Operation+Overlord

During WWII, on June 6,1944, General Dwight D. Eisenhower launched Operation Overlord, which was a massive invasion of Europe by Allied Forces. At this time, Nazi Germany controlled most of Western Europe, and the German Army was dug in at Normandy, France. On this day, now known as D-Day, Allied forces crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy, France. By the end of the day, Operation Overlord was successful and the Allies were ready to march across Europe to defeat the Germans, and end Hitler's control.

In planning the attack at Normandy, the Allies (Americans, British, and Canadians) used many tactics to make the Germans believe an invasion would come at a different location. This element of surprise added to the success of Operation Overlord. The military operation included 6,000 landing craft and ships, 176,000 troops, 822 aircrafts with parachutists and 13,000 other aircrafts. The troops landed on five beaches along the coast of France’s Normandy region. An estimated 4,000 Allied troops were killed, and thousands were wounded or missing.

By late August, all of Northern France had been liberated, and the Allies continued across Europe to help the Soviet Union troops. In the spring, the war ended when the Germans surrendered!