D-Day PlanningD-Day Planning

• Lt. General Frederick MorganLt. General Frederick Morgan

• 1942 request for postcards of coast 1942 request for postcards of coast of Franceof France

• 1943 Chose Normandy1943 Chose Normandy

• 75% of total force was to be US75% of total force was to be US

PlanningPlanning• Norfolk HouseNorfolk House

• Rommel planned and Rommel planned and

• Prepared German Atlantic Prepared German Atlantic

• Wall then went home to wifeWall then went home to wife

D-Day factsD-Day facts

• 5000 vehicles transported 150,000 5000 vehicles transported 150,000 men and 30,000 vehiclesmen and 30,000 vehicles

• 13,000 men parachuted13,000 men parachuted

• 300 planes dropped bombs on 300 planes dropped bombs on beaches before landingbeaches before landing

• 7,500 sorties made on June 67,500 sorties made on June 6thth

• 5,000 tons of gasoline to be used daily 5,000 tons of gasoline to be used daily

• By evening of June 6By evening of June 6thth 9,000 Allied 9,000 Allied soldiers were dead or wounded.soldiers were dead or wounded.

• 100,000 troops had made it to ashore100,000 troops had made it to ashore

• Supplies unloaded on beaches at Supplies unloaded on beaches at 20,000 tons /day20,000 tons /day

• From D-day –Christmas 30,000 From D-day –Christmas 30,000 Germans capturedGermans captured

Operation FortitudeOperation Fortitude

• Deception StrategyDeception Strategy

• Spanish Born Secret agent : Spanish Born Secret agent : Codenamed Garbo (Allies top double Codenamed Garbo (Allies top double agent)agent)

• Provided Germans with Provided Germans with

• MisinformationMisinformation

Weather delayWeather delay

• Bad weather postponed date to June Bad weather postponed date to June 66thth

• Bedford sacrifice 90% (Company A)Bedford sacrifice 90% (Company A)

Decoys at Calais

Major Leaders

• US General Eisenhower Commander of D-Day

• General Patton Commander of Decoy and 3rd Army after invasion

Invasion Strength

• 20,000 British and US airborne troops

• 6000 ships

• 150,000 allied forces in first wave

• 2 million would enter France over the coming weeks

• The largest of the D-Day assault areas, The largest of the D-Day assault areas, Omaha Beach stretched over 10 km (6 Omaha Beach stretched over 10 km (6 miles miles

• The western third of the beach was The western third of the beach was backed by a seawall 3 metres (10 feet) backed by a seawall 3 metres (10 feet) high, and the whole beach was high, and the whole beach was overlooked by cliffs 30 metres high. overlooked by cliffs 30 metres high.

• The American forces 34,250 troops on The American forces 34,250 troops on Omaha Beach and of those about 2,000 Omaha Beach and of those about 2,000 were killed, injured or were missing in were killed, injured or were missing in action (MIA)action (MIA)

• The Utah landing area was approximately 5 The Utah landing area was approximately 5 km (3 miles) widekm (3 miles) wide

• The American forces landed numbered The American forces landed numbered 23,250 at Utah Beach and the casualties were 23,250 at Utah Beach and the casualties were relatively light: 137 dead and 60 MIA. About relatively light: 137 dead and 60 MIA. About one-tenth the amout of the casualties at one-tenth the amout of the casualties at Omaha.Omaha.

• German reaction to the landings was slow German reaction to the landings was slow and confused.and confused.

• Though reports of airborne and seaborne Though reports of airborne and seaborne attacks had been pouring into German attacks had been pouring into German headquarters since early morning, it was headquarters since early morning, it was believed that these were only diversions and believed that these were only diversions and the real weight of the invasion would come the real weight of the invasion would come near Calais.near Calais.

• The problem was compounded by the The problem was compounded by the German command structure which had been German command structure which had been deliberately set up by Hitler to ensure that he deliberately set up by Hitler to ensure that he himself was the only person who could himself was the only person who could deploy several key Panzer divisions.deploy several key Panzer divisions.

• Because he always slept late and no-one Because he always slept late and no-one dared wake him, on the morning of the dared wake him, on the morning of the invasion it was some time before Hitler was invasion it was some time before Hitler was informed.informed.

• by the time these divisions were released, it by the time these divisions were released, it was too late – the allies were firmly ashore was too late – the allies were firmly ashore and the opportunity to drive them back into and the opportunity to drive them back into the sea had gone. the sea had gone.

• Only the 21st Panzer Division attempted a Only the 21st Panzer Division attempted a major counter-attack on D-Day, and this major counter-attack on D-Day, and this fizzled out due to a lack of infantry support.fizzled out due to a lack of infantry support.

ResultsResults

By September of 1944 the first Allied By September of 1944 the first Allied troops had entered Germanytroops had entered Germany

Hitler ordered all citizens 16-60 to Hitler ordered all citizens 16-60 to dutyduty

Planned a scorched earth policyPlanned a scorched earth policy