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Essay about Operation Overlord

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Operation Overlord

Operation Overlord was the code name used for the Allied attack on German-occupied Northern France in the summer of 1944. The organization responsible for planning this task was SHAEF, the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force, and the officer in command of Overlord was Major General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Command of ground forces was given to General Bernard Montgomery, while naval forces would be commanded by Admiral Bertram Ramsay. Air forces were under the control of Air Chief Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallary, and supply and logistics the task of Lt. General John Lee.
Operation Bolero

The extensive buildup of troops and supplies required to support Overlord began in April of 1942. Known as Operation …show more content…

In order to allow for possible delays, the date of June 5th was originally chosen for the attack. Bad weather forced a one-day delay, and the actual assault began at 12:15 a.m. on the morning of June 6th with the landing of American and British pathfinder paratroopers behind Utah and Sword beaches.
Airborne Attack

Following closely behind the pathfinders, who had marked drop zones behind the beaches, the 82nd, 101st and 6th Airborne Divisions commenced their jumps. For numerous reasons, including overreaction by the C-47 transport planes to anti-aircraft fire from below, most of the paratroopers landed

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