T
he invasion of Normandy came as the long-awaited Second-Front, anticipated by Russia and feared by Hitler. “Operation Overlord” commenced on June 6, 1944, D-Day. General Eisenhower led an amphibious cross-channel landing, while paratroopers supported the beaches from inland. American and British troops pushed forward into France, overcoming Nazi defenses despite a lack of supplies, bad weather, and high casualties. The day of June 6, 1944, proved a pivotal point in the Allied victory in Europe and the overall Allied triumph in World War II.
Timeline
Other: U.S. invasion of North Africa begins
Nov 8, 1942
Other: Allies enter Rome
Jun 5, 1944
Other: Germans expelled from Tunisia
May 7, 1943
Other: Allies invade Sicily and Italy
Jul 9, 1943
Other: Teheran Conference
Nov 28, 1943
Battle Casualties from June to September, 1944: France
12,200 civilian dead or missing
Battle Casualties from June to September, 1944: United States
29,000 killed, 106,000 wounded or missing
Battle Casualties from June to September, 1944: Canada
5,000 killed, 13,000 wounded or missing
Battle Casualties from June to September, 1944: Germany
30,000 killed, 80,000 wounded, 210,000 missing
Battle Casualties from June to September, 1944: Great Britain
11,000 killed, 54,000 wounded or missing
Battle Casualties from June to September, 1944: Total
550,200
Event
Normandy Invasion
Also Known As
D-day, Operation Neptune, Operation Overlord
Main Military Divisions--American unless specified: 6th Airborne Division
Dropped on east bank of the Orne River
Main Military Divisions--American unless specified: 4th and 1st Infantry Divisions
Land on Utah and Omaha beaches
Main Military Divisions--American unless specified: 3rd Canadian Infantry Division
land on Juno beach
Main Military Divisions--American unless specified: 50th British Infantry Division
due to land on Gold Beach
Main Military Divisions--American unless specified: 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions
Night drop on the Cotentin Peninsula behind Utah beach;
Main Military Divisions--American unless specified: 3rd British Infantry
Landing over Sword beach
Invasion Force: 4,000
Ships
Invasion Force: Nearly 3 million
Soldiers, marines, airmen, and sailors
Invasion Force: 11,000
Planes
Other: Landing Areas
Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword Beaches
Other: Verdun, Dieppe, Artois, and Rouen liberated
Sept 1, 1944
Other: U.S. troops liberate Cherbourg
Jun 27, 1944
Other: Liberation of Paris
Aug 25, 1944
Other: Antwerp and Brussels liberated by Allies
Sept 4, 1944
Other: Liberated by Allies
Normandy, France
Other: U.S. troops break out west of St. Lô
Other: D-Day
Jun 6, 1944
D-day Casualty Estimates, Allies: Total
10,000 casualties, 2,500 dead
D-day Casualty Estimates, Allies: Great Britain
2,700 casualties
D-day Casualty Estimates, Allies: Canada
946 casualties
D-day Casualty Estimates, Allies: United States
6,603 casualties
Other: Liberated by Allies
Abbeville, France
Other: Liberated by Allies
Paris, France
Other: Liberated by Allies
Cherbourg, France
Other: Liberated by Allies
Verdun, France
Other: Liberated by Allies
Dieppe, France
Other: Liberated by Allies
Artois, France
Other: Battle of the Bulge begins in Ardennes forest
Dec 16, 1944
Other: Liberated by Allies
Rouen, France
Other: Liberated by Allies
Brussels, Belgium
Other: Liberated by Allies
Antwerp, Belgium
Other: Liberated by Allies
St. Lô, France
Conflict Period
Other Facts
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Supreme Commander of Allied Forces
Arthur Tedder
Deputy Commander of Allied Forces
Carl Spaatz
led the U.S. Strategic Air Forces in Europe
Arthur Harris
led the Royal Air Force Bomber Command
Bernard Law Montgomery
led both American and British Army forces, the 21st Army Group
Bertram Ramsay
led the ANXF, Allied Naval Expeditionary Force
Trafford Leigh-Mallory
led the AEAF, Allied Expeditionary Air Force
