D-Day: the Beaches

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D-Day: the Beaches D-Day: The Beaches. he armed forces used code- D-Day by the Numbers names to refer to planning and execution of specific mili- Total Allied troops who landed in T Normandy: 156,115 tary operations to prepare for D-Day. Operation Overlord was the code- name for the Allied invasion of north- Total Allied airborne troops west Europe. The assault phase of (included in figures above): 23,400 Operation Overlord was known as American: 73,000 Operation Neptune. This operation, (Omaha and Utah beaches + airborne) which began on June 6, 1944, and ended on June 30, 1944, involved landing troops British: 61,715 on beaches and all other associated sup- (Gold and Sword beaches + airborne) porting operations required to establish a Gold Beach. This beach ranged from Canadian: 21,400 beachhead in France. By June 30th, the Longues-sur-Mer to La Rivière, five miles (Juno Beach) Allies had established a firm foothold in long and included Arromanches where Mul- Normandy — 850,279 men, 148,803 vehi- berry Harbor was established. British 2nd Total Allied aircraft that cles and 570,505 tons of supplies had been Army, 30th Corps landed here and by night- supported landings: 11,590 landed. Operation Overlord also began on fall, 25,000 troops had landed and pushed the D-Day, and continued until Allied forces Germans six Naval combat ships: 1,213 crossed the River Seine on August 19th. miles inland. Landing ships / craft: 4,126 The Battle of Normandy is the name given The Brits had Ancillary craft: 736 to the fighting in Normandy between D- just 400 casual- Day and the end of August 1944. Allied ties. Divided Merchant vessels: 864 code names for the beaches along the 50- into How, mile stretch of Normandy coast targeted Item, Jig and Total naval vessels in Operation for landing were Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno King zones. Neptune: 6,939 and Sword. Juno Beach. Juno spanned either side of (Of the 6,939 ships involved in D-Day, Utah Beach. Utah was the most western the port of Courseulles-sur-Mer from La 80 percent were British; 16.5 percent, beach between Pouppeville and La Madeleine, Rivière to Saint- U.S.; and the rest from France, Holland, three miles long, assigned to the U.S. 1st Army, Aubin-sur-Mer, Norway and Poland.) 7th Corps. Casualties were the lightest of all six miles wide. landings – out of 23,000 troops, only 197 men Out of the 21,400 Soldiers’ home nations: were killed or men from the United States, Britain, Canada, wounded. It was Canadian 3rd Belgium, Norway, Poland, Luxem- divided into zones Infantry Division assigned Tare and British 2nd bourg, Greece, Czechoslovakia, New Green, Uncle Red Army, 1st Corps Zealand and Australia and Victor. who landed, 1,200 were injured. Divided into (+177 French commandos) Love, Mike and Nan zones. Omaha Beach. Omaha was between Involved Allied army divisions: Sainte-Honorine-des-Pertes and Vierville-sur- Sword Beach. Sword stretched five miles Mer, six miles long (largest). Taking Omaha from Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer to Ouistreham at 3rd British Infantry – Sword Beach was the U.S. 1st Army, 5th Corps’ responsibil- the mouth of the River Orne. Nine miles 3rd Canadian Infantry – Juno Beach ity, with sea transport from the U.S. Navy and north of Caen, it 4th Infantry – Utah Beach elements of the Royal Navy. The movie Saving was a major route Private Ryan portrays some events here. The hub of Northern 1st & 29th Infantry – Omaha Beach 1st Infantry assault France. With help 50th British Infantry – Gold Beach experienced the from French and 6th Airborne – Dropped on east worst ordeal of D- British comman- Day operations. dos, the Brits bank of the Orne River The Americans landed 29,000 82nd & 101st Airborne – suffered 2,400 men from its 2nd Night drop on Cotentin Peninsula casualties, but Army, 1st Corps behind Utah Beach 34,000 Allied and suffered just 630 casualties. Divided into 2nd Ranger Regiment – troops landed by nightfall. Divided into Oboe, Peter, Queen and Roger zones. Charlie, Dog, Easy and Fox zones. Pointe du Hoc www.eucom.mil .
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