D-Day
- June 6th, 1944. Operation overlord.
- Allies open a second front in France against the Germans.
- Land on five beaches named Utah and Omaha (American) Juno (Canadian) Sword and Gold (British and Polish-free French)
Summary
After the Italian campaign had been halted, Stalin resumed pressure on the Western Allies to open a second front from which to avert the energies of the Germans away from the Eastern Front. They decided on 5 landing points in Normandy, Northern France. Unfortunately the Germans, intent to retain their vast territory, had fortified the whole Atlantic particularly the ports directly across the English Channel like Calais, Cherbourg and Guernsey. The allies built up a massive force for Operation Overlord, the largest amphibious operation in history. The operation was a success despite stubborn German resistance and numerous forces were diverted from the Eastern Front.