D-Day and Opening of Western Europe

By: Lynanne Satorius, Yamili Rodriguez, and Isidro Serna

D-Day: What● The day (June 6, 1944) in World War II in which

Allied forces invaded northern France by means of beach landings in Normandy to liberate Western Europe from Nazi Germany.

● Marked the beginning of the end of WW2 ● First part in the liberation of Western Europe● A step towards defeating Nazi Germany

D-Day: WhoAllies● United States, United Kingdom, Canada,

o ( Australia, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Greece, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, and Poland)

Axis● Germany ( support from Italy and Japan)

D-Day: Planning

● Planning began in 1943● FDR appointed General Dwight D. Eisenhower

Supreme Commander of the op.● Normandy was chosen because:

➔ In range of fighter planes, based inEngland

➔ Open beaches- not defended well➔ Had a large port➔ Provided the best entry to France’s

interior

D-Day: Planning - Continued

● Allied forces damaged railways and bridges in France and immobilized the strength of the German air force.

● Also had to assemble equipment such as landing craft and transport ships.

● Made sure to keep this a secret from German forces.

D-Day: Where

● The sight of D-Day (code-named Operation Neptune), took place on the beaches of Normandy, France and helped the French to regain their land which would then be called the French Republic.

➔ They landed in the beaches of Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword

D-Day: Why

The invasion of Normandy happened for many reasons…….● Stop the advancement of the German Empire● To liberate the Western Europe● To help the Allies win another victory in World

War 2● To help end of World War 2● To open a route to bring troops fighting farther

inland supplies more easily

Work Cited● “Normandy Landings.” White House. September 6, 2014.

www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/06/06/fact-sheet-normandy-landings

● “D-Day, 1944.” The National Archives. September 6, 2014. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/battles/dday

● “D-Day.” The History Channel. A+E Networks. History.com. September 7, 2014. www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day