Less than a week later, on June 11, the beaches were fully secured and over , troops, more than 50, vehicles and some , tons of equipment had landed at Normandy. For their part, the Germans suffered from confusion in the ranks and the absence of celebrated commander Rommel, who was away on leave.
At first, Hitler, believing the invasion was a feint designed to distract the Germans from a coming attack north of the Seine River, refused to release nearby divisions to join the counterattack.
Reinforcements had to be called from further afield, causing delays. He also hesitated in calling for armored divisions to help in the defense. Moreover, the Germans were hampered by effective Allied air support, which took out many key bridges and forced the Germans to take long detours, as well as efficient Allied naval support, which helped protect advancing Allied troops. In the ensuing weeks, the Allies fought their way across the Normandy countryside in the face of determined German resistance, as well as a dense landscape of marshes and hedgerows.
By the end of June, the Allies had seized the vital port of Cherbourg, landed approximately , men and , vehicles in Normandy, and were poised to continue their march across France. By the end of August , the Allies had reached the Seine River, Paris was liberated and the Germans had been removed from northwestern France, effectively concluding the Battle of Normandy.
The Allied forces then prepared to enter Germany, where they would meet up with Soviet troops moving in from the east. The Normandy invasion began to turn the tide against the Nazis.
A significant psychological blow, it also prevented Hitler from sending troops from France to build up his Eastern Front against the advancing Soviets. The following spring, on May 8, , the Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany. Hitler had committed suicide a week earlier, on April Start your free trial today. General Dwight D. Eisenhower was supreme commander of the operation that ultimately involved the coordinated efforts of 12 nations. After much deliberation, it was decided that the landings would take place on the long, sloping beaches of Normandy.
There, the Allies would have the element of surprise. The German high command expected the attack to come in the Pas de Calais region, north of the river Seine where the English Channel is narrowest.
It was here that Adolf Hitler had put the bulk of his panzer divisions after being tipped off by Allied undercover agents posing as German sympathizers that the invasion would take place in the Pas de Calais.
Surprise was an essential element of the Allied invasion plan. If the Germans had known where and when the Allies were coming they would have hurled them back into the sea with the 55 divisions they had in France. The invaders would have been on the offensive with a to-1 manpower ratio against them. The challenges of mounting a successful landing were daunting. The English Channel was notorious for its rough seas and unpredictable weather, and the enemy had spent months constructing the Atlantic Wall, a 2,mile line of obstacles.
This defensive wall comprised 6. These US soldiers reached Omaha Beach by using a life raft. French soldiers arrive after Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy. Injured American soldiers wait to be moved to a field hospital after storming Omaha Beach. This aerial photo shows a landing zone for British planes near Ranville, France. Canadian soldiers place flowers on temporary graves for allied soldiers in Normandy.
D-Day in numbers. In total, around 7, ships took part in the invasion, including 1, warships and 4, landing craft. Some 24, Allied troops were also dropped behind enemy lines shortly after midnight on the day of the invasion, and , men landed on the beaches. The troops were supported by 12, Allied aircraft, and 10, vehicles were delivered to the five beaches. D-Day Fast Facts. On D-Day alone, 4, Allied troops were confirmed dead, with more than 9, wounded or missing.
The precise number of German casualties on the day is unknown, but they are estimated to be between 4, and 9, What followed D-Day? Despite securing a stronghold on the French coast on D-Day , the Allied forces faced the risk that bombardment by the Germans could push them back into the sea.
Font size. Small font size. Default font size. Large font size. Landing craft and ships unload troops and supplies at Omaha Beach a few days after D-Day. Preparation D. Family history D. In the community.
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