Operation Overloads

Codename Operation Overload, or as its more commonly known D-Day was the invasion of Normandy as we know it today, “The most difficult and complicated operation ever to take place.” Said British Prime Minister Sir, Winston Churchill. Normandy, France June 6, 1944 the U.S. ~ European allies geared up for the most significant turning point of World War II. The goal was to free France from Nazi Germany. After you are done reading this your eyes are going to be tiered, and you are going to learn a lot about D-Day. ( http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com)

The assault on Normandy Beach didn’t just happen over night. It took months to plan. Every minute of every day was used to plan the attack on the beaches of Normandy. Each group was doing there part to ensure that the operation went to according to plan. The French Resistance, also known as the “Free French”, went out on secret missions to sabotage German railroad functions. They cut and blew up tracks, and destroyed locomotives . To make a safer landing, U.S. Pilots scattered bombs along the coast, in an effort to destroy some of the garrisons that were inhabited by the Germans. They also bombed bridges, and supply trains, that were carrying anything that could be used against us. By the time we were ready to attack, every bridge, train, and field was gone. (http://www.globalsecurity.org)

U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt, Churchill and Marshal Josef Stalin of the Soviet Union met in Tehran in November 1943, to finalize the invasion plans. The invasion started with paratroopers, the most dangerous attack by the Americans. They dropped behind enemy lines so they could surprise and weaken up the German troops, to secure needed targets. They knew that if the invasion by sea failed, there would be no rescue. They also sent boats to attack from the shores not knowing that there would be soldiers gunning them the main purpose of D-Day was to sneak in and destroy their supplies so then they could finish them off.

Departing from the English coast, the 101st and 82nd U.S. Airborne Divisions dropped on the Cherbourg peninsula. The 101st was to secure the western end behind UTAH and head off an eastern German advance. The 82nd, landing more into land, was to secure the bridges and stop any advance from the west. Heavy fog and German guns proved harder challenges. The pilots were unable to drop the paratroopers precisely as planned. Some of those paratroopers were already dead before touching ground as they plummeted to their death. (http://www.naval-history.net)

The 101st division suffered great losses. Only one sixth of the men reached their destination points. The first group of the 82nd division was much better, but the second group suffered heavy supply losses, much of the division were left without enough arms. Both divisions managed to form smaller, better squads, and organize themselves to star a fight. The 82nd division had captured the town of Ste-Mere-Eglise. Paratroopers carried an average of 70 pound of gear, 90 ponds of equipment. With the parachute, men weighed in at 95 to 125 pounds over their normal weight. The paratroopers were jumping into unknown territory and needed to be prepared for any encounter conditions.

The U.S was not the only country who was involved in D-Day. There were 10 other countries, including the U.S, which served in D-Day. Canada played the second biggest role with 1.1 million Canadians serving in World War II. Including 106,000 in the Royal Canadian Navy and 200,000 in the Royal Canadian Air Force, unfortunately 42,042 Canadians were killed,and 54,414 were badly wounded 14,000 Canadians landed on D-Day,450 jumped by parachute .At the end of Normandy, 5,020 were killed,574 wounded, and 47 taken prisoners about 5,401 Canadians are buried in Normandy.

On D-Day, the British second Army composed of two divisions landed on and around Gold Beach, Sword Beach, and along the Oren River near Caen. The U.K provided about 80 percent of the Allied warships in operation Neptune. The Royal Air Force flew 5,656 sorties in direct support of the landing. Air chief Marshal Arthur Tedder served as Deputy Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force.

What really convinced them were our guys on the inside. We had undercover German officials who sent fake information to Hitler and his Generals. Around the time of the invasion, one of the inside guys told Hitler to send the Panzers to Pas de Calais for reinforcement. By the time they realized that that was the wrong place, it was too late, as the invasion had already started. (http://worldwar2database.com)

Germany’s invasion of Poland, the government –in-exile was waiting for its forces to participate in D-Day. Polish ground troops did not go until later, but the polish wing of the 84th Royal Air Force Group and a Polish bomber