Operation Overlord: Difference between revisions
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'''Operation | '''Operation Overlord''' was the Allied code name for general operations in northern and western Europe in 1944. While it is commonly equated to the [[Battle of Normandy|Normandy invasion proper]], that was a subset of Overlord under the top security code name of [[Operation Neptune]]. Overlord was under the command of General [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] and his headquarers organization, [[Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces]] (SHAEF). | ||
==Predecessors== | ==Predecessors== | ||
Overlord was the concluding part of a series of planned operations:<ref>{{cite book |first=Forrest C. |last=Pogue |title=The Supreme Command |publisher=Office of the Chief of Military History |contribution=Chapter IX: Final Preparations for the Invasion |year=1954 |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-Supreme/USA-E-Supreme-9.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Cline |first=Ray |title=Washington Command Post: The Operations Division |publisher=Office of the Chief of Military History |contribution=Chapter IX: Case History: Drafting the Bolero Plan |year=1951 |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-Supreme/USA-E-Supreme-9.html}}</ref> | Overlord was the concluding part of a series of planned operations:<ref>{{cite book |first=Forrest C. |last=Pogue |title=The Supreme Command |publisher=Office of the Chief of Military History |contribution=Chapter IX: Final Preparations for the Invasion |year=1954 |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-Supreme/USA-E-Supreme-9.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Cline |first=Ray |title=Washington Command Post: The Operations Division |publisher=Office of the Chief of Military History |contribution=Chapter IX: Case History: Drafting the Bolero Plan |year=1951 |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-Supreme/USA-E-Supreme-9.html}}</ref> | ||
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==Strategic deception== | ==Strategic deception== | ||
Under the [[London Controlling Section]], the complex [[Plan Bodyguard]] convinced [[Hitler]] that the main Allied invasion would come at the [[Pas de Calais]]. This was why Hitler refused to release counterattack forces until after the beachhead was established. | Under the [[London Controlling Section]], the complex [[Plan Bodyguard]] convinced [[Hitler]] that the main Allied invasion would come at the [[Pas de Calais]]. This was why Hitler refused to release counterattack forces until after the beachhead was established. | ||
=="Battle of Normandy"== | |||
===Copied from redirect pending merger or deletion=== | |||
The '''Battle of Normandy''', which began on the night of 5/6 June 1944 with large-scale Allied assault on occupied France, lasted for three months, with the liberation of the last Norman commune, Honfleur in Calvados, on 25 August 1944.<ref>{{citation |author=Normandie Mémoire |url=http://www.normandiememoire.com/NM60Anglais/2_histo5/histo5_p4_gb.htm |title=The liberation of the communes}}</ref> | |||
====Planning structure==== | |||
There is much confusion about the proper terminology for the overall operation, as well as its phases. Operation Overlord was the overall Allied campaign plan for operations in Northwest Europe in 1944.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-Supreme/USA-E-Supreme-9.html |title=The Supreme Command |first=Forrest C. |last=Pogue |year=1954 |publisher=Office of the Chief of Military History |contribution=Chapter IX: Final Preparations for the Invasion}}</ref> | |||
Overlord was not the first plan for attacking across the English Channel; a series of contingency and serious proposals preceded it: a preparation phase, [[Operation Bolero]], a 1942 contingency invasion, [[Operation Sledgehammer]], and a proposed 1943 invasion, [[Operation Roundup]].<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-Supreme/USA-E-Supreme-9.html |title=Washington Command Post: The Operations Division |author=Ray Cline |year=1951 |publisher=Office of the Chief of Military History |contribution=Chapter IX: Case History: Drafting the Bolero Plan}}</ref> | |||
====Strategic deception==== | |||
Under the [[London Controlling Section]], the complex [[Plan Bodyguard]] convinced [[Adolf Hitler]] that the main Allied invasion was most likely to come at the [[Pas de Calais]], or other locations other than Normandy. This belief led Hitler to refuse to release counterattack forces until after the beachhead was established. | |||
====D-Day==== | |||
The actual landings in Normandy, commonly called '''D-Day''', were [[Operation Neptune]]. They began with night [[paratroop]] and [[air assault|glider]] drops, and amphibious attacks after dawn. "D-Day" was actually the generic term for the '''<u>D</u>'''ay of an operation; every amphibious operation had one. | |||
=====Amphibious attacks===== | |||
Five amphibious attacks, in division strength or greater, were made. | |||
* [[Sword Beach]] (including [[Pegasus Bridge]]): British | |||
* [[Juno Beach]]: Canadian | |||
* [[Gold Beach]]: British | |||
* [[Omaha Beach]]: 1st and 29th U.S. Infantry Divisions | |||
* [[Utah Beach]]: 4th U.S. Infantry Division | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist | {{reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Flagged for Review]][[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]] | |||
Latest revision as of 06:00, 29 September 2024
Operation Overlord was the Allied code name for general operations in northern and western Europe in 1944. While it is commonly equated to the Normandy invasion proper, that was a subset of Overlord under the top security code name of Operation Neptune. Overlord was under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower and his headquarers organization, Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces (SHAEF).
Predecessors
Overlord was the concluding part of a series of planned operations:[1][2]
- Operation Bolero – preparation phase
- Operation Sledgehammer – 1942 contingency invasion
- Operation Roundup – proposed 1943 invasion
Strategic deception
Under the London Controlling Section, the complex Plan Bodyguard convinced Hitler that the main Allied invasion would come at the Pas de Calais. This was why Hitler refused to release counterattack forces until after the beachhead was established.
"Battle of Normandy"
Copied from redirect pending merger or deletion
The Battle of Normandy, which began on the night of 5/6 June 1944 with large-scale Allied assault on occupied France, lasted for three months, with the liberation of the last Norman commune, Honfleur in Calvados, on 25 August 1944.[3]
Planning structure
There is much confusion about the proper terminology for the overall operation, as well as its phases. Operation Overlord was the overall Allied campaign plan for operations in Northwest Europe in 1944.[4]
Overlord was not the first plan for attacking across the English Channel; a series of contingency and serious proposals preceded it: a preparation phase, Operation Bolero, a 1942 contingency invasion, Operation Sledgehammer, and a proposed 1943 invasion, Operation Roundup.[5]
Strategic deception
Under the London Controlling Section, the complex Plan Bodyguard convinced Adolf Hitler that the main Allied invasion was most likely to come at the Pas de Calais, or other locations other than Normandy. This belief led Hitler to refuse to release counterattack forces until after the beachhead was established.
D-Day
The actual landings in Normandy, commonly called D-Day, were Operation Neptune. They began with night paratroop and glider drops, and amphibious attacks after dawn. "D-Day" was actually the generic term for the Day of an operation; every amphibious operation had one.
Amphibious attacks
Five amphibious attacks, in division strength or greater, were made.
- Sword Beach (including Pegasus Bridge): British
- Juno Beach: Canadian
- Gold Beach: British
- Omaha Beach: 1st and 29th U.S. Infantry Divisions
- Utah Beach: 4th U.S. Infantry Division
References
- ↑ Pogue, Forrest C. (1954). The Supreme Command. Office of the Chief of Military History.
- ↑ Cline, Ray (1951). Washington Command Post: The Operations Division. Office of the Chief of Military History.
- ↑ Normandie Mémoire, The liberation of the communes
- ↑ Pogue, Forrest C. (1954), Chapter IX: Final Preparations for the Invasion, The Supreme Command, Office of the Chief of Military History
- ↑ Ray Cline (1951), Chapter IX: Case History: Drafting the Bolero Plan, Washington Command Post: The Operations Division, Office of the Chief of Military History