D-Day and the Battle of Normandy

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CANADA REMEMBERS

D-DAY AND THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY

Canadians took part in many hard struggles to help supplies and other equipment were steadily amassed. the Allies to victory during the Second World War. Misinformation was deliberately leaked to the D-Day and the Battle of Normandy was one of the Germans to confuse them over where the landings best-known chapters of the entire conflict and our would actually take place. Huge portable docking service members would play an important role in this facilities, called “Mulberry harbours,” were prepared pivotal campaign. for use by Allied transport ships to unload their cargoes in France. Long flexible pipes, nicknamed SETTING THE SCENE “PLUTO” (pipe lines under the ocean), were designed Germany invaded much of Western Europe in the to carry fuel under the English Channel. The Allies spring of 1940, during the opening months of the were ready but had to wait until the weather, tides Second World War. A narrow stretch of sea, the and phase of the moon were right in order to be able English Channel, was all that separated the surging to attack. enemy forces from Great Britain, but the island nation held firm. The conquered countries on the continent “FORTRESS EUROPE” would suffer greatly under a harsh occupation in the Successfully establishing a beachhead in occupied years that followed. An Allied raid on the French France would be a huge challenge for the Allied coast at Dieppe in August 1942 would result in heavy forces. The Germans had turned the coast of Europe losses, especially for Canadian troops, but the Allies from the Spanish border to Scandinavia into a would slowly turn the tide against the powerful daunting series of defensive positions. Dubbed enemy war machine in North Africa, Italy, on the “Fortress Europe” by Adolf Hitler, its shores were Eastern Front, in the skies over Europe and on the studded with land mines, barbed wire, concrete Atlantic Ocean. To win the war, however, Germany bunkers, artillery batteries, machine-gun nests, anti- would have to be defeated on the ground in Western tank walls, and thousands of watchful enemy troops. Europe and 1944 would be the year the Allies would finally return and powerfully strike back. An Allied defeat on the beaches of Normandy would have been disastrous as there was no way to safely The target for the Allied landing forces would be evacuate troops in large numbers, so huge casualties the beaches of Normandy in France. Planning would be inevitable. If the landings were successful, and preparation for this immense undertaking, however, our forces would finally gain that all- codenamed Operation Overlord, began more than important foothold in Western Europe and could a year earlier. Land, sea and air forces trained begin the liberation campaign after years of harsh

Landing craft in the English Channel carrying Canadian soldiers to Juno Beach on D-Day. Photo: Library and Archives Canada PA-137014 extensively and the necessary troops, ships, tanks, German occupation.

veterans.gc.ca Canadian soldiers and tanks landing at Courseulles-sur-Mer, France, on June 6, 1944. Photo: Library and Archives Canada PA-128791 Infantry Division 2 the and Infantry Brigade—composed of military units from coast from units coast of military Brigade—composed More than 450More than members of 1 the day. that squadrons enemy and at shorelinestruck targets defences, inland 3,700and fightersfighter / that bombers relentlessly bombers wereplanes among some the Allied 4,000 Force Air Frenchthe Canadian Royal Many beaches. onshore approaches the in mines sea cleared and to positions shelled Navy German Canadian Royal the codenamed).was of Destroyers supporting and craft (as sea-borne the of phase D-Day the assault offensive major combat ships,Operation in took Neptune part Some including 284 7,000 types, of vessels all naval (United States).Beach France); and Kingdom Omaha and Beach Utah and Gold (United Beach Kingdom); Sword (United Beach forces of differentnations: Beach Juno (Canada); Thereassigned coast. werelanding the zones to five stretch of for 80-kilometre Normandyheading the an force would Channel, crossAllied English the “D-Day.” as become history in known has Amassive decisionthe on to June attack date that 1944—a 6, made command weather conditions, high Allied the up to Operation Overlord occupied in Europetransport months the in leading of defences lines and coastal missions attacking undertook They Normandycountless landings. helped pave warplanes way the for Allied the BY AIR LAND, ON IN THE AND SEA 14,000 Canadian troops from14,000 3 the Canadian enemythe on D-Day. hours Afew later, some June were 6and first of the soldiersour to engage Parachute before jumped on Battalion inland dawn . Despite questionable nd Canadian Armoured Canadian st Canadian Canadian rd Canadian Canadian

communications and transport centre.communications transport and of city towards the important Caen, an inland Graye-sur-Mer.and soldiers Our would then push sur-Mer, Bernières-sur-Mer, Courseulles-sur-Mer, of Saint-Aubin- fronting villages of the coastline afootholdestablish eight-kilometre along an stretch Theirmission Beach. to firewas brave to heavy to to coast—would come begin ashore at Juno Normandy, countless ground pounding also while over from skies the warplanes sweptand German of enemy clear kept lanes they sea the shippingas force continued air and to support campaign the haunt our Veterans to for come. years navy Our Authie, Buron like Carpiquet and would villages in memorythe of bitter the they encountered fighting would bend butTheCanadians not however,break; elusive. combatCaen remained intensifiedcapturing and the as endurance forexercise grim Canadians in the officers.wasan first The German monthfighting of experienced and under of command the ruthless 12 repeatedly elite the found themselves pitted against followedthat bloodied badly our soldiers they and to liberate days the of France.in struggle the Clashes on June 1944, 6, but only D-Day beginning the was of some the 155,000 troops who landed had Allied of any inland Juno penetrated and farthest the Beach shoreline their captured positionssuccessfully at forces Normandy. in German the TheCanadians some into of ofbe thrown best the action against armouredtroops and would butbattle, our infantry soldiers were young new to Canadian and Many VICTORY HARD-WON A th SS Panzer Division, manned by fanatical troops Division, SS Panzer by fanatical manned Canadian Nursing Sisters arriving in France during the Battle of Normandy in July 1944. Photo: Library and Archives Canada PA-108174 Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery. Canadian Bretteville-sur-Laize Bény-sur-Mer War the and Cemetery Canadian heroes liefallen buried France beautiful in the in half-monthsin ofNormandy. fighting Mostthese of 5,000 of our men would two-and-a- the during die on D-Day alone,killed of atotal and more than Some 359 campaign. soldiersthe were Canadian of divisions Group British any the in Army during casualties highest the suffered TheCanadians cost. Victory of Battle the Normandy in at aterrible came SACRIFICE to aclose. Normandythe campaign bringing officially liberatedParis was by Allies, the prisoners.desperate 25, German On August 1944, 21, of tens of of thousands taking the in resulting completely be wouldpocket finally cut offAugust by repeatedchaoticon a efforts battlefield,take the but enemy retreating to the trap It units. August would Gap” “Falaise mid-to in help close so-called the on troops would becalled Canadian lines, Allied away from surging the eastward to stream began forcesthe German As collapse.to began finally enemy stiff the in defenses August, France early troops western in NormandyGerman in coming weakening breakout against With American an wounded. hundreds of many cost even more lives, with being multiple onlycapture after bloody attempts had Verrières like places our which soldiers Ridge, helped despitetroops at forward battled desperate struggles heat south countryside the in of city. the Canadian intense dust and choking the summertime through troops on July 9–10, but wouldcontinue fighting the andto fell Canadian British finally Caen targets. formats. This publication is available uponrequest in alternate 45,000 of them would lose lives. their freedomSadly, and conflict. the during peace over women of cause the in who from served our country were among one more the men million than and on D-Day sawof and action Battle the Normandy in ashore later. decades came who The braveCanadians apointremain of pride, greatnational even many Canada’s impressivetheSecond in efforts World War Europein (V-E) on Day declared May 8, 1945. helpVictory see and eventually defeat Germans the offensivesthat would Allied Netherlands the during the and Scheldt, the at like places Rhineland the go on to play important role an bitter in struggles also would in Northwest Europe.fighting Canadians of 11Normandy beginning the was months of hard LEGACY at veterans.gc.caat War, websiteCanada please visit Veterans the Affairs morelearn about Canada’s role Second the in World help for generations. future legacy preservetheir To become involved remembrance in will that activities to well, it As invites peace. and Canadians of war continue times during have to served—and serve— and achievements madethose sacrifices the whoby about to learn Canadians all encourages Canada Remembers TheCanada of Program Affairs Veterans PROGRAM CANADA REMEMBERS mind that they would carry for of rest the lives. their would they carry mind that Normandy,injuries suffering and many with to body Over 13,000 more of our soldiers were wounded in or call 1-866-522-2122 or call toll free. toll