The battle of normandy symbolized one of the best strategies of deception and confusion used during World War II. The landings that took place on the so-called D-day, was a wonderful deception mission but more problematic, and with very hard fighting and high human cost, than expected.
Battle of Normandy facts
To understand the battle of normandywe must know basic data of its development, so we invite you to pay attention to the following data that we offer you to facilitate your understanding about this particular and historic battle:
Who participated in the Battle of Normandy
The military that were involved in the D-Day landings belonged to the American, Canadian, French and British military forces, under the command of American General Eisenhower. These clashed with the West German military who were under Rundstedt’s command.
How the Battle of Normandy Happened
After fighting in the hardest and most unexpected battles of World War II, caused by the largest military landings on a coast in military history, the allies against Germany were able to penetrate the continent through Normandy.
Where did the Normandy landings take place?
In France, in the Normandy peninsula that is located to the west of this country.
When was this Normandy landing
It took place over a long period of time; from June 6 to August 19, 1944.
Why was this battle in Normandy held?
Trying to create a second front by the allies that would serve to liberate western Europe and, in turn, as a corridor to reach Nazi Germany.
What was its result: in the battle of Normandy
The Allies destroyed the German army that was there and managed to advance eastward towards the German border.
Normandy war strategies
With the United States entering World War II in 1941, they and their British allies went to work creating a military policy to see Nazi Germany weakened and ultimately defeated. And that happened through a large landing on European territory. This is how the battle of normandy.
For the US military it was very simple: take advantage of this landing in Europe to eliminate German forces and then head towards Berlin. For a time, the English idea prevailed of trying to attack the Germans in a scattered manner until the January 1943 Casablanca conference.
At this conference, they were forced to join the military landing that would take place in France on May 1, 1944. This landing would take place in Normandy, under the code name “Overlord”. This is how the call takes place battle of normandy.
Operation Overlord, Battle of Normandy
Just thinking about the fact of having to carry enough human and military material across the well-known English Channel to be able to conquer a beachhead, reinforce it before the German troops manage to strengthen their fallen men and not lose many soldiers in the battle, it was a stressful task. But still, the battle of normandy he deserved all that effort.
The landing in this part of France was, primarily, its good location. It is an area that was within Allied air cover, with firm and hidden beaches and close to an important port, the well-known Cherbourg.
Drills prior to Operation Overlord
Before carrying out the landing and the battle, certain drills and security exercises were carried out with live ammunition. Nobody wanted to leave anything to chance, so they took these drills very seriously. In fact, all training tasks began to be practiced in July 1943a year before this historic event.
The drills were carried out in Devon, an English coast very similar to that of Normandy. The entire area was evacuated and the necessary technology for the landing was taken there. Unfortunately in April 1944 the Germans surprised the troops training and attacked them with a torpedo boat, killing 749 people.
Other less eventful drills took place at the Inveraray Combined Training Center in Scotland. Live ammunition and boats were also used, in addition to exercises to overcome obstacles. Tasks were even carried out to practice the possible avalanches of injured people and how to act to serve everyone. The parachute teams made jumps with some frequency to be prepared for any situation when they arrived in Normandy.
German Strategy in the Battle of Normandy
In 1943, the Germans were clear that an invasion by their enemies was going to take place, but they were not clear when or where. Their beliefs led them to think that the Allies would try to attack them from the Pas de Calais. Commander Rundstedt had almost 60 divisions under his command, although half of them were static and already attached to coastal sections.
The key to the defeat lay in the nine motorized divisions and one motorized grenadier division that the allies had in their power. Although in the way of using them there was always some discrepancy than another.
More thought was given to the counterattack than to the attack itself. Normandy’s landing, so it was not known until almost D-Day how the divisions were going to be deployed on the beach. Once the time had come, only one motorized division was located near the coast and the others a few meters behind.
This caused a little dissatisfaction between Generals Rommel and Rundstedt in the Normandy’s landing: one considered that his defenses in the front were inadequate, and the other that his motor reserve was too little.
Plans of deception in the Battle of Normandy
For the “Operation Overlord” of the battle of normandy was successful, all the troops of the allies had to rehearse and concentrate all their energies and forces in the south of England. The then chief of aviation, Leigh-Mallory, was responsible for ensuring air dominance over the beaches and hampering the German ability to deal with the battle of normandy.
The deception plan that was prepared was aimed at convincing the Germans that the intended target was the Pas de Calais and that the battle of normandyit was just fun, which became a perfect success.
The day D
What is known as “The battle of normandy”, was initiated shortly after midnight on June 6, when the first troops landed. They went into action north of Caen, occupying its bridges with glider-borne troops, defending the left flank of the Ranville–Hérouivillette area.
Meanwhile, around 1:00, it was time for the paratroopers over the more swampy land near the westernmost beach, known as “Utah.” These paratroopers were very effective against the German confusion, which was awaiting invasion through the Pas Calais, even a few days after D-Day.
Two hours later, the bombers attacked the German defenses from their landing area and, at dawn, began the naval bombardment, one of the cruelest in history. battle of normandy.
It was at 6:30 a.m., when the Americans began their approach to “Utah” beach, while the Canadians were attacking the “Juno” area to land later, at approximately 7:45 a.m., due to weather conditions. changing in the tides. This is how the famous battle of normandy.
Figures of this battle
This battle marked a before and after in World War II, but also for many of the people who participated. Sadly, the historical event in Normandy ended the lives of many people, namely:
- 77,866 German soldiers
- 5,001 Canadian soldiers
- 9,389 released from the United States
- 17,770 English soldiers
In total more than 110,000 people died in this landing and during the battle. A truly tragic fact that it hurts to remember.
Apart from human lives, it should be noted that there were just over 30,000 bombs that were dropped, which caused the destruction of more than 120 planes, along with countless tanks and vehicles.
Curiosities about this historical fact
There are certain historical facts about this historical fact that are not usually told when someone studies about the battle of Normandy. We are going to tell you some of the main curiosities that, we are almost sure, you do not know about the subject:
Why was it called D-day?
This is a really curious fact. Normally the “D” is used in the military environment to indicate the moment in which a specific operation or attack begins. But in this particular case the “D” was used as a representation of “decision.” It refers to the moment in which the United States decided to invade Normandy. The term is also used as “D-1” for the day before and “D+1” for the day after.
The importance of meteorology
In principle, D-day was planned for June 5, but when a day with very bad weather was found, the operation had to be cancelled. When the weather forecast assured that the next day would be fine, it was rescheduled for the 6th, the date on which the landing finally took place.
A master toymaker as the protagonist
This data is curious. The maps that were used on this day and that helped General Eisenhower a lot were designed by Chad Valley, a famous master toymaker.
It was a very secret military action
Virtually no one knew the date on which the landing was to take place. Not even many of the soldiers who fought knew about this until the moment they had to get going. Keeping the secret of the date, time and place was key to success.
The attack caught Hitler in bed
Despite knowing there would be an attack, the German troops did not know when it would happen. By the time the Normandy landings finally took place, Hitler was asleep, recovering for the attacks they foresaw. For this reason the commanders did not find an answer when they asked for help and only one tank division was able to participate in the defense of the German troops during the first day.
Current monuments in his honor
If at any time you consider connecting with this moment in our world history, you can do so at one of the numerous monuments that have been erected in his memory. For example, on the beaches of Normandy you can find the names that were used during this battle. The invasion took place giving them some names that remain today.
In addition, there you can see plaques recalling key moments, monuments or even a historical museum that will clarify all your doubts. You can also see German fortifications still standing, for example at Pointe du Hoc.
It should also be borne in mind that many people died in these military actions. That’s why you can get to visit up to 27 cemeteries…