The situation
By 1944 the Allies had planned for years to open a second front in Western Europe. Germany expected an invasion but not where or when, and Allied deception focused German attention on the Pas-de-Calais.
The decision
The landings needed a rare combination of moon, tide and weather. A storm forced a postponement from 5 June. Eisenhower then gave the go-ahead for 6 June on the strength of a forecast break in the weather (see The D-Day weather call).
Airborne divisions dropped overnight to seize bridges and road junctions. At dawn, after naval and air bombardment, troops landed on Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. At Omaha the bombardment had left defences largely intact and the first waves suffered terribly before small groups fought their way off the beach.
What it cost
Allied casualties on D-Day are generally estimated at around 10,000, including some 4,400 killed. The beachhead held. Within three months Paris was liberated.
