More Significance?

   Overall D-day was very significant and something to be very proud of for Americans.
General Dwight Eisenhower had a very hard task. He moved his forces 100 miles over the English Channel, and storm a heavily fortified coastline and his enemy being a weapon and tank superior German army commanded Erwin Rommel, one of the most brilliant generals of the war. This was the first time the English Channel had been crosses since 1688. Much military intelligence was important for the invasion in Normandy.The occupation of Normandy was crucial for the Western Allies to bring the war to the western border of Germany. If the Normandy invasion had not occurred, there could have been a complete possession of northern and western Europe by Soviet forces, therefore D-day was and still to this day is a very significant battle.

Crossing the English Channel



Some Significance

D-day probably would have dragged on a few more years or even yet the possibility of the Americans dopping an atomic bomb on the european front. Thats why the Americans dropped the bomb on the Japanese- it wasn't worth invading the island because they figured they would loose 100,000 men in trying to take it over so to save time they dropped the bomb. Perhaps if the war was dragging on long enough with the Italian front they would have dropped the bomb on the Europeans aswell. The invasion seemed to have sped up the war, (WW2) the Germans had two main fronts to supply and defend which was hard on resources etc. America had airbournes dropped in behind the enemy lines hours before the invasion to ensure certain artillery batterys couldn't fire on the ships. The Germans also had railway artillery set.

American Paratroopers

Nazi Germany

   D-day marked the beginning of the final phase in the liberation of Europe from Nazi occupation. Hitler commited suicide in his underground bunker at the end of April on May 7th 1945- Germany surrendered.

Strategy?

   America conducted daily bombing raids over Germany and over occupied France. They thought the best strategy was to gain control over North Africa and Europe's "soft underbelly" (Italy).

Invasions

America was involved in the invasions of Utah beach and Omaha beach. Omaha beach linked the british and U.S beaches. It was the most heavily defended beach with very difficult terrain. It had an unusual assortment of bluffs and cliffs that were imediatly recognizable from sea. Utah beach had very flooded and rough terrain and was located the furthest westward.

Introduction

THESIS: To what extent was D-day a turning point for America?

   American involvement on June 6th 1944 was a triumph of intelligence, coordination, secrecy and planning. This task was also a tremendous risk. It succeeded because of invividual soldiers bravery.
   

   America was involved in two invasions on the beaches of Utah and Omaha, and parachute landings of the 82nd and 101st airbourne. 160,000 allied troops landed along a 50 mile stretch of heavily guarded french coastline to fight Nazi Germany. More than 100,000 soldiers began the march across europe to defeat Hitler.