The 80th anniversary of D-Day

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

Events are taking place around the world to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France.

Details:

On June 6, 1944, tens of thousands of Allied troops landed on five stretches of the Normandy coastline, codenamed Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword.
It was the largest amphibious invasion in history and launched a campaign that laid the foundations for the Allied defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

Normandy Landings:

Date: 6 June 1944
Codename: Operation Neptune, commonly known as D-Day
Context: Part of Operation Overlord during World War II
Significance: Largest seaborne invasion in history; began the liberation of France and Western Europe, contributing to Allied victory on the Western Front.

Planning and Deception:

Planning Initiation: 1943
Operation Bodyguard aimed to mislead Germans about the invasion date and location.
The invasion was delayed by 24 hours due to poor weather; a further delay would have postponed the operation by at least two weeks due to specific requirements for the moon phase, tides, and time of day.

Commanders:

German Forces: Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, under Adolf Hitler’s command, fortified the Atlantic Wall.
Allied Forces: Major General Dwight D. Eisenhower, appointed by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Invasion Details:

Initial Assault: Extensive aerial and naval bombardment, followed by the landing of 24,000 American, British, and Canadian airborne troops.
Amphibious Landings: Began around 06:30 on a 50-mile (80 km) stretch of the Normandy coast, divided into five sectors: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword.
Challenges: Strong winds displaced landing crafts, and troops faced heavy fire, mines, and obstacles such as wooden stakes, metal tripods, and barbed wire.

Beach Sectors and Outcomes:

Utah and Omaha: Landing crafts were significantly displaced eastward.
Omaha: Highest casualties due to high cliffs and heavy fortifications.
Gold, Juno, and Sword: Fortified towns were cleared with house-to-house fighting; specialised tanks disabled major gun emplacements at Gold.

First-Day Goals and Casualties:

Unachieved Goals: Key towns (Carentan, Saint-Lô, Bayeux) and the major objective Caen (captured on 21 July) remained in German hands.
Beachhead Connection: Only Juno and Gold linked on the first day; all five connected by 12 June.
Casualties: German casualties estimated at 4,000 to 9,000; Allied casualties documented at least 10,000, with 4,414 confirmed dead.

Outcome:

Despite not achieving major objectives on the first day, the operation established a foothold that the Allies expanded in the following months.

Source: CNN