England - Periods - WorldWar II 1939-1945

D-Day

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The most important single day of World War II in Europe was June 6th, 1944. Since September of 1939 England had been fighting Nazi Germany in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. After the fall of Rance in 1940 and the evacuation of Dunkirk in May ofthat year, England and the Allied forces had been waiting to launch an invasion of France and start the drive on Germany to end the war.

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The most important single day of World War II in Europe was June 6th, 1944, known as D-day. Since September of 1939 England had been fighting Nazi Germany in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. After the fall of France in 1940 and the evacuation of Dunkirk in May of that year, England and the Allied forces had been waiting to launch an invasion of France and start the drive on Germany to end the war.

For more then a year, the allies had been building up a tremendous army in England in preparation for this day. The Germans had build formidable defences along the French coast known as the Atlantic Wall and had re-enforced these defenses with several infantry and Panzer divisions.

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Several raids had been launched against the French coast such as Dieppe, which resulted in a bloody repulse by the Germans. The invasion of France would have to succeed on the first attempt or Britain and the US may have had to consider a negotiated peace because it may have been years before they could try again, and the Germans might have had the opportunity to fight the Soviet Union to a standstill.

The period of June 4th - 6th was considered an ideal invasion time because of the tides, moonlight and other conditions. The weather was looking bad and the invasion was in jeopardy until a break appeared and Eisenhower decided to putt forces in motion for the landing along the Normandy coast.

The Americans had more then 11 combat divisions in South East England by May of 1944 with 2 infantry and 2 airborne divisions assigned to the initial day of invasion. Canada contributed 1 division and an armoured brigade while Britain assigned 2 infantry divisions, 2 armoured brigades and an airborne division to the invasion force. In addition, massive air force and naval forces make up the largest seaborne landing in the history of warfare. The secret was where these forces would land and whether the Germans would guess correctly of not and be waiting for them.

The invasion succeeded after some touch and go moments and once ashore, the allies quickly built up their forces and started to slowly push inland. The bridgehead had been established and held and was to lead to the drive through France in the summer of 1944 and the invasion of Germany in 1945 and her final defeat by the allies.

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Reference: Article by Greg Scott (Staff Historian), 2024

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