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Normandy was breached on June 6th, in 1944.

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The Soldiers, ready to land at the beaches and push forward, ready to face whatever God had prepared for them with high amounts of rage and fear.

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https://www.britannica.com/event/Normandy-Invasion

https://www.history.com/articles/d-day

https://www.biography.com/activists/medgar-evers

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-10-things-you-need-to-know-about-d-day

https://blesma.org/10-d-day-facts/

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The D-Day operation of June 6, 1944, brought together the land, air, and sea forces of the allied armies in what became known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history. The operation, given the codename OVERLORD, delivered five naval assault divisions to the beaches of Normandy, France. The beaches were given the code names UTAH, OMAHA, GOLD, JUNO, and SWORD. The invasion force included 7,000 ships and landing craft manned by over 195,000 naval personnel from eight allied countries. Almost 133,000 troops from the United States, the British Commonwealth, and their allies, landed on D-Day. Casualties from these countries during the landing numbered 10,300. By June 30, over 850,000 men, 148,000 vehicles, and 570,000 tons of supplies had landed on the Normandy shores. Fighting by the brave soldiers, sailors, and airmen of the allied forces western front, and Russian forces on the eastern front, led to the defeat of German Nazi forces. On May 7, 1945, German General Alfred Jodl signed an unconditional surrender at Reims, France.

Order of the Day, June 6, 1944:

General Eisenhower's determination that operation OVERLORD (the invasion of France) would bring a quick end to the war is obvious in this message to the troops of the Allied Expeditionary Forces on June 6, 1944, the morning of the invasion.

"Order of the Day" - statement as issued to the soldiers, sailors and airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force on June 6, 1944 [Museum Manuscripts transferred to the Library FY69, Box 1; NAID #12000995]

"Order of the Day" - draft of statement [Ray W. Barker Papers, 1942-46, Box 1, Papers Pertaining to COSSAC and SHAEF, 1942-1945 (1); NAID #12010107]

In Case of Failure of the D-Day Operation:

Following the decision for the cross channel invasion, General Eisenhower wrote a press release on a pad of paper, to be used if necessary. The handwritten message by General Eisenhower, the "In Case of Failure message," is mistakenly dated "July" 5 instead of "June" 5.

In Case of Failure Message [Eisenhower's Pre-Presidential Papers, Principal File, Box 168, Butcher Diary June 28 - July 14, 1944 (2); NAID #186470] Transcript

Prelude to Operation Overlord:

The Trident Conference, May 1943 [Combined Chiefs of Staff: Conference Proceedings, Box 2, Trident Conference May 1943 Papers and Minutes of Meetings; NAID #12005142]

The Quadrant Conference, August 1943 [Combined Chiefs of Staff: Conference Proceedings, Box 2, Quadrant Conference August 1943 Papers and Minutes of Meetings; NAID #12005143]

Harry Butcher, Naval Aide to General Eisenhower, Diary Entry, October 5, 1943 [Eisenhower's Pre-Presidential Papers, Principal File, Box 167, Diary-Butcher Oct. 1 - Dec. 30 1943 (1); NAID #12004922]

The Sextant and Eureka Conferences, November-December 1943 [Combined Chiefs of Staff: Conference Proceedings, Box 2, Sextant Conference November-December 1943 Papers and Minutes of Meetings; NAID #12005144]
Handwritten note from President Roosevelt to Marshal Stalin appointing General Eisenhower to command Operation Overlord. General George Marshall added a note to Eisenhower on December 7, 1943
Overlord - Anvil Papers, December 1943 - April 1944 Part 1 [Walter Bedell Smith Collection of World War II Documents, Box 21, Overlord-Anvil Paper (1); NAID #12009137]

Overlord - Anvil Papers, December 1943 - April 1944 Part 2 [Walter Bedell Smith Collection of World War II Documents, Box 21, Overlord-Anvil Paper (6); NAID #12005073]

Operation Policy Memoranda, January 29, 1944 [DDE's Pre-Presidential Papers, Box 136, Conferences Supreme Commanders (Jan-June 1944); NAID #12005223]

British Assault Area - Naval Operation Orders, May 15, 1944 [Walter Bedell Smith Collection of World War II Documents, Box 48, British Assault Area - Naval Operation Orders Operation Neptune (1); NAID #12004565]

Minutes of the SCAEF 21st Meeting, June 2, 1944 [DDE's Pre-Presidential Papers, Box 136, Conferences Supreme Commanders (Jan-June 1944); NAID #12004923]

Conditions in Normandy, June 3, 1944 [DDE's Pre-Presidential Papers, Box 137, Crusade In Europe (Documents) (3); NAID #12005079]

Reports:

Report of the 8th Air Force, Normandy Invasion, June 2-17, 1944 [Walter Bedell Smith Collection of World War II Documents, Box 48, Eight Air Force Tactical Operations in Support of Allied Landings in Normandy June 2-17 1944 (1); NAID #12005069]

Report of the Amphibious Operations, Invasion of Northern France, Western Task Force, United States Fleet, June 1944 [Walter Bedell Smith Collection of World War II Documents, Box 48, Amphibious Operations Invasion of Northern France - Western Task Force June 1944; NAID #12005066]

Report of the 82nd Airborne Division, "Operation Neptune" at Normandy, June 6 - July 8, 1944 [U.S. Army Unit Records, Box 6, 82nd Airborne Division in Normandy France - Operation Neptune; NAID #12004816]

After Action Report, 115th Infantry, June 1944 [U.S. Army Unit Records, Box 867, 115th Infantry Regiment After Action Report June 1944; NAID #12004462]

After Action Report, Headquarters, 22nd Infantry, July 21, 1944 [U.S. Army Unit Records, Box 791, HQ 22nd Infantry Regiment After Action Report June 1944; NAID #12004463]

SHAEF (Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces) Messages:

SHAEF Incoming Message from General Eisenhower to General Marshall concerning the first reports of the Normandy landing, June 6, 1944 [DDE's Pre-Presidential Papers, Box 133, Cables Official (GCM/DDE February 19 - October 18, 1944) (4); NAID #594652]

SHAEF Message from General Eisenhower reporting on the D-Day landing area, June 8, 1944 [DDE's Pre-Presidential Papers, Box 130, Cables-(C.C.S. October 1943 - July 1945) (2); NAID #12009139]

Journal Entries:

Journal entries from the 16th Infantry Regiment Journal, June 6-17, 1944 [U.S. Army Unit Records, Box 1264, 16th Infantry Regiment Journal June 6-17 1944; NAID #12004868]

Additional Information:
D-Day: Planning Overlord Subject Guide D-Day: The Invasion Subject Guide
Photographs:

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World War II: D-Day, The Invasion of Normandy

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The D-Day operation of June 6, 1944, brought together the land, air, and sea forces of the allied armies in what became known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history. The operation, given the codename OVERLORD, delivered five naval assault divisions to the beaches of Normandy, France.

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A year beforehand, Hitler reinforced the beaches and coastlines with bases and other blockades. The invasion was supposed to happen June 5th, but the weather conditions held them up. 2,876,000 troops were in the UK at the time, preparing to push into Normandy. Finally, on June 6th, they left England and headed for Normandy, France. Almost 13,000 aircraft and 5,000 ships also followed behind to ensure their safety.

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The soldiers wading through the thick water, fear in their bodies and prayers that they won't die.

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Beforehand, aircraft had landed a raid against Normandy to weaken them. When the Americans began to push Normandy, they had specific beaches to land at. There wasn't much of a fight at the Utah, Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches. However, there was more of a fight at Omaha beach. The Americans were facing the 352nd Division of the Germans, which were the strongest/best division, and had to struggle to capture the beach. This capture almost failed, and came to the cost of almost 2,000 casualties. After capturing, they pushed even further into France, and eventually split up even more to capture more cities/places to push towards Germany and end Hitler's reign.

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The battle ended the same day it started. This capture started the push into Germany and France, and was a big contributor to making a path to Hitler, and the success of the war.

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Medgar was a Civil Rights Activist that was drafted into the army during WWII. He was a supply deliverer during D-Day and other missions and was discharged in 1946. However, after serving in D-Day and being discharged, he went on to fight for his people's rights. He later became the first field secretary for the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) in 1954, and proceeded to protest for Civil Rights. He was very strong and prominent with his ways, and was viewed as someone who shaped the future of rights for African-Americans. Even so, some people viewed him as a lower life form and that he was committing evil acts. This eventually led to his assassination on June 12th, 1963. Still, his service during D-Day and after the war led to some great contributions to the future.

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The Armies loading up to head to Normandy.

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“If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt, it is mine alone.” - General Dwight Eisenhower.

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D-Day: Planning the Impossible | WWII Normandy

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Home | D-Day | June 6, 1944 | The United States Army

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The U.S. Army remembers June 6, 1944: The World War II D-Day invasion of Normandy, France.

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General Eisenhower giving a speech as they leave for the Normandy Invasion.

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General Eisenhower giving a speech as they leave for the Normandy Invasion.

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Some of the victims from D-Day, having to sit out and heal their wounds.

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Some of the victims from D-Day, having to sit out and heal their wounds.

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Omaha Beach is 6 miles long and is covered by cliffs that are 30 meters high. There were heavy fortifications, along with the water being mined, the beach being monitored by the 352nd German Division(very powerful section of the German army), and 13 bases for machine gunners to shoot from. The Allies had to push at different areas of the beach, and 29 were supposed to push two. Out of those 29 tanks, only 2 of them made it when pushing through the waters. Only a certain number of people successfully landed and were alive; the others were shot down, blown up, or another form of death. All landings on the beach stopped at 8:30. However, the Germans were overtaken by the Allies due to a flank from the other beaches after they were conquered. Around 2,400 Americans died at Omaha. However, 1,200 of the 352nd division died, which was about 20%. This is quite the big decrease if you really look at it.

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The battlefield and a slight taste of the fighting and chaos:

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The battlefield and a slight taste of the fighting and chaos:

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The invasion was named Overlord, and the mission was to push against the Germans at the beaches of Normandy, France, and make a start to push towards Hitler.

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Planes above the beaches were laying down cover fire and taking out other enemy aircraft and ships before they could attack the troops. They also had naval support with carriers and ships laying down fire on other ships and areas on the beach.

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There were more than 5,000 ally deaths among the American forces. However, there were close to 9,000 Nazi casualties at the end of the D-Day Invasion.

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Thanks to the push on Normandy, in the summer of 1944, all of Northern France was freed by the Allies, and in spring of 1945, Germany was overtaken by the Allies and the war ended. The push allowed them to gain a small area they had control in and eventually grow powerful enough to strategize and push into other European areas, which shows what this capture meant to the Allies. *Note - D-Day is referred to as "The beginning of the end", which throws an addition point to how important it was.

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4 Interesting Facts and Extra information: 

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4 Interesting Facts and Extra information: 

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1. The majority of the paratroopers died. So many were shot mid-air or captured later on, and it was VITAL that you landed at the correct spot as one or it could mean your end is near.

2. D-Day had a rehearsal? 2 months before actual D-Day, on April 28th, a simulation called Exercise Tiger was hosted and was a basic simulation of what to do on and at the Normandy Invasion.

3. Little fact, there is only close to 100 D-Day survivors alive to this day.

4. There were actually more D-Day's throughout the war, but the Normandy is the most well known due to it being the largest and most important battle out of all of them.