Allied Landing in Normandy

At the crack of dawn on 6 June 1944, under continuous heavy air bombardment on the already weak German defensive positions of Hitler’s touted „Atlantic Wall“, the Anglo-American landing in Normandy begins („Operation Overlord“). From the air three divisions are dropped into the interior of the country to secure river crossings and important crossroads.

Foto: public domain A LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel) from the U.S. Coast Guard-manned USS Samuel Chase disembarks troops of the U.S. Army's First Division on the morning of June 6, 1944 (D-Day) at Omaha Beach

The largest accumulation of ships in history closed ranks off the French coast: Seven battle ships, 23 cruisers, 105 destroyers, 1,073 smaller warships and 4,126 landing craft – protected and supported from the air by 13,000 planes. The Wehrmacht has only two infantry divisions and a dozen airplanes to counter this contingent. By evening, the Allies are able to land five divisions, and 78 others stand ready in England. The liberation of western Europe from Nazi domination has begun.