D-Day - Operation Overlord

 The second blog about D-Day

Men of the American 16th Infantry Regiment , 1st Infantry Division 
wading ashore on Omaha Beach on the morning of 6 June 1944

Wilhelm Richter

Edgar Feuchtinger

The last blog, Major Schmidt, has been taken prisoner.  Meanwhile, the German commander Generalleutnant Wilhelm Richter, was informed of the parachute landing and that the bridges had been captured.  Ricther, had ordered the 21^st Panzer Division under the command of Generalmajor Edgar Feuchtinger to attack the landing areas.  However, Panzer division could only be moved from instructions from Adolf Hitler. His staff had to wake him.

Panzer IV
similar to the one destroyed at the Caen Canal Bridge

The closet the Germans got to the canal bridge was the 192^nd Panzergreadier Regiment, 2^nd Battalion who were based at Cairon.  They were given orders from Feuchtinger to recapture the bridge. At 2.00 the battalion heading for the bridge from the west,  were supported by the 1^st Penzerjager company coming from the north. As the company was reaching the junction, the leading tank was hit by “D” Company, only serviceable PIAT anti-tank weapon.  The tank exploded, with the remaining tanks withdrawing.

Shortly afterwards, the 7^th Parachute Battalion, under the command of Major Nigel Taylor arrived at the bridges, where they were instructed to the defensive positions west of the canal.  Pine-Coffin was briefed by Howard to cross into Beonouville, where he set up headquarters beside the church. He was command of about 200 men.

By 3.00 in the morning, the “A” and “C” companies, were attacked by 192^nd Panzergrenadier Regiment. The paratroopers were forced back, and the Germans formed their own positions in Benouville, and were unable to break the British lines.

Just before dawn, Howard summoned his platoon commanders, and with senior officers either wounded or dead. 1,2 and 3 platoons were under the command of corporals.  4 platoon, along with Howard’s second in command Captain Priday were missing.

During the night of 5^th and 6^th June, more than 2,200 British, Canadian and US bombers attacked targets along coats of Normandy and further inland. The bombing was successful however, was ineffective at Omaha.

Out at sea, Minesweepers began clearing channels for the invasion, they did not encounter any of the Germans. 

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Bernard Montgomery

The amphibious invasions started at 6.30, having been delayed 24 hours due to bad weather conditions. Planning for the landing operations were started during 1943, August, an initial plan was accepted at the Quebec Conference. General Dwight D. Eisenhower was appointed commander of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force, with General Bernard Montgomery was named the commander of the 21^st Army Group, which comprised the land forces involved in the invasion.  

 James Stagg

5^th June, Group Captain James Stagg, the Met Office meteorologist attached with the Royal Air Force, persuaded Eisenhower to changed the date.      

The six beaches 

The British and Canadians were to capture beaches codenamed Gold, Juno and Sword.  They came under light opposition, this was the same at the American beach of Utah, whilst at Omaha beach, the American faced heavy resistance, where it is estimated there were over 2,000 casualties.  By the end of the day, it was approximated that there were over 156,000 Allied troops successfully the Normandy beaches.

A week later, all beaches were fully secured, where over 326,000 troops along with 50,000 vehicles and 100,000 tons equipment were landed here.

Erwin Rommel

The Germans, at the time of the invasion suffered from confusion.  Erwin Rommel was on leaving celebrating his wife’s birthday. Hitler who believed that the invasion was feint designed to distract the Germans and refused to release any of his troops.

By the end of August, Allies had reached the Seine River, and Paris was liberated, the Germans had been removed from north western France, which concluded the Battle of Normandy.