![]() ![]() Now scheduled for 5 June 1944, the beaches of Normandy were selected as landing sites, with a zone of operations extending from the Cotentin Peninsula to Caen. Having succeeded in opening up an offensive front in southern Europe, gaining valuable experience in amphibious assaults and inland fighting, Allied planners returned to the plans to invade Northern France. ![]() ![]() The decision to prosecute the Battle of the Atlantic to its closure, the lack of landing craft, invading Sicily in July 1943, and Italy in September following the defeat of Axis forces in North Africa in May 1943 resulted in the postponement of any assault on northern Europe till 1944. The attack was poorly planned and ended in disaster 4,963 soldiers were killed, wounded or captured. In August 1942, Canadian and British forces attempted an abortive landing- Operation Jubilee-at the Calais port-town of Dieppe the landing was designed to test the feasibility of a cross-channel invasion. At the same time, planning was underway for a major landing in occupied France during 1943 Operation Roundup. However, with resources for an invasion lacking, it was postponed but planning was undertaken that in the event of the German position in western Europe becoming critically weakened or the Soviet Union's situation becoming dire, forces could be landed in France Operation Sledgehammer. The Western Allies agreed to open a Second Front in northern Europe in 1942 to aid the Soviet Union. Further progress towards Caen was halted by the only armoured counter-attack of the day, mounted by the 21st Panzer Division.įurther information: Invasion of Normandy and Operation Overlordįollowing the Fall of France, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill vowed to return to continental Europe and liberate the Nazi German-occupied nations. The landings were achieved with low Allied casualties but the advance from the beach was slowed by traffic congestion and resistance in defended areas behind the beach. Taking Sword was to be the responsibility of the British Army with sea transport, mine sweeping and a naval bombardment force provided by the British Royal Navy as well as elements from the Polish, Norwegian and other Allied navies.Īmong the five beaches of the operation, Sword is the nearest to Caen, about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the goal of the 3rd Infantry Division. Stretching 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Ouistreham to Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, the beach proved to be the easternmost landing site of the invasion after the abortion of an attack on a sixth beach, code-named Band. The Allied invasion of German-occupied France commenced on 6 June 1944. Sword, commonly known as Sword Beach, was the code name given to one of the five main landing areas along the Normandy coast during the initial assault phase, Operation Neptune, of Operation Overlord. ![]() Utah and Omaha are separated by the Douve River, whose mouth is clear in the coastline notch (or "corner") of the map. D-Day assault map of the Normandy region and the north-western coast of France. ![]()
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