D-Day Invasion Facts

* D-Day, 6 June 1944 Normandy, France *

Maps:

Divisions:

Involvment in D-Day was by many countries. There were a total of 4 ready airborne divisions as preperation for invasion in England during the Spring of 1944. The U.S. 82nd (All-American), the U.S. 101st (Screaming Eagles), The British 6th and the British 1st. Their main mission was to allow for the main invasion force to come ashore without the immediate threat of German flank attacks. They were tasked to destroy bridges where the enemy was likely to stage a counterattack, and to secure bridges where Allied forces were expected to go immediately on the offensive.

Involvment:

It was called Operation Overlord by the Allies because it involved more than 150,000 men and 5,000 ships. It consisted of American, British, Canadian, Polish, and Free French Armies under command of General Eisenhower. He was the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force.

Beaches:

There were a total of five different beaches and surrounding areas that were direclty involved with the D-Day invasions; Gold Beach, Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, Utah Beach and Juno Beach. Juno Beach, however, was where there was much Canadian involvment. The first attacks at this beach suffered 50 percent casualties, the second highest of the five D-Day beachheads.Despite the obstacles, within hours the Canadians were off the beach and beginning their advance inland. By the end of D-Day, 15,000 Canadians had been successfully landed, and the 3rd Canadian Division had penetrated further into France than any other Allied force, despite having faced such strong resistance while at the shore of the beach.

--SaraH*