D-day :: essays research papers

pg. 1In 1942 General Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander, had warned Germanyto, Beware the fury of an aroused democracy. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, the Alliesmount the largest amphibious assault in history and redeemed Eisenhowers warning. The invasion force consisted of more than 5,000 ships, 1,200 warships and 13,000airplanes. Some 90,000 U.S., British, Canadian, and free French troops landed on thebeaches of Normandy while about 20,000 more came by parachute or glider. TheInvasion had been in preparation for a year. Over 55,000 brave American soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy, an appalling 2,700 Americans had took their die hard stepsof life defending their country, their world, and everything they stood for.D-Day, planned by the Russians, Americans, and British insisted that the get togetherStates help with the advancement on France (Atlantic front). British and Canadian forceswould also combine in the cross-channel invasion. Simultaneously in Eastern Europe(eastern fron t) the Soviets would battle while the Americans, the British, and the Canadianforces would attack a stretch of beaches along the French coast. The U.S. would attack a break up of Normandy code named Omaha and Utah beaches. These were two code names forthese particular sectors of the invasion front. BuildupAround a year before D-Day, Hitler had gained and occupied westbound Europe and move of Russia during its blitzkrieg crusade throughout 1939-41. Adolf Hitler, the Nazileader of Germany, had also acquired control of the North African coast. Withoutintervention from the Western Allies, Hitler would reign Europe for long time to come.Subsequently while Russians were engaged in the war, Joseph Stalin, the Sovietleader, had wanted the Allies to join and proceed to make a second front along WesternEurope. In 1942 this idea was virtually impossible for the United States because wewere still forming an army. The materials needed to have such an invasion were not yetbuilt to cross the Eng lish Channel. Meanwhile in the1940s campaign, when the Britishwere battling in Dunkirk, France, the British had to withdraw forces from beingmassacred by Hitlers army. During this confrontation Hitler had declared war on theUnited States on December 11, 1941 just after Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanesemilitary forces. Roosevelt first stated that Germany is priority first. This was agreed inArgentia, Newfoundland in August of 1941. Eisenhower, U.S. general, proposed anattack in 1943 named (Operation Roundup) and another called (OperationSledgehammer), these would be used in the event of the Soviets collapsing or theweakening of Germany. Both plans were presented in London, England and Roundup