THE NORMANDY INVASION

The Normandy Invasion

The Normandy Invasion

Introduction

A great invasion force stood off the Normandy coast of France as dawn broke on 6 June 1944: 9 battleships, 23 cruisers, 104 destroyers, and 71 large landing craft of various descriptions as well as troop transports, mine sweepers, and merchantmen in all, nearly 5,000 ships of every type, the largest armada ever assembled. The naval bombardment that began at 0550 that morning detonated large minefields along the shoreline and destroyed a number of the enemy's defensive positions. By the end of June 1944 France was liberated, this was a revolution that had long been anticipated by the people in France. The invasion of Normandy France also set a bench mark in history as it was the biggest achievement that was worth appreciating across Europe. It was a huge setback for the French troops, as they were no match against the powerful Germans.

As we go through the pages in history the World War II was perhaps the hardest fought and unrelenting battle. Still the after effects are being felt, even though we have passed through half a century. World War II continues to attract a number of scholars as well as historians, and its veterans; a number of Americans citizens have grown to maturity largely unaware of the political, social, and military implications of a war that, more than any other united us as a people with a same purpose.

To be more precise, it was the only huge event in history that was considered as a landmark invasion. The invasion was the largest specially fought war in land as well sea, served as a multipurpose operation in history.

Planning and Preparations of the War

According to the plan of invasion, five infantry divisions have to land on the beach on a stretch of fifty miles (eighty kilometers) along the French Riviera. The British 2nd Army including units of the 1st Canadian Army of General HDG Crerar must form the left side, and the 1st U.S. Army. Three airborne divisions were planned, one on the British side, which included the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, and two on the American side, to slow the enemy and to facilitate the expansion of the bridge-head.

U.S. and British bombers had visited ruin on the enemy's industrial cities. The struggle for France lasted for more than 4 years before any dominant measure taken by the French government. The French leaders ...