Who
- Men from all over: America, Britain, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and many more.
- The leaders of the most powerful nations: (US, USSR, British empire, and Canada) Pressed the allies to open up a second front to the War by invading France.
What
- The western powers would open up a second front by invading France in May 1944.
- Plans were drawn up. But they have never made these decisions before, so they would have to make new inventions, technology and more.
- They had to wait till June because of all the ships coming in from England and more landing crafts, needing time to roll off the factory lines.
- After discussion, the day June 4th, 1944 arrives. Planes had been prepped, final drills runned through. Tens of thousands of men board ships for the invasion, suddenly the rain starts to roll in. As well as a storm. Waves crash which sweeps the channel, clouds block the sky. The high winds buffet craft ventures on sea, land and especially air.
- Dwight Eisenhower is forced to make the choice to make the attack delayed.
- A group of allied councils imply that if they make another delay they won’t be able to launch again, till July.
Where
- There were two possible targets: Calais, the closest point into England. Or Normandy, the farthest on the channel coast. Calais was the sensible place to land but they had notable disadvantages. After a debate with Dwight Eisenhower and Bernard Montgomery, they had agreed to have an element of surprise with the possibility of being able to rush off the beaches. So the decision was made, Normandy it was.
Why
- It was the start of a campaign to liberate Europe and defeat Germany. For years, Joseph Stalin (leader of USSR) , whose nation was completely destroyed by the Nazi invasion (WWII) bearing the brunt of the human cost of the war against Germany, had pressed the allies to open the second front to the war by invading France.
How
- Plans were drawn up. An amphibious operation of this size had never been tried. Men and material would have to be drawn back from around the world, new technologies would have to be invented, engineering feats earlier only discussed in conference rooms, would have to be put to the test under wartime conditions.
(Normandy)
