GeneralDwight D. Eisenhowersounded convinced before the Normandy encroachment . “ This operation is project as a triumph , and that ’s the way it ’s go to be . We ’re going down there , and we ’re throwing everything we have into it , and we ’re going to make it a success , ” he said .
Operation Overlord was amassive campaign — an invasion of 4000 ships , 11,000 planes , and more than 2 million men — that was launched on June 6 , 1944 . Despite a year of strategizing and a boatload of self-assurance , Eisenhower had a still architectural plan in case his mission fail . If the armada could n’t span the English Channel , he ’d order a full retreat . One day before the invasion , he prepared a brief statement — just in caseful :
“ Our landing place in the Cherbourg - Havre area have fail to attain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdraw the troops . My conclusion to attack at this clip and place was based on the best information available . The military personnel , the air and the Navy did all that bravery and cultism to duty could do . If any blame or blame attaches to the attempt it is mine alone . ”
Although the Allies suffer about 12,000 casualties during the months - long invasion D - Day launched , 155,000successfully made it ashore , with thou more on the way . Within a year , Germany would give up .
What was D-Day?
D - Daykicked off the Battle of Normandy and brand a turning point in World War II . On June 6 , 1944 , Allied forces start a major invasion of Nazi - busy France . They place the beach of Normandy , hoping to catch the Germans off guard duty — confederative intelligence activity take on the opposition would have a bun in the oven them to attack Pais de Calais , as that power point of entry was closer to the UK . ( The Allies had antecedently launched a misinformation campaign suggesting they intended to set on Pas de Calais . )
The Allies approached Normandy by land , air , and sea . They targeted more than one beach : The invasion really involved a 50 - Roman mile stretchiness of coastline . Though D - Day was a success , it was not without casualties—4414 Allied troops died , and more than 5000 were wounded .
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A version of this account to begin with ran in 2019 ; it has been updated for 2024 .
