Operation Overlord and the D-Day landings were a huge Allied undertaking in June 1944 during World War Two that opened up the Western European Theater of Operations. Here, Robert Tremblay considers the historical context behind the operation and key considerations for the battle itself.
Robert’s previous article on Operation Overlord and the Differing Allied and Nazi Leaderships is here.
‘Into the Jaws of Death’ - U.S. Troops wading through water and Nazi gunfire on Omaha Beach, June 6, 1944, available here.
Introduction
General (GEN) Dwight D. Eisenhower gave the best description in “At Ease”: “Overlord was at once a singular military expedition and fearsome risk”.[1]The concept of operations for the occupation of Omaha Beach was the decisive reason for the victory of Operation Overlord in Normandy. Operation Overlord enabled the Allies’ momentum through Western Europe in 1944 and 1945 to the occupation of Berlin. Operation Overlord was a result of the German aggressive expansionism during WWII. Then, German aggressive expansionism within WWII was the result of factors during the interwar years.
During the interwar years, America and European countries had the inability to respond to Germany’s aggression; therefore, enabling WWII. Further analysis shows that these countries did not respond appropriately to Germany’s mature military industrial base and its doctrine through the interwar period and the onset of WWII. This lack of response facilitated the German aggression. Germany then used this power to be aggressive towards other European military powers. These same European military powers enabled this German aggression by not responding effectively to the earlier warning signs. Additionally, the United States did not respond effectively either.
Germany’s mature military industry enabled the aggressive expansionism through its occupation of Austria and Eastern Europe that led to its objective of an increased ideological legitimacy within the European region. Germany’s military industry had the ability to produce war materials in an effective and efficient matter. Murray & Millett stated that from a strategic perceptive, while Germany lost the War (World War I), its industrial base stayed undamaged.[2] In the mid-1930s, Germany was dedicating a large amount of its finances to its industrial base. Winston Churchill stated in his memoirs, that in 1936, he reported to Parliament that Germany was contributing large amount of its finances for military armaments and materials.[3] Inability to respond to Germany’s mature military industrial base facilitated aggression from Hitler.
Thirdly, the German military inaugurated a creative combined arms military effort calledBlitzkrieg. The Germans were able to adapt and improve their Blitzkrieg doctrine through their evolution from WWI and most recently the Polish WWII campaign. German Blitzkrieg took doctrinal lessons from World War I to the Poland invasion.[4] There was limited response to the Blitzkrieg method from Germany’s adversarial countries. Therefore, this led to Hitler’s strategic gain and confidence, leading to the invasion and occupation of France and Western USSR.
In conclusion, Germany was able to succeed militarily in the beginning of World War II, 1939-1943, based on its mature military industrial base and doctrine during the interwar years. This German aggressive expansionism led to the Allies needing to conduct a cross-channel invasion (Operation Overlord) in order to liberate Europe and to create an envelopment around Germany. The Battle of Omaha Beach was the main effort for Operation Overlord based on its mission. There is no way that the Americans could have conducted Operation Overlord without the ability to secure Omaha beach. There would be a gap between the Gold (British) and Utah (American) beach of 7,000 yards.[5]
Situation
German Military
The German military had inadequate forces in the Normandy region to defend the Allied operation in Normandy. Before D-Day, there were sixty divisions throughout Western Europe (France, Belgium, and Holland); however, in the immediate area of Normandy, there were only nine infantry divisions and one panzer division.[6] The German response to the V Corps invasion was not responsive based on its intense centralized command control. The lack of responsiveness provided ideal conditions for the German forces being chaotic and inundated during the invasion.
German naval forces were projected to harass the cross-channel invasion. Therefore, the Allied Navy placed sea mines to act as a barrier to which it would secure the approach.[7] There was limited German air power due to the Allies already having air superiority.
Therefore, the Germans concentrated on defense. Field Marshal Rommel recognized that the Allies were going to invade Normandy; but, he did not have an accurate time and date. Consequently, Rommel concentrated German resources to ensure its defense. Mines were established on the Omaha battlefield. Then, the Germans placed huge iron obstacles at the Omaha beachhead. Next, there were huge and thick concreated fortifications on the cliffs at the end of beachhead. In fact, Rommel stated that the defensive works would lead to fortifications and mines going five to six miles inland.[8] The result was the Allies faced strongly protected and cleverly concealed gun replacements and pill boxes.[9] Additionally, there were height advantages to the cliffs.
Concept of Operations for Operation Overlord and the Occupation of Omaha Beach
Shaping Operations
The shaping operations consisted of Allied naval and aerial bombardment with the intent to destroy the defensive positions and works and to eliminate German forces. Their contributions were the disruption of the fortifications of the defense works.[10]The effect was to give the Germans the inability to have effective defense for their firepower. Additionally, the bombardments impacted the defense postures beyond the beachhead by destroying mine fields and other defensive fortifications.[11] During June 5, Allied air forces conducted over 2,200 missions and dropped over 7,600 tons of explosives.[12] During June 6, the strategic level air forces conducted 5,309 missions to drop 10,396 tons of explosives while the tactical air force conducted another 5,276.[13] The Naval gunfire and bombardment proved to be effective at destroying the obstacles and other defensive works.[14]
Missions
SHAFE Mission for Operation Overlord
GEN Eisenhower and Supreme Headquarters Allied Forces-Europe (SHAFE)’s mission for Operation Overlord was a multi-divisional invasion front on the territory between Ouistreham and Varreville with an urgent purpose to force project follow-on forces.[15]/[16] SHAFE knew that the Allies had two areas of operations. These areas of operations served two purposes for GEN Eisenhower’s strategy for the liberation of Europe. First, Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean served as a secure supply chain for sustainment for their respective fronts while simultaneously exhausting the German’s supply chain at the same time. Then, Eastern Europe and the Southern Europe area of operations served as a flank that was designed to envelope Nazi Germany for final occupation. Therefore, SHAFE needs to open up another supply chain and force projection from a different European area of operations and flank. This context led to GEN Eisenhower’s mission for the invasion. Then, the occupation of Omaha Beach became the vital effort for Operation Overlord’s mission.
V Corps Mission for the Occupation of Omaha Beach
MG Gerow and the V Corp’s mission was to attack, occupy, and secure a 7,000 yard wide Omaha Beach on the northern coast of Calvados near St-Laurent.[17] As stated before, the secure occupation of Omaha Beach was the main effort for the execution of Operation Overlord. The other Allied beaches and the American Utah beach provided an advantageous gap (Omaha Beach) for the German defense. The gap would create a divide in the Allied Forces that were invading Normandy Beach. The separation of Allied Forces would cause disorganized command and control with the divergence of command. This disorganization and divergence would create conditions for a tactical success for the Germans. Furthermore, SHAFE considered occupation of Omaha Beach as the main effort based on its impact to the overall Overlord mission and operation. V Corps would invade Omaha Beach with approximately 34,000 men and 3,306 vehicles with follow-on forces consisting of 25,117 men and 4,429 vehicles.[18] In order to accomplish its objectives, V Corp relied and empowered 1st ID and 29th ID to perform its objectives.
Conclusion
Operation Overlord was a follow-on projection of the Allies’ force in order to finish the theater-wide envelopment of Germany for the European Theater of Operations. The Allies Operation Overlord assault was a tactical surprise to the Germans.[19] On June 7, 1944, the Allies were 5 to 6 miles inland and on 10 June, the Allies had a sixty by twelve miles lodgment area.[20]
Allies
Operation Overlord’s successes enabled the Allies to have a port of entry through the opening of the western European Theater of Operations. It took approximately six weeks to establish an intermediate staging base with a line of communication.[21] This line of communication was critical to the Western European Theater of Operations for the follow-on forces. It provided the resources needed to sustain the Allies advance to liberate Paris and the rest of France. Then, this supply chain gave the logistical ability for the Allies to win the Battle of the Bulge and to reach their culminating point in Germany for the Battle of Berlin. Additionally, it created opportunities of advancement for the Soviets in the Eastern European area of operations and the Allies on the Southern area of operations.
Finally, psychologically, it created conditions for the Allies to project their forces with speed, surprise and mass through France, Luxemburg, Belgium, and eventually Germany. Furthermore, it gave the Allies the confidence that a coalition of nations can maneuver, with combined arms, under one commander. This would have a strong impact during the final stages of the war that led to the surrender of Nazi Germany in the Battle of Berlin. Finally, it is stated that Operation Overlord was a domineering accomplishment of the Allies military judgement, technology, industry and ingenuity advanced through the war.[22]
Germans
The occupation of Omaha Beach and Operation Overlord had a huge and adverse impact on the German industrial base. Operation Overlord provided the final overwhelming impact to Germans lines of communication and industry. These lines of communication and industry did not have the endurance to support the three areas of operation. Finally, psychologically speaking, the Germans took a great blow. In Germany, the population’s morale and confidence went down. For example, shortly after the success at the occupation of Omaha Beach and Operation Overlord, there was a plot to assassinate Hitler. All of these factors have a strong ripple impact on the Axis during the final stages of the war that would eventually lead to the surrender of Germany.
What do you think of the Battle of Omaha Beach? Let us know below.
[1]Dwight D. Eisenhower. At Ease: Stories I Tell to Friends(Garden City, NY: Doubleday and Company INC, 1967), 273..
[2] Williamson Murray and Allan R. Millett. A War to be Won: Fighting the Second World War. (Cambridge, MS and London, England: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2000), 16-22.
[3]Winston Churchill. The Second World War (Condensed Version). (London, England: Penguin Books, 1989), 94-97.
[4]Murray and Millett, Second World War, 16-22
[5] Dwight D. Eisenhower. Report by the Supreme Commander to the Combined Chiefs of Staff on the Operations in Europe of the Allied Expeditionary Force: 6 June 1944 TO 8 May 1945. Washington D.C: The Center of Military History, U.S. Army, 1994, first published in 1946, 6.
[6] Ibid, 17.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Erwin Rommel. Rommel PapersEdited by B.H. Liddell-Hart (New York: DaCapo Press, 1988), 455.
[9] Report of the Amphibious Operations, Invasion of Northern France, Western Task Force, United States Fleet, June 1944.s, Eisenhower Archives Website ( June 1944), 4-1.
[10]Eisenhower. Report by the Supreme Commander: 6 June 1944 TO 8 May 1945, 21, 57.
[11]Ibid, 21, 57.
[12]Ibid, 19
[13]Ibid, 20.
[14]Ibid, 20.
[15]Ibid
[16]John J. Marr. “Designing the Victory in Europe.” Military Review July-August 2011 (2011): 64.
[17]Ibid.
[18]Omaha Beachhead. Washington D.C: The Center of Military History, U.S. Army, 1994, first published in 1945, 9.
[19]Viscount Montgomery. Memoirs of Field Marshal Montgomery(South Yorkshire, England: Pen & Swords Books, 2005), 257-260.
[20]Ibid
[21]Eisenhower. Report by the Supreme Commander: 6 June 1944 TO 8 May 1945, 21, 42.
[22]Adrian R. Lewis. “Omaha Beach: Americans at War.” PhD diss. (University of Chicago, 1995), 442.
Bibliography
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4. Lewis, Adrian R. “Omaha Beach: Americans at War.” PhD diss., University of
Chicago, 1995.
5. Marr, John J. “Designing the Victory in Europe.” Military Review July-August 2011
(2011): 62-68.
6. Montgomery, Viscount. Memoirs of Field Marshal Montgomery. South Yorkshire,
England: Pen & Swords Books, 2005.
7. Murray, Williamson and Allan R. Millett. A War to be Won: Fighting the Second World
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8. Omaha Beachhead. Washington D.C: The Center of Military History, U.S. Army, 1994,
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9. Report of the Amphibious Operations, Invasion of Northern France, Western Task Force,
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