Invasion of Normandy

The Invasion of Normandy was an amphibious assault carried out by Allied forces during World War II. By June 6, 1944, France had been occupied by the Germans for four years. British, American, and Canadian forces, commanded by General Dwight D Eisenhower, landed on the Normandy Peninsula by parachute, glider, and seaborne landing craft.

Beaches

• Gold Beach
• Juno Beach
• Omaha Beach
• Sword Beach
• Utah Beach

Objectives

• Capture Caen (place from which to break out into open country)
• Capture Cherbourg (deep water port)
• Break out, encircle and destroy Germans in the west (happened at Avranches and Mortain, Falaise Gap)

Reasons for selecting Normandy

• Would surprise the Germans, because they expected the invasion in Calais
• Logistically easier because most of available ports were in southern England, oriented towards Normandy.
• Difference in aircraft operating time over beachheads was negligible.

Problems

• Bocage terrain with hedgerows favored defenders

Result

The result was a decisive Allied victory. Following the breakout of American forces through Avranches, Allied forces spread out through Brittany and then raced towards Paris.

German forces were caught in the Falaise pocket, with tens of thousands captured. Those that escaped were unable to bring heavy equipment due to the lower Seine bridges having been destroyed, as well as constant harassment from the air.

There is some discussion to this day whether Falaise was a missed opportunity, had the gap been closed sooner it would have captured more Germans. However even units that escaped the pocket were effectively destroyed as fighting forces because of the rapid Allied advance and lack of a secure route to retreat into northern France.