[June 06, 2015] Today we pay our respect to those involved in the success of Operation Overlord, more commonly known as D-Day on June 06, 1944 … the date of the first landings. Allies came ashore at Normandy, France and began the war to evict and eventually destroy Nazi Germany. There were four crucial events that preceded the actual beach landings; each ordered at the most senior military leadership level. Only because they were successful, were the Allies able to get ashore and establish a strong beachhead from which to launch the invasion inland.
First, beginning months before the actual invasion a complex and very intricate deception plan, called Operation Bodyguard, was developed to mislead the Germans from the actual timing of and the site location of the invasion. Part of Operation Bodyguard called for the creation of fake field armies which threatened Norway and Pas de Calais. The intent was to divert German attention away from Normandy and after the invasion to delay reinforcement by convincing the Germans that the landings were a diversionary attack.1
Second, three months before D-Day, a strategic air campaign was begun to pave the way by restricting the German army’s ability to shift reserves in opposing a landing. French and Belgian railways were crippled, bridges demolished, and enemy airfields within 130 miles of the landing were put under heavy attack. The bombing campaign did more than destroy ground targets. They helped draw German Air Force fighter planes into the bomber formations to be destroyed by Allied fighters and well-armed bombers.2 By D-Day, the Allies had air dominance over France.
Third, a large contingent of airborne and glider troops were inserted the night just prior to the landings. For example, in Operation Tonga British paratroopers secured a vital bridge – referred to as Pegasus Bridge – across the Orne River to prevent German troops from reinforcing the area of the landings.3 Another famous example, was the dropping of the American 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions to block the German military from the beaches, capture causeway exists off the beach, and establish crossings over the Douve River.4
And fourth, a number of Navy “frogmen”, both American and British, were the first to land on the beaches. Their job was to clear away the underwater obstructions and mines so that assault craft could get onto the beach. Obstacles actually extended from the dry beach area well out into the ocean. Their job was to destroy or collapse these steel obstacles constructed by the Germans so the landing craft carrying the actual assault troops could get ashore.5
While there were other operations within Overlord, these four show the complexity of a very brutal attack on mainland France to remove an evil Nazi Regime. Our respect goes to those men and women, both military and civilian, who help rid the world of the socialist dictatorship of Adolf Hitler.
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[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Bodyguard
[2] http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/AAF-H-DDay/index.html
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Tonga
[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_airborne_landings_in_Normandy
[5] http://www.mcdoa.org.uk/Operation_Neptune_Frogmen_The_First_Men_Ashore_on_D_Day.htm