Normandy D-Day Objectives

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The Military Experience The Normandy D-Day objectives were designed to allow for a successful landing operation from sea and air, in which we would hope to catch Hitler’s German forces off guard. Known as Operation Overlord, the objectives noted by Buckley, “The planners hoped to limit the rate and weight of the enemy reinforcement of Normandy prior to the assault and to persuade the Germans to concentrate on fortifying areas outside the invasion site and to focus their attention elsewhere” (2006). Allied air forces help soften the support networks, that prevented reinforcements. American heavy bombers targeted rail centers, oil production, and manufacturing districts to prevent German U-boats and other…show more content…
The Normandy beaches were chosen by planners because they lay within range of air cover, and were less heavily defended than the obvious objective of the Pas de Calais, the shortest distance between Great Britain and the Continent ("D-Day Airborne And Beach Assault", 2014). The plan consisted of airborne and seaborne assaults. The airborne assault consisting first of bombers softening support targets. Then glider forces would drop Army Ranger units behind enemy lines at Normandy to protect the landing zones’ western flank. Utah beach landing point was chosen for its location and layout. The goal was to establish a major port for the allies as soon as possible. Omaha Beach was heavily defended and the terrain gave favor to the German forces. Still, Omaha Beach was necessary because of its tactical value and critical link between the allied landing points. Gold Beach, Sword Beach, and Juno Beach were all landing points designed to shore up allied main landing points at Omaha and Utah beaches. These landing points also allowed Canadian and British forces to push far inland to delay reinforcements and capture pivotal lines of

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