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[[File:Into_the_Jaws_of_Death_23-0455M_edit for my series headline photo.jpg|left|thumbnail|600px300px|View from a Higgins boat]]Most of the world recognizes June 6, 1944 as , like D-Day; the pivotal event of , World War II's pivotal event. Novels and motion pictures have portrayed the massive invasion as Allied troops storming the beaches amid a hail of German firepower hail before progressing beyond the German lines, through France, and ultimately to Berlin. In essence, that is exactly what transpired. The However, the actual event; however, was a massive and complex series of engagements that occurred in three stages; the break-in, the buildup, and the breakout. If any of these phases was were unsuccessful, Operation Overlord would have failed , and the outcome of the Second World War would have differed greatly. To fully comprehend the three stages of the attack, the operation's planning of the operation must first be understood.

==== The Teheran Conference ==Soviet leader Josef Stalin was clamoring for the Allied invasion of Europe since early 1943. In order to relieve some of the pressure in their battle with Germany, the Soviet Army needed their allies to engage Hitler’s army from the western side of Germany’s border. By opening a second front in Western Europe, Germany would be forced to re-allocate troops, supplies, and equipment from their battle lines on the east, thereby affording the Soviets a slight reprieve in their tenacious battle with the Germans. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill; however, was adamant that the Italian and Mediterranean campaigns retain the highest priority. United States President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was also hesitant of a 1943 invasion as German U-boats continued to fiercely patrol the Atlantic Ocean.<ref>Michael J. Lyons,''World War II: A Short History,'' 5th ed. (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2010), 246. For an excellent account of the discussion of a second front in 1943, see Walter S. Dunn,'' Second Front Now ̶ ̶ ̶ 1943'' (University of Alabama Press, 1980).</ref>==

The submarines, which patrolled either singly or in a group known as a “wolf-pack,” wreaked havoc on U.S. shipping until Soviet leader Josef Stalin was clamoring for the spring Allied invasion of Europe since early 1943, thereby creating shortages . To relieve some of the pressure in England of suppliestheir battle with Germany, equipment, landing craft, ships, and troops. F.D.R. and Churchill maintained that due the Soviet Army needed its allies to engage Hitler’s army from the German submarine attacks on Merchant Marine vessels, there simply were not enough men and equipment to forge such a massive invasionwestern side of Germany’s border. There is By opening a debate second front in the scholastic world as Western Europe, Germany would be forced to whether it was possible re-allocate troops, supplies, and feasible for equipment from their battle lines on the Allies to launch east, thereby affording the invasion Soviets a slight reprieve in 1943 and end their tenacious battle the war that much soonerGermans. Some historians support the logic of However, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and F.D.R. in was adamant that the shortages were too great Italian and that Mediterranean campaigns retain the Italian campaign highest priority. The United States President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was affording much needed experience also hesitant of a 1943 invasion as German U-boats continued to untried soldiers; especially fiercely patrol the AmericansAtlantic Ocean.<ref>Michael J. ConverselyLyons, others aver that in 1943 Germany was much weaker than in 1944 and by delaying'' World War II: A Short History, Hitler had time to build up troops and supplies'' 5th ed. Arguably(Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 2010), 246. For an excellent account of the limited resources discussion of the Allies were adequate to wage a victorious campaign against the equally weak German Army. In second front in 1943, there were forty-nine second-line German divisions stationed in Francesee Walter S. By 1944Dunn, additional armor and nine divisions '' Second Front Now ̶ ̶ ̶ 1943'' (University of men were added.<ref>LyonsAlabama Press, 2461980).</ref>In order to come to an agreement on the specifics of the invasion, “The Big Three,” Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin met together for the first time in November 1943 at the Teheran Conference.

At this historic meetingThe submarines, which patrolled either singly or in a group known as a “wolf-pack,” wreaked havoc on U.S. shipping until the three Allies at last agreed spring of 1943, thereby creating shortages in England supplies, equipment, landing craft, ships, and troops. F.D.R. and Churchill maintained that due to the European German submarine attacks on Merchant Marine vessels, there were not enough men and equipment to forge such a massive invasion . There is a debate in the scholastic world as to whether it was possible and feasible for the Allies to become launch the top priority invasion in 1943 and end the warthat much sooner. Late spring Some historians support the logic of 1944 Churchill and F.D.R. in that the shortages were too great and that the Italian campaign was chosen so as affording much-needed experience to provide untried soldiers, especially the Americans. Conversely, others aver that in 1943 Germany was much weaker than in 1944, and by delaying, Hitler had time for the commanders to formulate a strategy build up troops and train supplies. Arguably, the troops who Allies' limited resources were designated adequate to carry out wage a victorious campaign against the missionequally weak German Army. American General Dwight Eisenhower was designated as the supreme commander In 1943, there were forty-nine second-line German divisions stationed in France. By 1944, additional armor and nine divisions of the Allied Expeditionary Forcesmen were added.<ref>Lyons, 246. British General Bernard Montgomery was charged with </ref> To agree on the command specifics of all Allied ground forces. Over the remainder of 1943 and deep into spring 1944invasion, “The Big Three,” Roosevelt, Churchill, troops and supplies began to amass Stalin met together for the first time in EnglandNovember 1943 at the Teheran Conference.

== Why Normandy? ==[[File:gerd von rundstedt.jpg|thumbnail|300px|left|Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt.]]Normandy was not a port cityAt this historic meeting, the three Allies, at last, thereby making a great amphibious agreed that the European invasion cumbersome and problematicwas to become the top priority in the war. Cherbourg and Le Havre, west and east The late spring of Normandy respectively, were considered and quickly declined as options 1944 was chosen to provide time for the invasion. Although these were port cities commanders to formulate a strategy and thus would have facilitated train the landings, these very reasons made them obvious choices, thereby affording Germany troops who were designated to mount an impregnable defensecarry out the mission. Another accommodating site American General Dwight Eisenhower was Pas de Calais designated as it the supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces. British General Bernard Montgomery was just twenty miles from charged with the coast command of Englandall Allied ground forces. This is where Over the Germans expected the landing to take place and amassed defenses on the beaches remainder of Calais accordingly. The Allies discovered this through their decoding system known as Ultra 1943 and used this knowledge to their advantage. The German commandersdeep into spring 1944, except Hitler, did not consider Normandy a feasible site as it lacked ports troops and supplies began to accommodate landings and create a supply line. Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt, commander of all German forces amass in Western Europe, and Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, who was the ground forces leader, both believed Calais was the targetEngland.

To further the German belief that Pas de Calais ==== Why Normandy? ====[[File:gerd von rundstedt.jpg|thumbnail|200px|left|Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt.]]Normandy was to be the not a port city, thereby making a great amphibious invasion sitecumbersome and problematic. Cherbourg and Le Havre, Eisenhower ordered General George Patton to Southeast England west and through a spy networkeast of Normandy, respectively, made sure were considered and quickly declined as options for the German commanders invasion. Although these were aware of Patton’s presenceport cities and thus would have facilitated the landings, these very reasons made them obvious choices, thereby affording Germany to mount an impregnable defense. A full-fledged “phony army” Another accommodating site was constructed, complete with armor, barracksPas de Calais, as it was just twenty miles from England's coast. This is where the Germans expected the landing to take place and menamassed defenses on Calais' beaches accordingly. To further The Allies discovered this through their deceptiondecoding system known as Ultra and used this knowledge to their advantage. The German commanders, except Hitler, all bombing runs prior did not consider Normandy a feasible site as it lacked ports to the invasion avoided Normandy accommodate landings and focused on create a supply and communication facilities in other port townsline. This ruse worked wonderfully for the Allies as the Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt, commander of all German Army made preparations forces in Western Europe, and around Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, the ground forces leader, both believed Calaiswas the target.

Field Marshal Rommel took nothing for granted and ordered To further the build-up of an Atlantic Wall at every possible landing spot. Rommel’s plan exhausted an immense amount of resources, including more than four million mines German belief that were set all along Pas de Calais was the beaches of France. Bunkers and casements housing .155mm guns were constructed. Most importantlyinvasion site, Rommel Eisenhower ordered the placement of numerous underwater obstacles, realizing that in order General George Patton to avoid the obstructionsSoutheast England. Through a spy network, made sure the Allies must land at low tide. This enabled Germany to calculate the time German commanders were aware of the invasion as low tide occurred at dawn only a few days each monthPatton’s presence.<ref>Lyons, 248A full-49. For a detailed reading on Rommel’s defensive plansfledged “phony army” was constructed, see Samuel W. Mitchum, ''The Desert Fox in Normandy: Rommel’s Defense of Fortress Europe'' (Westportcomplete with armor, CT: Praeger/Greenwoodbarracks, 1996)and men.</ref>[[File:Erwin_Rommel_(color_photo).jpg|thumbnail|300px|Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.]] Rommel and Rundstedt were satisfied with To further their defenses and were still certain Calais was to be deception, all bombing runs before the invasion site. Hitler, however, continued to focus on Normandy, so as to appease him, the two commanders added defensive reinforcements at avoided Normandy. Rundstedt and Rommel had several disagreements in strategy and tactics, the most grievous for the German Army was Rundstedt’s decision to overrule Rommel’s plan to keep tanks and reserve troops close to the beaches. Rommel strategized that it was most pragmatic to halt the Allied advance immediately focused on the beach while Rundstedt felt the defenses were adequate supply and that the armor and soldiers would be most effective if held communication facilities in reserveother port towns. This proved to be a great error on ruse worked wonderfully for the part of Rundstedt Allies as the divisions deployed on the beaches were second-rate with little experience. Reinforcements with armor may have halted the invading troops. An additional problem for the German Army was that the Allied forces controlled the airspace along the coast of France affording them air cover for the invasionmade preparations in and around Calais.

== When? ==Earth’s environment, rather than either combatant, was to dictate terms as to when the invasion would occur. The Allies and Germany were all well aware of the conditions that needed to be met. Because of the obstacles, low tide was a must. Additionally, the navy bombers required good visibility and calm seas in order to provide pre-invasion bombardments and covering fire. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly for the Allies, a late-rising moon was imperative as they planned a pre<dh-invasion airborne mission. Paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions were ordered to drop behind the German lines prior to the invasion. Their mission, with the aid of the French underground network, was to secure roads and bridges and to cut German lines of communications. To accomplish this, the timing of the moon rise was crucial. The optimal moon, weather, and tidal conditions occurred synchronically only on the 5th, 6th, and 7th of June.<ref>Stephen Toth, “Total War and Crisis” (lecture, Arizona State University, Glendale, November 17, 2011).<ad/ref> [[File:rommel inspection barriers april 1944.jpg|thumbnail|350px|Rommel inspecting barriers along the beaches of the Atlantic Wall.]]Eisenhower initially chose June 5 as the date for Operation Overlord. The mission was scratched for that date as a storm rolled in that caused poor visibility and choppy seas. The storm was forecast to last several days; therefore, the German high command was certain the invasion would be held back until July. Taking advantage of the storm, Rommel returned to Germany to attend his wife’s birthday party and several other commanders followed similar routes away from the beaches. An Allied meteorologist, however, predicted there would be a break in the storm for a period of several hours affording Eisenhower a brief window to carry out the mission between the wee hours of the morning until approximately noon on June 6, 1944.

Field Marshal Rommel took nothing for granted and ordered the build-up of an Atlantic Wall at every possible landing spot. Rommel’s plan exhausted an immense amount of resources, including more than four million mines set all along the beaches of France. Bunkers and casements housing .155mm guns were constructed. Most importantly, Rommel ordered numerous underwater obstacles, realizing that to avoid the obstructions, the Allies must land at low tide. This enabled Germany to calculate the invasion's time as low tide occurred at dawn only a few days each month.<ref>Lyons, 248-49. For a detailed reading on Rommel’s defensive plans, see Samuel W. Mitchum, ''The Desert Fox in Normandy: Rommel’s Defense of Fortress Europe'' (Westport, CT: Praeger/Greenwood, 1996).</ref>[[File:Erwin_Rommel_(color_photo).jpg|thumbnail|200px|left|Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.]] Rommel and Rundstedt were satisfied with their defenses and were still certain Calais was to be the invasion site. However, Hitler continued to focus on Normandy. To appease him, the two commanders added defensive reinforcements at Normandy. Rundstedt and Rommel had several disagreements in strategy and tactics. The most grievous for the German Army was Rundstedt’s decision to overrule Rommel’s plan to keep tanks and reserve troops close to the beaches. Rommel strategized that it was most pragmatic to halt the Allied advance immediately on the beach. Simultaneously, Rundstedt felt the defenses were adequate and that the armor and soldiers would be most effective if held in reserve. This proved to be a great error on the part of Rundstedt as the divisions deployed on the beaches were second-rate with little experience. Reinforcements with armor may have halted the invading troops. An additional problem for the German Army was that the Allied forces controlled the airspace along the coast of France, affording them air cover for the invasion. ==== When? ====[[File:rommel inspection barriers april 1944.jpg|thumbnail|left|350px|Rommel inspecting barriers along the beaches of the Atlantic Wall.]]Rather than either combatant, Earth's environment was to dictate terms as to when the invasion would occur. The Allies and Germany were all well aware of the conditions that needed to be met. Because of the obstacles, low tide was a must. Additionally, the navy bombers required good visibility and calm seas to provide pre-invasion bombardments and cover fire. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly for the Allies, a late-rising moon was imperative as they planned a pre-invasion airborne mission. Paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions were ordered to drop behind the German lines before the invasion. With the aid of the French underground network, their mission was to secure roads and bridges and cut German lines of communications. To accomplish this, the timing of the moon rise was crucial. The optimal moon, weather, and tidal conditions occurred synchronically only on the 5th, 6th, and 7th of June.<ref>Stephen Toth, “Total War and Crisis” (lecture, Arizona State University, Glendale, November 17, 2011).</ref>  Eisenhower initially chose June 5 as the date for Operation Overlord. The mission was scratched for that date as a storm rolled in that caused poor visibility and choppy seas. The storm was forecast to last several days; therefore, the German high command was certain the invasion would be held back until July. Taking advantage of the storm, Rommel returned to Germany to attend his wife’s birthday party, and several other commanders followed similar routes away from the beaches. However, an Allied meteorologist predicted there would be a break in the storm for a period of several hours, affording Eisenhower a brief window to carry out the mission between the wee hours of the morning until approximately noon on June 6, 1944. ==== Conclusion ====General Eisenhower took advantage of the break in the storm and ordered Operation Overlord to commence. In order to To reach Berlin and at last break the formidable German Army, a the second front in Western Europe was imperative. The Italian campaign was progressing in favor of the Allies, however. However, the German’s fought ferociously in their retreat and slowed the Allied advance considerably. Stalin’s army was keeping kept the German soldiers at bay , yet the carnage was horrific , and the Soviet soldiers and partisans were exhausted and starving. The Teheran Conference set in motion the greatest amphibious invasion in history with the goal to open a second front and force the German Army to split its forces. By doing so, the weakening Germans faced their enemies on two fronts, thereby diminishing the concentration of their forces' concentration.

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