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in honor of Maj. Norman K. Arvidson
Chapter 3
Background Notes: German troops entered France June 14, 1940; occupied from June 22. Seat of French government, June 22 to November 1942, mostly collaborated with Germans.
If you want to view the Invasion Map, click here
In the early morning June 6, 1944, American, British, Canadian and French troops stormed a 60-mile beachfront in northern France. “Operation Overlord,” as the battle plan was called, was the largest seaborne invasion in history. The Allies took the Germans by surprise, opening the way for the liberation of Paris. Night-time Allied air raids disrupt German communications as convoy begins to cross Troops, equipment storm beach in morning, secure beachheads by evening Beachheads consolidated; U.S. troops move toward Cherbourg British fail to outflank Caen via Villers-Bocage Second British attempt to isolate Caen (Operation Epsom) halted Third attempt to capture Caen (Operation Goodwood) fails, but ties up German forces Germans surrender Cherbourg Allies sieze ground around St. Lo (Operation Cobra), begin to break out of Normandy German retreat begins Allies surround 50,000 German troops, equipment near Falaise Paris liberated; Free French forces lead Allies into City *During weeks before invasion, actor impersonating British commander Montgomery sent to North Africa to distract Nazis *Skeleton American First Army Group set up along England’s southeas coast. *Dummy tanks deployed *Fake news messages radioed, hinting attacks that would fall at Pas de Calais, Holland, Norway *Secure Caen early *Destroy German armor *Drive eastward with U.S. divisions into center of France Five seaborne divisions *6,500 naval and transport craft formed 75 convoys *More than 150,000 troops *20,000 vehicles * 1,500 tanks *2 million troops and 250,000 vehicles landed in France by late July Three airborne divisions *12,000 aircraft to cut communications, block reinforcements *Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Commander of Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force *British Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery, prepared detailed invasion plan: commanded ground forces *Defend entire French coast, because of allies’ success in disguising intentions German forces *50 infantry divisions *10 armored divisions *Field Marshal Gerd von Runstedt, western commander-in-chief at time of invasion *Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, “The Desert Fox”, supervised buildup of defense of Channel coast before Allied invasion; comanded army group during Normandy battle *Total: 637,000 *Allied: 237,000 *German killed and wounded: 200,000 *German prisoners-of-war: 200,000 |
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End of Chapter 3 — Go to Chapter 4
Cover — Introduction — Table of Contents Chapter — 01 — 02 — 03 — 04 — 05 — 06 — 07 — 08 — 09 — 10 Or Go To Or |
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