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Operation OverlordOperation Overlord

The Invasion of NormandyJune 5-6, 1944

EisenhowerEisenhower ’’s Dilemmas Dilemma

•• Air commanders do not want to launch the Air commanders do not want to launch the invasion.invasion.

•• They expect 80% casualties under the They expect 80% casualties under the best conditions.best conditions.

•• 19:00 on June 519:00 on June 5�� Eisenhower visits the Eisenhower visits the troops of the 101troops of the 101stst AirborneAirborne

Allied Landing ForceAllied Landing Force

•• 13,400 American Troops13,400 American Troops

•• 7,000 British Troops7,000 British Troops

•• These will be the first troops to land in These will be the first troops to land in NaziNazi--occupied Europe.occupied Europe.

•• They struggle to get into their CThey struggle to get into their C--47 Planes47 Planes

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SoldierSoldier ’’s Equipments Equipment•• HelmetHelmet•• BootsBoots•• GlovesGloves•• Main parachuteMain parachute•• Reserve parachuteReserve parachute•• Mae West (yellow inflatable life jacket)Mae West (yellow inflatable life jacket)•• RifleRifle•• 45 Automatic Pistol45 Automatic Pistol•• Trench knifeTrench knife•• Jump knifeJump knife•• Hunting knifeHunting knife•• MacheteMachete•• One cartridge beltOne cartridge belt•• Two bandoliersTwo bandoliers•• Two cans of machine gun ammoTwo cans of machine gun ammo•• 676 rounds of 30 caliber ammo676 rounds of 30 caliber ammo•• 66 rounds of 45 caliber ammo66 rounds of 45 caliber ammo

•• Hawkins mine capable of blowing up a tankHawkins mine capable of blowing up a tank•• Four blocks of TNTFour blocks of TNT•• One entrenching tool with two blasting caps One entrenching tool with two blasting caps

taped on the outside of the steel parttaped on the outside of the steel part•• Three first aid kitsThree first aid kits•• Two morphine needlesTwo morphine needles•• One gas maskOne gas mask•• A Canteen of waterA Canteen of water•• Three days supply of K rationsThree days supply of K rations•• Two daysTwo days’’ supply of D rationssupply of D rations•• Six fragmentation grenadesSix fragmentation grenades•• One gammon grenadeOne gammon grenade•• One orange and one red smoke grenadeOne orange and one red smoke grenade•• One orange panelOne orange panel•• One blanketOne blanket•• One raincoatOne raincoat•• One change of socksOne change of socks•• One change of underwearOne change of underwear•• Two cartons of cigarettesTwo cartons of cigarettes

AND A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE!!!AND A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE!!!

Armada of CArmada of C --47s47s

•• ““A sight to behold.A sight to behold.””

•• Pilots are on their first mission after two years of Pilots are on their first mission after two years of training.training.

•• CC--47 Planes47 Planes–– Designed to hold cargo and passengersDesigned to hold cargo and passengers–– Neither armed nor armoredNeither armed nor armored–– Extraordinarily vulnerable aircraftExtraordinarily vulnerable aircraft–– Gas tank not protected or selfGas tank not protected or self--sealing sealing

Airborne Statistics

Flakvierling 38

20 mm – 4 Barreled anti–aircraft bullets

1 out of 6 shells (tracers) could be seen

C–47 DakotaManufacturer: Douglas Aircraft

Power plants (2): P&W R-1830-92 Twin Wasp – 1050 hp

Wing Span: 95 ft.

Maximum Speed: 230 mph

Weight Empty: 16,970 lbs.

Weight Fully Loaded: 26,000 Lbs.

Service Ceiling: 23,200 ft.

Range: 1,500 miles

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Airborne Formations

100 Feet

1,000 Feet

The FlightThe Flight

•• They were fine as they crossed the They were fine as they crossed the coastline into the channel.coastline into the channel.

•• As the planes reached the channel, the As the planes reached the channel, the fog set in.fog set in.

•• When they crossed into France, When they crossed into France, ““all hell all hell broke loose.broke loose.””

The DroppingsThe Droppings

•• The goal was to take Saint Mere The goal was to take Saint Mere EgliseEglise..

•• Very few of the troops were dropped where they Very few of the troops were dropped where they were supposed to be dropped.were supposed to be dropped.–– Dropped into the sea.Dropped into the sea.–– Scattered behind enemy lines.Scattered behind enemy lines.–– Some dropped at too low an altitude.Some dropped at too low an altitude.–– Flooded fields of Normandy.Flooded fields of Normandy.

•• The failure of the launching combined with the The failure of the launching combined with the lack of communications confuse the Germans.lack of communications confuse the Germans.

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DAWNDAWN——June 6, 1944June 6, 1944

•• The Allies launch the largest amphibious invasion in The Allies launch the largest amphibious invasion in world history.world history.

•• Germans are surprised and refuse to react to the Germans are surprised and refuse to react to the invasion.invasion.

•• RommelRommel’’s out shopping for a birthday gift for his wife.s out shopping for a birthday gift for his wife.•• Rundstedt thinks itRundstedt thinks it’’s a diversion.s a diversion.•• Nap time for Hitler.Nap time for Hitler.

•• Three Steps For InvasionThree Steps For Invasion1.1. BreakBreak--inin2.2. BuildBuild--upup3.3. BreakoutBreakout

The ArmadaThe Armada


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German ResistanceGerman Resistance


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The AmericansThe Americans•• The operation goes fairly well.The operation goes fairly well.

•• The Americans are held up at The Americans are held up at Omaha BeachOmaha Beach ..–– The navy launched troops too far north.The navy launched troops too far north.–– The Germans were ferocious in their defenses.The Germans were ferocious in their defenses.

•• American Rangers fight valiantly at American Rangers fight valiantly at Point du HocPoint du Hoc ..

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The British (and The British (and Canadian)LandingsCanadian)Landings

•• Landed at Gold, Juno, and SwordLanded at Gold, Juno, and Sword

•• These landings went well, but the British These landings went well, but the British could not secure the city of Caen in 24 could not secure the city of Caen in 24 hours, like Montgomery had hoped.hours, like Montgomery had hoped.

LandingLanding

LandingLanding

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LandingLanding

Landing ObstaclesLanding Obstacles

Landing ObstaclesLanding ObstaclesTeller Mines were placed on the ends of the logs

each mine had 12 pounds of TNT

Rommel had 6.5 million mines laid by D–Day

Rommel wanted 11 million laid to secure the Atlantic Wall

Sherman Tank with Mine–Clearing Flailing device

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The OutcomeThe Outcome

•• June 7, 1944June 7, 1944–– 100,000 Allied troops are on the Normandy coast100,000 Allied troops are on the Normandy coast

•• 10 Days Later10 Days Later–– 500,000 on the coast500,000 on the coast

•• July 1July 1–– Almost 1,000,000 on the coastAlmost 1,000,000 on the coast

•• The invasion was an absolute success for the Allies, but The invasion was an absolute success for the Allies, but it would be a long, hard road to victory.it would be a long, hard road to victory.

operation overlord - fcps overlord.pdf · operation overlord the invasion of normandy june 5-6,...

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