The History Of The Invasion Of Normandy

During World War II, Germany was ruled by the Nazi political party. Germany brought war to Western Europe on May 10th, 1940, with a primary goal of conquering France. By the time Germany got to France, the size of the French army had been reduced by almost half, and French leaders became resigned to an inevitable surrender. On June 22, 1940, France signed an armistice (an agreement to stop fighting for a certain time or a truce) with Germany. The Invasion of Normandy, France was the invasion by/establishment of Western Allied forces in Normandy, during Operation Overlord in 1944. The Allied forces that fought in Normandy came from Canada, the Free French forces, the United Kingdom, the United States, Poland, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, and the Netherlands.The Battle of Normandy was fought in World War II in 1944. It was fought by the Allied forces against the Germans (and the Axis Powers). The Allies had plans to invade German-occupied France and help take it back. They planned a ninety day battle, ending when all the forces reached Seine. The plan was for the Allies to capture Caen. This invasion was to be known as D-Day, and was the largest invasion by sea in all of history. The armed forces use code-names to refer to military operations. Operation Overlord was the codename for the Allied invasion of northwest Europe.
Only ten
days each month were suitable for launching the operation: a day near the full moon (both for moonlight during the night) and for the spring tide (to illuminate navigational landmarks for the aircrafts, gliders, and the latter to show obstacles placed by the German forces). There was a full moon on June 6th. Allied Expeditionary Force Supreme Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower had originally chosen June 5th for the operation, but the weather permitted it. The wind and high seas would make it nearly impossible to to send landing crafts into the sea, and low clouds would make it difficult for them to find their targets. The next full moon was nearly a month away. At a meeting on June 5, Eisenhower's chief meteorologist Group Captain J.M. Stagg forecast better weather for June 6. Commander of all land forces for the invasion General Bernard Montgomery and Eisenhower's Chief of Staff General Walter Bedell Smith wanted to continue with the invasion. Allied Naval Commander-in-Chief Admiral Bertram Ramsay believed that the conditions would be favorable. The Germans believed no invasion would be possible for several days, and they were letting their guard down. The Invasion of the beaches of Normandy had many impacts on the World.
The Invasion not only helped jumpstart the end of WWII, but it helped France regain their military and recover after Hitler’s reign. D-Day, or Operation Overlord, forced the Germans to fight a “two front war” again, similar to WWI, and again could not handle war on both sides of them. On January 16, 1945 Germany was defeated in the Battle of the Bulge. Germany retreated because a shortage of supplies and the Allied resistance. On April 30, Adolf Hitler committed suicide. On May 7, 1945 WWII is officially over and declared V-E Day (short for Victory over
Europe).
The turning point in WWII would not have happened if it wasn’t for the surprise attack of Operation Overlord. The impact of that invasion helped shape the World to the way it is today. Europe no longer is controlled by Hitler and the Nazi’s, new alliances were formed, and the Jewish religion no longer has to live in fear of being senselessly massacred.
The Invasion of Normandy was a turning point in history because it is similar to other cases of stopping power in the World. Maximilien Robespierre, for example, wanted to stop the nobility and clergy of their power over France. What ended up happening though, was Robespierre brought the Reign of Terror upon the citizens, killing hundreds of thousands of people. Hitler attempted to commit genocide against the Jewish people of Europe, and brought his own Reign of Terror upon them. The Invasion was a turning point because it proves that history can repeat itself.