D-Day Infamy

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Pages: 10

A simple break in the weather was enough motivation to begin the biggest amphibious assault that the modern world has ever seen. What was started was an operation, codenamed “Overlord”, that would prove to be historical to say the least. D-Day can be described by many people in many different ways, it depends on the aspect that June 6, 1944 affected you. For many people this was their last day on Earth, for others, this was the single worst day of their life. “A day that will live in infamy” was the saying that Franklin Delano Roosevelt used in his patriotic and heartfelt speech to congress for the declaration of war against Japan. That saying can also be used when describing D-Day, but for a day that should live in infamy for so many people …show more content…
Roosevelt and Churchill being okay with limiting their country’s involvement in Europe has never been confirmed. Reasons exist for the other allied leaders to purposely delay the second front in Europe. Although all of these reasons have never been confirmed, many make sense in the political and military aspects. The United States and Great Britain were certain to see the USSR as an adversary after World War II. Having the USSR use many resources and bear the brunt with fighting against Germany would work out great for post war clashes or interactions between the three nations. Also allowing the depletion and straining of USSR resources would weigh heavily in the favor of Great Britain and the United States when post war occupation and negations began. Overall the need for a second front was very clear. The way it came about was not the easiest or best way, but it provided the base for an eventual win in World War II for the Allies, and many historical events that …show more content…
Eisenhower as commander of this cross channel invasion to open a second front. The first thing that had come to light was the idea of how this massive undertaking was going to happen. Overlord would require a massive amphibious assault on a coastline, but besides that the operation would have multiple factors that would need to be addressed in order to find the perfect landing site. The first factor was that in order to have as much support as possible for the landings, the assault would have to be within range of aerial operations from the British mainland. Another factor for deciding where to land was Hitler’s “Atlantic Wall”, all along the coast of Western Europe. Some areas of the wall were heavily fortified and would be too much to overcome for a successful landing. Normandy, France was chosen as the landing site for the invasion due to its favorable terrain and location. Now that the location was decided, up next the Allies would need to decide when to invade. With the desire to finally go in 1944, Eisenhower settled on any day favorable after June 1, 1944. The conditions of low tide, the landings needing to begin at daylight, and the night before would need moonlight. Those conditions necessary to avoid landing obstacles, have an entire day to establish a beachhead, and allow the paratroopers and gliders to see the night before the invasion respectively. The