Operation Overlord

Churchill & Roosevelt meet in Washington where they agree a cross-Channel invasion (Operation Overlord) to be provisionally be launched on 1 May 1944

Churchill & Roosevelt meet in Washington where they agree a cross-Channel invasion (Operation Overlord) to be provisionally be launched on 1 May 1944

The German radio intercept station is bombed & "wiped off the map"

The RAF bombs a German Air Force base about to bomb the Overlord Channel fleet

Morgan & COSSAC advise landong in Normandy within the Bay of the Seine close to Caen

Churchill & Roosevelt meet in Quebec, Canada to further discuss Overlord timetable, planning

Churchill & Roosevelt meet in Quebec, Canada to further discuss Overlord timetable, planning

Commands the US First Army during Operation Overlord

The initial draft of the COSSAC plan for Operation Overlord is accepted at the Quebec Conference in August 1943, but no supreme commander was appointed for several months

Ordered by the CCS to take "necessary executive action" to implement Overlord

The HQ for the 1st US Army opens in England

Arrives in England to take command of the First Army

Meets Russian representives & confirms the decision at Quebec to launch Overlord

Hitler issues Directive No. 51, a plan to deter or prevent an Allied invasion on Germany's western front

Confirms British committment to Overlord at the Cairo Conference

Field Marshal Rommel begins inspection of Atlantic Wall, Germany's coastal defence system stretching from Norway to the Spanish frontier

Agrees to mount Overlord & send a diversionary force to the south of France in May 1944

Given command of the assault phase for Overlord on the ground

Agreed to mount Overlord & send a diversionary force to the south of France in May 1944

Churchill & Roosevelt agree Gen Eisenhower will command Allied forces for the planned invasion of Europe, Eisenhowers appointment as Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force, publicly announced by Roosevelt

Churchill & Roosevelt agree General Eisenhower will command Allied forces for the invasion of Europe

Churchill & Roosevelt agree Gen Eisenhower will command Allied forces for the planned invasion of Europe, Eisenhowers appointment as Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force, publicly announced by Roosevelt

Directs Commanders to divert as many LCS carriers as possible to Overlord & Anvil

Eisenhower & Montgomerry insist that the scale of the invasion be expanded, to prevent the invaders being restricted to a narrow beachhead, with insufficient room to land follow-up formations, delaying Overlord to June. Eisenhower & Montgomerry both first see the COSSAC plan on 31 December 1943 at Marrakech in Morroco, in a conference with Winston Churchill

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

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

Gets some LCTs from Burma against the Japanese for use in Operation Overlord

Appointed Supreme Allied Commander for Operation Overlord

Says that "if they attack int westthat attack will decide the war"

Appointed to plan British & US tactical air forces for Operation Overlord

Appointed Commander in Chief, Navy for Operation Overlord

Prepares a report saying the German Army is not prepared to face an Allied attack

The Allies agree the plans for D-Day

Montgomerys plans for D-Day are approved by the Allies

The directive appointing Eisenhower Supreme Allied Commander for Overlord is issued

Arrives in England to assume duties as Supreme Allied Commander of Operation Overlord

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

US D-Day beach landing training exercise (Operation Beaver) at Slapton Sands, Devon, demonstrate a dangerous lack of coordination between units

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

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

German torpedo boats nearly discover a mock landing but all 600 soldiers are drowned

Montgomerry presents Overlord plans to senior commanders, the King, Smuts & Churchill

The US will invade Utah & Omaha beaches, the British Gold & Juno & the Canadians Sword

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

Final conference at Montgomerys HQ in St Pauls School

Montgomerry presents the Overlord plan to Commanders, the King, Smuts & Churchill

Subordinate commanders are informed D-Day will be 5th June

Cables OKW saying the Allies cannot attack without 4 days good weather

The Allied invasion force of 150,000 departs from England on 5,300 ships

The weather in the Channel deteriorates & the Allied invasion force is recalled

Postpones Operation Overlord, due 5th June, because of bad weather

Arrives home hoping to convince Hitler to defend the Cotentin coast

3 Airbourne Divisions land behind enemy lines at St Mere-Eglise & Caen

Announces an imminent Allied assault on the coast of France in the Commons

The highest tonnage of bombs in one night during the war is dropped by Britain. Dummy parachutists are dropped just east of the intended landing area. 176,000 men & 20,000 vehicles are to be landed in 2 days. 1,000 British bombers strike 10 German gun batteries, 5,000 tons of bombs are dropped

176,000 men & 20,000 vehicles are to be landed in 2 days

Gives the go ahead for Operation Overlord for 6th June

Commands infantryman who land by glider & capture 2 bridges codenamed Pegasus & Horsa

Leaves his HQ & returns to Germany, convinced the Allies are not about to invade

Lands the 2nd British Army from the river Orme to St-Vaast-La-Hogue

The US Army succesfully captrures Omah & Utah beaches

Leads the infantry capture of 2 bridges codenamed Pegasus & Horsa. 1st Allied death in Normandy

Commands the British 30th Corps on Gold beach

1st day of the bombing of Caen

To the east, Rommels nightmare had been realised, a continuous British-Canadian beachhead, 20km (12 miles) across and up to 10km (six miles) deep. By midnight neither Bayeux nor Port-en-Bessin had been taken, the depleted American force was several kilometres short of Port-en-Bessin but the French Resistance had taken over Bayeux

Commands the US 7th Army Corps on Utah beach

Crocker's I Corps directed the British and Canadian assault formations advancing toward Caen.

Dempsey commanded the British Second Army landing east of Bayeux and advancing toward Caen.

Captures the Islands of St Marcouf off Utah beach

The Allies land 130,000 men & 22,000 parachutists & lose 9,500 killed or wounded. The Allied landings take place with 487,653 men & 89,728 making it ashore. Plans & commands the Allied capture of Germany from D-Day

Parachutes behind enemy lines & captures Benouville, including Pegasus Bridge

At about 9:30 Hermanville is captured

Sets up an HQ at Ranville

Commands the US 5th Army Corps on Omaha beach

Parachutes behind enemy lines & helps disable gun emplacements at Merville

Keller commanded the Canadian division landing on Juno Beach and advancing toward the Caen-Bayeux road.

Major General Rod Keller, the Canadian commander at Juno Beach, reports to General Crerar in England at 10:30, "Beach-head gained. Well on our way to our immediate objectives"

Commands the ships of the Western Task force which lands forces on Utah & Omaha

Marcks corps stands in the middle of the Allied Normandy landings. Commands the 21st Panzer Division

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

Royal Marine Commandos land on Gold Beach & capture Arromanches

The British capture Bayeaux

The British 3rd Division fails to capture Caen

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

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

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

The Allies lose 9,500 killed or wounded.

Parachutes behind enemy lines disabling gun emplacements threatening Sword Beach

Parachutes behind enemy lines & helps secure Pegasus Bridge

Commands 137 warships, 4,000 landing craft & 2,000 support ships

Rennie's division landed on Sword Beach with orders to advance rapidly toward Caen.

Commands a landing of paratroopers to capture a bridgehead on the Merderet

Correcttly predicts the Allies will land near Cherbourg, Hitler does not agree

Stays in Herrlingen to celebrate his wifes 50th birthday. Rommel is informed by General Spiedel 7.30AM that Allied paratroopers have landed. Rommel cancels his meeting with Hitler & returns to France

Learns of the invasion & returns to his HQ after celebrating his wifes birthday

To the east, Rommels nightmare had been realised, a continuous British-Canadian beachhead, 20km (12 miles) across and up to 10km (six miles) deep

Lands on Omaha Beach, grandson of the late President

Son of the late President, the only General to land with the 1st wave. Leads the 1st assault, Eighth Regimental Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division

Keeps most of his forces at Calais

Diverts the 12th SS & Panzer Lehr to meet the invasion. Believes, like Hitler, the landings are a feint for Allied landings at Pas de Calais

Rommel is informed by General Spiedel 7.30AM that Allied paratroopers have landed

Commands a landing of paratroopers to capture a bridgehead on the Merderet

Arrives at the front in Caen

Commands paratroopers who land on the eastern side of the Cotentin Peninsular only

The US 5th Corps capture Isigny on the way to uniting the Utah & Omaha

Leads the 9th Div ashore at Utah Beach

Manages to land 16 Divisions ashore facing 14 enemy Divisions

Rundstedt & Rommel meet Hitler, wanting withdrawal from Normandy but are turned down

Withdrawal from Normandy is turned down by Hitler. Hitler orders a counterattack from Bayeux

The Allies gain a bridgehead over the River Odon near Caen

Turns down Rundstedt & Rommels request to withdraw from Normandy. Orders defence of Normandy to the last man

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

Juno is the second most heavily defended of the five landing sites chosen by the Allies, General Wilhelm Richter is in charge of the 716th Division guarding the beach, with 11 heavy batteries of 155 mm guns and 9 medium batteries of 75 mm guns

Commander of Army units in South France

Commands the 1st Airbourne Division during the Normandy landings

Instructions to construct bogus airfields to be bombed by the Allies are decrypted

During Operation Overlord, subordinate to Bradley as Deputy Commander of the First Army

Commander of Panzer Group West

Rundstedt is dismissed by Hitler for suggesting that the High Command make peace

Provides panzer support saying the British are "little fish" to be thrown back

Prevents the Canadian 9th Brigade from advancing on Le Carpiquet airfield

Patton arrives in Normandy

The High Command keep forces in Calais beleiving there will be a larger invasion there

The Allies begin their breakout from Normandy

Orders von Kluge to assemble 8 panzer Divisions to cut Pattons lines of communication

The Germans attack Avranches & gain 20km but are driven back by fighter-bombers. Hitler orders von Kluge to assemble 8 panzer Divisions to cut off Patton. Can only assemble 4 Divisions with a total of 250 tanks to defend Avranches

Orders Patton to clear Brittany with a "minimum forces"

Wants Eisenhower to transfer "D-Day" from Marsailles to Brest, Eisenhower refuses

Endorses Bradleys order for Patton to clear Brittany with "minimum forces"

Orders Patton to create a "short hook" from Le Mans to Falaise to trap the Germans

Ordered by Bradley to create a "short hook" from Le Mans to Falaise

Fails to persuade Eisenhower to transfer D-Day from Marsailles to Brest

Turns the 5th & Free French 2nd northward to Le Mans

The "Falaise Pocket" forms as a French patrol enters Argentan

Watches the D-Day landings & wires Eisenhower saying how succesful they are

Commander of First US Army, succeeds Bradley

Arrives in England to organize a US tactical air force in the United Kingdom

Arrives in England to organize a US tactical air force in the United Kingdom. Commands the 9th US Airforce for Operation Overlord

Appointed Commander of the 2nd Tactical Airforce

Commands the British Second Army during Operation Overlord

Arrives in England to assume duties as Supreme Allied Commander of Operation Overlord. Carries out a plan to bomb the French railway system, despite Churchills opposition

Plans to counter the Allied invasion of Normandy are made at Margival

Directive 51 is issued the strengthen the westeern defences

Mistakenly believes the Allies will land near the Somme & the Schelde

Given the responsibility of developing ampibious armoured support, "Hobarts funnies"

Commander in Chief of the Allied airforces for Operation Overlord

Helps convince the Germans he will be leading an Allied landing in the Pas de Calais

Responsible for western intelligence for the OKW

Commands the Tactical Forces East during Operation Overlord