By 1944 the Allies were strong enough to open a long-awaited Second Front in Western Europe to relieve the Soviet Union, which had been fighting Germany alone in the east. The invasion of France was code-named Operation Overlord, and the landing day, 6 June 1944, became known as D-Day.

Planning and Deception

Commanded by the American general Eisenhower, the operation was the largest seaborne invasion ever attempted. An elaborate deception plan, Operation Fortitude, used dummy tanks and fake radio traffic to convince Hitler the main attack would land at Calais, so German reserves were held in the wrong place. Allied planners even built portable Mulberry harbours to unload supplies onto open beaches.

The Landings

Around 156,000 soldiers landed on five beaches code-named Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword, supported by airborne troops dropped inland during the night. Resistance was fiercest at Omaha, where American troops suffered heavy casualties, but by nightfall all five beachheads were secured.

Breakout and Liberation

After weeks of bitter fighting in the Normandy hedgerows, the Allies broke through and raced across France. Paris was liberated in August 1944. With the Allies advancing from the west and the Red Army from the east, Nazi Germany was trapped in a closing vice — a decisive step towards its surrender in May 1945.

Year 9 Democracy and Dictatorship

D-Day and the Liberation of Europe