June 4,1944 D-Day Invasion of Normandy
Omaha Beach
The invasion began with a massive naval bombardment. The U.S. First Army began landing on the Omaha and Utah beaches, while the British Second Army landed on Gold Juno and Sword beaches. Americans soldiers had a hard time making it off the beachhead at Omaha beach. Eventually their very large numbers, and the close naval support they received from U.S. Destroyers turned the tide of battle. As a result, they managed to move inland. America lost about 2,500 soldiers on the beaches of Normandy, but the Allies were back in France to stay.
The planning for D-Day began in 1943. The Russians had been asking from 1942 for the Allies to open a second front against the Nazis, but the initial answer was the invasion of North Africa. The British were opposed to landing in France too early and urged delay. Finally May 1944 was set as the date for the attack. The invasion was assigned the name Operation Overlord. For almost a year a steady stream of men and material were transported to England prepare for the invasion. Thirty-nine allied divisions; 22 American, 12 British, 3 Canadian and one Polish and French prepared for the invasion. As part of the plans the Allies set up fake armies to keep the Germans guessing as to where the invasion would take place. With no port close by the Germans were not expecting Normandy to be the location for the invasion.
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