5 infographics showing the jaw-dropping achievement of D-Day Nine Line News Team June 6, 2020 Nine Line News 402 Most of us have only history books (or the History Channel) to help us understand the monumental achievement that was D-Day, codenamed Operation Overlord, the largest amphibious invasion ever undertaken on June 6th, 1944. First person written accounts and photographs taken on the scene give some idea of the harrowing mission carried out by Allied troops on that day, and those immediately following, which turned the course of World War II in Europe and began the defeat of Hitler’s Germany. These cool infographics from BBC History provide an amazing overview of what went down that Tuesday on the beaches of Northern France. First, why were the beaches at Normandy chosen for the invasion? Normandy wasn’t the shortest distance between Britain and France, but it was less fortified. The Germans expected an invasion to start at Calais, and that’s where their defenses were concentrated. Normandy had suitable beaches and was well within air range – but it did have massive sheer cliffs Where did the Allied forces start? The combined air, naval and and assault of the largest seaborne invasion in history was launched from Great Britain’s southern regions. Bombers came from airfields to the west of London, and the amphibious units launched from a number of ports in England and Wales. Who landed where on D-Day? Omaha Beach is the most famous of D-Day beaches, but it was only one of five. American troops landed at Utah, the westernmost beach in the invasion, and at Omaha slightly further east. British troops landed at Gold Beach, east of Omaha; then the Canadians at Juno; and the British again at Sword, the easternmost invasion beach. On Utah itself, U.S. forces landed more than a mile away from their planned insertion point, partly due to strong currents. It was lucky mistake though, because the area was actually less fortified. U.S. Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr., the son of former President Theodore Roosevelt, famously shouted, when he realized they were in the wrong place, “We’ll start the war from here!” How many troops were involved? D-Day began in the pre-dawn hours of June 6 when thousands upon thousands of paratroopers landed inland on the Utah and Sword beaches. Then in wave after wave, more than 156,000 Allied infantrymen stormed the five beaches. Facing them were around 50,000 Germans troops. What happened next? It’s estimated that at least 4,413 Allied troops lost their lives on D-Day but the Battle of Normandy dragged on until August, claiming perhaps 226,000 lives. Five days after D-Day, troops began installing two massive temporary harbors. During the remaining course of the war, Allies unloaded approximately 2,500,000 men, 500,000 vehicles and 4,000,000 tons of supplies. But D-Day marked a decisive turning point in the war. Less than a year later, on May 7, 1945, Germany signed an unconditional surrender.
