Operation Overlord: The Most Fatal Event In World War II
Operation Overlord was the most decisive event in World War II. Nazi Germany had taken over most of Contenitial Europe, and was amassing great power. The Allied Forces launched a huge offensive, crossing the British Channel, and attacking Normandy, France. Overall, the Allies launched five assaults, along with paratroopers, on forty miles of beaches (Bowden 6).
The Allies knew they had to do something. The Soviets were attacking Hitler from the east, but since nothing was happening in the west, Hitler could dispatch more forces. The Americans were obsessed with defeating Japan, after Pearl Harbor (Burgan 17). After much time spent convincing the United States to attack Continental Europe, The British and Canadians succeeded. General Dwight …show more content…
It was also the most important, being the center of the Allies’ attacks. It also would be the hardest. There were giant sheer cliffs, with German Guns at the top. It was also 400 yards wide. Four hundred yards of hell. The Allies attack plan for Omaha was the strongest, at first. Tanks and bulldozers would provide cover and fire at the pillboxes, and the troops would follow behind and take out the remaining Germans (Bowden 22). That plan faded away as soon as the tanks started unloading. Thirty-three tanks unloaded, only four made it to shore. Twenty-nine tanks sunk in the deep water (Bowden 22). Wave after wave of disorganized soldiers were ordered at the beach, only to be killed instantly. About three hours in, the tide began to turn. Engineers started to clear paths through the mines, and small groups of troops started climbing the hills and attacking German encampments. Ships started coming closer, so they could hit the Germans more accurately. To make matters worse for the Germans, they were running out of ammunition. The four tanks that made it targeted the pillboxes, and open-fired (Bowden 25).
Pointe Du Hoc was a sheer cliff wall, about 130 feet high, and the 2nd Ranger Battalion, Company C, had to climb them to take out German cannons (Bowden 25). Their climbing gear was destroyed, so they scaled it by themselves, using just knives to create holds. In an hour, all had scaled and moved to the guns, only to find them gone. They followed the tracks, and found the Germans pointing them at Utah Beach. The Rangers destroyed them, and by doing so saved many lives on Utah
The Allies knew they had to do something. The Soviets were attacking Hitler from the east, but since nothing was happening in the west, Hitler could dispatch more forces. The Americans were obsessed with defeating Japan, after Pearl Harbor (Burgan 17). After much time spent convincing the United States to attack Continental Europe, The British and Canadians succeeded. General Dwight …show more content…
It was also the most important, being the center of the Allies’ attacks. It also would be the hardest. There were giant sheer cliffs, with German Guns at the top. It was also 400 yards wide. Four hundred yards of hell. The Allies attack plan for Omaha was the strongest, at first. Tanks and bulldozers would provide cover and fire at the pillboxes, and the troops would follow behind and take out the remaining Germans (Bowden 22). That plan faded away as soon as the tanks started unloading. Thirty-three tanks unloaded, only four made it to shore. Twenty-nine tanks sunk in the deep water (Bowden 22). Wave after wave of disorganized soldiers were ordered at the beach, only to be killed instantly. About three hours in, the tide began to turn. Engineers started to clear paths through the mines, and small groups of troops started climbing the hills and attacking German encampments. Ships started coming closer, so they could hit the Germans more accurately. To make matters worse for the Germans, they were running out of ammunition. The four tanks that made it targeted the pillboxes, and open-fired (Bowden 25).
Pointe Du Hoc was a sheer cliff wall, about 130 feet high, and the 2nd Ranger Battalion, Company C, had to climb them to take out German cannons (Bowden 25). Their climbing gear was destroyed, so they scaled it by themselves, using just knives to create holds. In an hour, all had scaled and moved to the guns, only to find them gone. They followed the tracks, and found the Germans pointing them at Utah Beach. The Rangers destroyed them, and by doing so saved many lives on Utah