Operation Overlord

By: Boris Groysberg and Greg Goullet and Katherine Connolly Baden and Sarah L. Abbott

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Synopsis: On June 6, 1944, nearly 5,000 ships, 11,000 planes, and 160,000 infantrymen under an Allied joint-command of American, British, and Canadian leaders were sent across the English Channel, with hopes of re-establishing a foothold in Nazi-occupied France. Known as D-Day, June 6 marked a definitive turning point in World War II and was viewed by many as the most significant military campaign in history. It was also one of the riskiest. Code named Operation Overlord, the invasion required years of diligent planning and countless hours of labor from Allied soldiers and citizens. Before they could attempt a successful invasion of continental Europe, British and American leadership recognized large scale preparatory efforts must take place: the establishment of a leadership team and organizational structure, the arrival of Allied troops in England and subsequent training sessions, the containment of German air superiority over Europe as well as its supply lines, and finally, the development and use of innovative information sources in planning the attack.