D-Day - an Extraordinary 'Surprise'

6th June 1944: A multitude of different operations and missions are launched simultaneously as the Allies land in France

A LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel) from the U.S. Coast Guard-manned USS Samuel Chase disembarks troops of Company A, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division (the Big Red One) wading onto the Fox Green section of Omaha Beach (Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France) on the morning of June 6, 1944. American soldiers encountered the newly formed German 352nd Division when landing. During the initial landing two-thirds of Company E became casualties.

The great invasion fleet gathered in the Channel managed to achieve the surprise sought by the Allies. In an amazing combination of secrecy, subterfuge and luck, the Germans were only aware that thousands of ships were headed for Normandy when the invasion fleet appeared as dawn broke. The previous night had seen them distracted by a constant stream of alarms and confusing reports. But even as significant landings were confirmed the Germans remained uncertain as to whether this was the ‘real’ invasion, not a diversionary attack.

In a single day, 160,000 men were deployed, both by sea and air, heralding the start of Operation Overlord, the monumental invasion of Europe.

Casualties were much lighter than anticipated, but this did not make individual actions on the ground any less daunting for the men involved. Very careful planning and preparation helped to some extent, but only the resolution and courage of the men leading the assaults saw the different beaches and landing zones successfully held.