Rommel believed the existing Rommel believed the existing coastal fortifications were entirely coastal fortifications were entirely inadequate.inadequate.

• A string of reinforced concrete A string of reinforced concrete pillboxes were built along the pillboxes were built along the beaches to house machine guns, beaches to house machine guns, antitank guns, and light artillery. antitank guns, and light artillery.

• Minefields and antitank obstacles Minefields and antitank obstacles were planted on the beaches and were planted on the beaches and underwater obstacles and mines underwater obstacles and mines were planted in the waters just were planted in the waters just off shore to destroy incoming off shore to destroy incoming craftcraft

• By the time of the invasion, the By the time of the invasion, the Germans had laid almost 6 Germans had laid almost 6 million mines in northern France. million mines in northern France.

The Atlantic Wall!The Atlantic Wall!

The Time Has ComeThe Time Has Come• On the evening of On the evening of

June 5June 5thth paratroopers paratroopers dropped in to dropped in to secure bridges for secure bridges for the allied advancethe allied advance

• Heavy bombers Heavy bombers dropped their dropped their payloads on what payloads on what was supposed to be was supposed to be the beach defensesthe beach defenses

• In the early In the early morning the largest morning the largest armada of ships armada of ships left Britain for the left Britain for the French coastFrench coast

The Canadians on D-DayThe Canadians on D-Day• Of the nearly 150,000 Allied Of the nearly 150,000 Allied

troops who landed or troops who landed or parachuted into the invasion parachuted into the invasion area, 14,000 were Canadians area, 14,000 were Canadians

• Canadian Third Division was Canadian Third Division was responsible for landing at responsible for landing at Juno BeachJuno Beach

• The Royal Canadian Navy The Royal Canadian Navy contributed 110 ships and contributed 110 ships and 10,000 sailors 10,000 sailors

• The R.C.A.F. had helped The R.C.A.F. had helped prepare the invasion by prepare the invasion by bombing targets inland bombing targets inland

• Canadians suffered 1074 Canadians suffered 1074 casualties, including 359 casualties, including 359 killed. killed.

• By the end of the day the Allies had By the end of the day the Allies had taken the beaches and begun taken the beaches and begun marching inland marching inland

• The Canadians were the only Allied The Canadians were the only Allied troops to reach their D-Day troops to reach their D-Day objectivesobjectives

The Battle for NormandyThe Battle for Normandy• For the first month following For the first month following

the D-Day landings, a the D-Day landings, a stalemate developed during stalemate developed during which the Allies built up their which the Allies built up their forcesforces

• The ten-week Normandy The ten-week Normandy Campaign cost the Campaign cost the Canadians alone more than Canadians alone more than 18,000 casualties, 5000 of 18,000 casualties, 5000 of them fatal.them fatal.