D-Day: The Beginning of

the End

The first day of the Battle of Normandy

June 6th, 1944

By: Lily Ayau Period. 1

D-Day was the beginning of the end of the war in

Europe, and the foundation it set for the two

month battle to come was a pivotal point in the

war’s history

Thesis Statement

-On June 6th, 1944,

thousands of young

soldiers landed on five

beaches along the

coastline of German-

occupied France.

-With the code name “Operation

Overlord”, one Canadian

division, two British divisions,

and three U.S divisions were

sent into battle that day

-Over 13,000 paratroopers flew

behind German lines on the morning

of D-Day, and assisted with the

invasion of Utah Beach

-In addition to the airborne

assault, troops landed at

Utah Beach, Omaha

Beach, Gold Beach, Juno

Beach, and Sword Beach.

Paratroopers encountered obstacles like bad weather and disorganization

during their mission on D-Day

-The invasion at Omaha Beach was

arguably the most difficult. The terrain

allowed German soldiers to shoot down

unprotected troops by the dozens,

while still being hidden from the

warships.

-In addition to the geography, the Allies

were unaware of the kind of opposition

they’d be facing, believing that the

352nd division was no less than 20

miles away from the shore.By week’s end, the Allies had

secured 50 miles of French

coastline. Over the coming

months, the Allies would liberate

Northern France, and by spring

1945, they would end the war in

Europe.

American Paratroopers Prepare to Jump into Occupied France on June 6,

1944 — D-Day. 1944. Photograph. Veterans Writing Project. Web. 9 Dec.

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D-Day: Cargo Vehicles. 1944. Photograph. Army.mil. Army.mil. 31 May 2007.

Web. 9 Dec. 2012. <http://usarmy.vo.llnwd.net/e2/-images/2007/05/31/5352/>.

D-Day: Cargo Vehicles. N.d. Photograph. Army.mil, n.p.

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D-Day: Omaha Beach. 1944. Photograph. Army.mil. Army.mil. 31 May 2007.

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D-Day: Soldiers on a Landing Craft. 1944. Photograph. Army.mil. Army.mil. 31

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Quartermasters Hit the Beach. 1944. Photograph. Quartermasters on D-Day.

Web. 9 Dec. 2012. <http://www.qmmuseum.lee.army.mil/d-day/d-day.htm>.

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