By: Nicky M

Word on the Street Issue 45, July 2024

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Operation Overlord was the codename of the Battle of Normandy. The allied operation that launched the liberation of Western Europe from German occupation.

June 6th 1944: The date of the Normandy landings, codenamed Operation Neptune. An airborne assault of some 1200 planes preceded an amphibious assault consisting of more than 5,000 different naval vessels. Approximately 160,000 troops crossed the English Channel on June 6th, with more than 2 million allied troops in France by the end of August 1944. 

Dwight D. Eisenhower was the Supreme Allied Commander who had the final say as to when the mission would take place. Operation Bodyguard was the first part of Operation Neptune. It was a World War II deception strategy employed by the allied states before the invasion. 

The day of the invasion, General Eisenhower sent a letter to every American who would be fighting in Europe. It read:

“You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.”

• Eisenhower, Letter

To Allied Forces   

Then Germans knew an invasion was imminent, but they had no solid information. The strategy called for misleading the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht as to the date and time of the invasion. The Germans were supposed to believe that the allied landings were to be at Pas de Calais. This was to encourage the German leadership to send the majority of their troops, tanks and materiel to Pas de Calais, leaving Normandy under manned. Other possible invasion points included the Balkans, Southern France and Norway, along with Soviet attacks in Bulgaria and Northern Norway.

Operation Bodyguard was a tactical success. The Germans were taken by surprise and reinforcements were significantly delayed. The plan was to confuse the Germans for two weeks; however, Hitler delayed redeploying forces from Calais and other areas to defend Normandy for more than seven weeks. 

While the main allied powers were the United States and the United Kingdom, other countries sent fighters to assist the allies. These were Canada, France, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Ccechoslovakia, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, South Africa and Southern Rhodesia. 

The allied victory of Normandy began the liberation of France but the victory came at a steep price. The beaches of Normandy were divided into five sectors: Utah and Omaha fell under American command; the British were in charge of Sword and Gold; and Canadians controlled Juno.

More than 16,000 airmen lost their lives. The Americans suffered almost 125,000 casualties, the highest among all the allies.