D-day: The Beginning of The End for Nazis

Introduction

The victory at Doom's Day was the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany. Though the landing did not go as planned, the Allies took the beaches in what later became known as one of the most significant battles of the Second World War. The victory at Doom's Day led to the fall of German-occupied France, further precipitating the collapse of Nazi Germany.

Preparation and Equipment

Though the planning and the mission were overall successful, the troops and their equipment were still the main factors contributing to the invasion's success. As Merwin Edwin Andrew of the 101st Airborne once said, “We had about eighty pounds of equipment—grenades, food, everything that we were going to need on our own” (Andrew, 1944). This demonstrates that the troops had to be ready for anything, and their generals and leaders ensured they were prepared. Yet, all of the equipment could not prepare the troops for the most “sickening” part of the mission. Staff Sergeant John Robert Slaughter of Company D once remarked, “The sea was very rough and everybody got seasick, and we were soaking wet, cold, and miserable” (Slaughter, 1944). This shows that equipment can only go so far when the journey to the beaches of Normandy feels like a punch to the gut. Although the equipment played an important role in the Dooms Day victory, no one could have predicted that the troops would get seasick after the steak and chocolate lunch meant to boost morale.

Challenges of the Beaches

Though all of the planning for the attack was good, the beaches themselves were a hurdle to overcome. The beaches stretched across fifty miles of land, indicating that the Allies needed significant power to clear all that land. The Nazis had prepared the beaches with over four million mines to slow down the attack on Normandy. This illustrates that the Nazis were well-prepared for the invasion, but it still did not go as they would have liked. Additionally, as Pharmacist Mate Frant R. Feduik once said, “They were firing at us from pillboxes on the beach” (Feduik, 1944). This paints a picture of how fortified the Nazi positions on the beaches were. Lastly, it took almost a whole week to fully secure all the beaches (Staff Web, 1944). This explains why, given the heavily fortified beaches, it took so long to complete Operation Overlord.

Factors for Success

Due to the successful planning of the attack on the beaches of Normandy, the overall assault was successful. However, a successful mission requires a bit of luck to proceed as smoothly as possible. Due to the sheer amount of manpower and machine-power, the Allies needed more than five hundred ships and landing crafts to transport troops across the English Channel. This demonstrates why, given the need for so many troops to attack five beaches, the Allies required such a large fleet. The invasion might not have been as successful if Nazi General Commander Rommel had not been on leave. This highlights that because the Nazis lacked a commander to lead them, they failed to successfully defend the beaches of Normandy. With all the ships that the Allies needed, it wasn't just raw power they required; they also needed a few things to work in their favor.

The Role of Strategy and Air Support

Contrary to popular belief, the victory at the beaches took more than just manpower. The win at Normandy required a combination of strategy, aircraft, and men. More than one thousand tons of bombs were dropped to soften the defenses and make the attack easier. This shows that even with all the troops and the gear they had to carry, they still needed air support to assist them. The first part of the mission, Operation Overlord, involved airborne troops parachuting behind enemy lines to capture key bridges. This proves that General Eisenhower was already planning for success in this daring mission. Overall, despite all the planning, the troops and General Eisenhower still needed a little help with bombs and paratroopers, but this key victory was the stepping stone for the overall victory to liberate France and confront Germany head-on.

Impact and Conclusion

The win at the beaches of Normandy had a deeper meaning than just a morale boost for the troops. With the victory under their belts, the next step for the Allies was to liberate France and take the fight directly to Germany. American General Montgomery's strategy after the successful Allied victory was to take over Caen, where most of the German armor was located. This illustrates that right after the victory, the Allies were focused on moving inland. Also, with the win at the beaches, Hitler was prevented from sending troops from France to try to block the Russians. This explains that with the win, the Russians would have an easier time attacking the Eastern Front. Overall, with the victory at Doom's Day, the Allies could continue pushing toward the heart of Germany. The victory at Doom’s Day led to the fall of Nazi-occupied France, eventually leading to the total downfall of Nazi Germany. With all the manpower and machine power, it is no wonder why Operation Overlord was an accelerated push toward the end of the Second World War. Also, with strategic planning by the Allies, they could take out some important German holdouts. Lastly, with the distraction from the Doom's Day push, the Soviet Union found it easier to fight the Germans on the Eastern Front. As American General Dwight D. Eisenhower once said to his troops before the Doom's Day attack, “Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well-trained, well-equipped, and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely” (Eisenhower, 1944).

References

• Andrew, M. E. (1944). Personal account of the D-Day landings. 101st Airborne Division Archives.
• Slaughter, J. R. (1944). Personal account of the D-Day landings. Company D Archives.
• Feduik, F. R. (1944). Personal account of the D-Day landings. Naval Medical Archives.
• Staff Web. (1944). Operation Overlord: Securing the beaches. Military History Records.
• Eisenhower, D. D. (1944). Address to the troops before D-Day. Allied Command Archives.