MADISON — Thursday will be the 75th anniversary of D-Day, one of the most decisive days in history.
On June 6, 1944, American-led Allied forces invaded Normandy, France. This signaled the beginning of the end of the Nazi regime in Germany. It also marked the beginning of the Cold War.
World War II had begun in 1939 when German leader Adolf Hitler sent his armies into Poland. In 1940, the Germans invaded France and the Low Countries, defeating them in a matter of weeks. They also forced British forces to flee from Europe. By the fall of 1940, the Nazis occupied much of Europe.
But Hitler made two big mistakes in 1941. First, he invaded the Soviet Union against the advice of many of his generals. Then he inexplicably declared war on the United States after Japan’s attack on U.S. forces at Pearl Harbor.
Britain had hung on. Following their defeat in France, the British shot down Germany’s bid to force a negotiated peace in the Battle of Britain. This was the first battle in history fought entirely in the air. Britain also continued to fight Germany in North Africa and at sea.
The Soviets suffered massive losses in territory and men early in the war. They were able to absorb these losses, thanks to massive manpower, vast distances that stretched German supply lines to the breaking point, and huge amounts of aid from the U.S. and Britain, including equipment, food and raw materials.
Another turning point in the war came in early 1943 when the Soviets destroyed a German army at Stalingrad. The Soviets took the initiative in the war, but they still faced a formidable German military.
Soviet leader Joseph Stalin began demanding that the Allies invade Western Europe from the time the Americans entered the war. This would create a second front that would relieve the pressure on the Soviets.
But America, Britain and the Soviet Union were always grudging allies. Proposed invasions in 1942 and 1943 were called off because the British didn’t believe they and the Americans were ready.
The Allies invaded North Africa in 1942. They followed up with an invasion of Italy in 1942. However, the fighting there would be a stalemate until late in the war.
In 1943, the Allies decided to invade France in 1944. Elaborate deception campaigns were mounted to deceive the Germans about where the invasion would come.
Many in Germany, including Hitler, believed the allies would invade at Pas des Calais, the point in continental Europe closest to Britain. This was the most heavily defended section of the Atlantic coast. The Allies bombed this area as much as they did Normandy.
Other deception campaigns included the creation of a phony U.S. Army group under the command of Lt. Gen. George Patton. Props simulating vehicles and other equipment were built to deceive onlookers, and false radio traffic deceived listeners.
Allied air supremacy also prevented the Germans from getting a good look at invasion preparations in Britain.
In 1943, Allied commander Gen. Dwight Eisenhower decided to invade France in 1944. The date he chose was June 5, 1944.
As the date approaches, the weather turns bad and the invasion is postponed. Then Allied weather forecasters tell Eisenhower that the weather will improve enough to invade on June 6.
Around midnight, 1,200 planeloads of airborne troops begin jumping into France behind the invasion beaches. Their mission is to seize beaches, sow confusion and disrupt German counterattacks.
At 6:30 a.m., the largest seaborne invasion in history attacks Normandy. Some 165,000 Allied troops — many seeing their first combat — go ashore on five beaches covering 50 miles. By the time the day is over, the Allies have lost more than 10,000 soldiers, including 4,400 killed. This is just a preview for some of the toughest fighting of the war.
The invasion dealt a severe psychological blow to many Germans. Their worst fear had come true. Germany now had to fight a two-front war as it had in World War I.
By the time the Battle of Normandy ended on Aug. 30, the Allies had thrown the Germans out of northern France, liberated Paris and launched a second invasion in southern France.
German forces were devastated, losing up to 500,000 men and most of their tanks. The Allies suffered a little more than 250,000 casualties.
The difference was that the Allies could easily replace their losses. The Germans had no more reserves left.
Less than a year after D-Day, Hitler was dead, the Russians had captured Berlin and Germany surrendered on May 8.
America and its allies changed history on D-Day. And they made the world a better place.
• Charles Corder is a longtime editor and writer at newspapers in Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana and Tennessee. Contact him at ccorderjr@outlook.com.
