AMERICA'S INVOLVEMENT AT NORMANDY

This is a speech that I gave in one of my history classes and I thought it was perfect for today.

By: Victoria B. Roberts

It is Tuesday, June 6, 1944. The troops of three countries arrive in Normandy, France prepared to invade the Germans. These countries came together to work out a plan of invasion which they called Operation Overlord. These three countries were Great Britain, Canada, and the United States of America. This day was to be the beginning of the end of the second World War.

The plans for Operation Overlord began in the summer of 1943. This plan was for troops from three countries to attack the Germans by land, by air, and by sea. This invasion was to begin in Normandy and spread across Europe to Germany. The operation was coordinated by the British Lt. General Frederick Morgan and his staff. The American General, Dwight D. Eisenhower was chosen to be the Supreme Allied Commander in 1943. It was his job to lead the Allied forces into Normandy where they would begin to invade the Germans and thus defeat them.

The troops of Great Britain, Canada, and the United States met on the coast of England and prepared for D-Day. There were more than 2,800,00 Allied soldiers who boarded more than 10,000 planes and thousands of vessels. The plan was that each group would break off and invade different parts of France. The beaches, which were to be invaded, were given code names. Americans were to land and fight on the beaches of Omaha and Utah.

Paratroopers were the key to setting the stage for the actual invasion. Two American airborne divisions landed near Utah beach to set the stage for attack. They were to capture the main roads and bridges around Utah and throw the Germans, who were in the area, into confusion.

Utah proved to be a difficult battle. Weather conditions separated the two U.S. airborne divisions so that several smaller battles were fought instead of one large battle.

The problems in the way the parachuters were forced to land actually worked in their favor. The Germans were confused By the American parachuters' landing pattern and were rather slow in their fighting.

There were also problems at Omaha Beach. The storm had left its mark as a cloud dropped down into a fog to hide the shore from outside view. The waters near Omaha were dangerously rough. Many of the dual-drive tanks, which were to be part of the ground assault, arrived late or never arrived at all.

The invasion of Normandy was successful and proved to be the beginning of the end of the second world war. The allied forces pushed across Europe to Germany and fought until the last German had surrendered unconditionally.

It is obvious from an earlier attempt by the British and the Canadians, that the Allies could not and would not be successful in winning World War II if it had not been for the American entrance into the war.

The day, Tuesday, June 6, 1944 will long be remembered and never forgotten.