Bernard Law Montgomery Biography and Timeline — Page 6

Operation Overlord

47 divisions are committed to the Battle of Normandy: 19 British, 5 Canadian, 21 US & 1 Free French

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

Operation Postage Able

In December 1943, Operation Postage Able used an X-craft to collect suitable data for all of the Normandy beaches

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

Free French

Following Eisenhowers and Montgomerys revisions it is expanded to landings by 5 divisions and airborne descents by 3 divisions, in total, 47 divisions would be committed to the Battle of Normandy: 19 British, 5 Canadian, 21 US & 1 Free French

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

General

Appointed General

Invasion of Italy

The Allies are drawn north by the Germans & by Dec halt their advance at the Gustav Line

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

General

Appointed General

Role range: 1939-1945

Normandy Ground Plan Approved

Secures Allied approval for his revised ground plan for the Normandy invasion.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Overlord

Montgomerys plans for D-Day are approved by the Allies

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Overlord

Succesfully argues the case for more troops & a broader landing area

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Overlord Assault Front Broadened

Expands the planned Normandy assault from three to five seaborne divisions with stronger airborne support.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Overlord

Montgomery presents his strategy for the invasion at St Pauls School, a ninety day battle, ending when all the forces reach the Seine, pivoting on an Allied-held Caen, with British and Canadian armies forming a shoulder & US armies wheeling right

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

St Pauls School Overlord Briefing

Explains the intended Normandy battle to senior commanders at his headquarters in St Paul's School.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Final Overlord Commanders Conference

Presents the final ground plan to senior commanders and political leaders before D-Day.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Overlord

The Americans are assigned Utah and Omaha, the British Gold and Sword, and the Canadians Juno Beach.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Overlord

Final conference at Montgomerys HQ in St Pauls School

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Overlord

Presents the final plan to senior commanders, the King, Smuts & Churchill at St Pauls. Expresses his belief that that Allied tanks will reach Falaise on D-Day

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Second Army

Orders the Second Army to hold the line between Villers-Bocage & Caen

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Siege of Caen

Orders the Second Army to hold the line between Villers-Bocage & Caen

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Allied Ground Forces Command on D-Day

Commands all Allied ground forces during the initial phase of the Normandy invasion.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Caen Remains Uncaptured on D-Day

British forces establish a strong beachhead but do not seize the planned D-Day objective of Caen.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Overlord

Royal Marine Commandos land on Gold Beach & capture Arromanches

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Overlord

The British capture Bayeaux

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Overlord

Montgomery directed the Allied ground campaign and treated Caen as the principal objective of the British Second Army.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Overlord

The British 3rd Division fails to capture Caen

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Overlord

A major objective, was still in German hands by the end of D-Day, and would remain so until the battle for Caen, 8 August

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Overlord

Caen. Commander of all ground forces for Operation Overlord. By the end of the day the Allies land 130,000 men & 22,000 parachutists.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Overlord

On Sword Beach the regular British infantry came ashore with light casualties they advance about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) by the end of the day but failed to make some of the deliberately ambitious targets set by Montgomery in particular

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Overlord

The Allies lose 9,500 killed or wounded.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Liberation of Bayeux

Bayeux becomes the first major mainland French town liberated after D-Day.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Liberation of Bayeux

Montgomery's forces made Bayeux the first mainland French town liberated after D-Day.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Wild Oats

Montgomery considered an airborne and armoured encirclement intended to isolate Caen.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Overlord

Manages to land 16 Divisions ashore facing 14 enemy Divisions

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Overlord

The Allies gain a bridgehead over the River Odon near Caen

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Epsom

Montgomery launched Operation Epsom to draw German armour into battle west of Caen.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Epsom

Montgomery launches Operation Epsom west of Caen to gain ground and draw German armour into battle.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Siege of Caen

Launches an attack on Caen, operation Epson

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Capture of River Odon

The British establish a bridge-head on the River Odon

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Odon Bridgehead Supported during Epsom

Supports the British advance across the Odon as Operation Epsom forces Germany to commit additional armoured reserves.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Overlord

The Allies capture Hill 112 but Dempsey withdraws & the Germans recapture it

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Bayeux Bypass

British engineers built a bypass so military traffic could avoid Bayeux's narrow medieval streets.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945