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Prior to the landings in Normandy, a huge deception campaign was started by the Allies. Radio transmissions were deliberately allowed to be intercepted saying that the landings would be at Calais, not Normandy. Also, on the days before the attack, squadrons of bombers dropped flakes of tin foil on the route to Calais to try to fool the German radar into thinking an Allied fleet was advancing toward Calais. The deception worked, becasue on the day of the actual invasion, much of the German's main army was held back in anticipation of the "real" invasion coming in Calais.

Prior to the landings in Normandy, a huge deception campaign was started by the Allies. Radio transmissions were deliberately allowed to be intercepted saying that the landings would be at Calais, not Normandy. Also, on the days before the attack, squadrons of bombers dropped flakes of tin foil on the route to Calais to try to fool the German radar into thinking an Allied fleet was advancing toward Calais. The deception worked, becasue on the day of the actual invasion, much of the German's main army was held back in anticipation of the "real" invasion coming in Calais.

== The Night ==

== The Night ==

The Merville Battery consisted of four heavy guns in a massive concrete emplacement pointed at Sword beach. It was protected by mine fields and antitank ditches, a 15 foot thick hedge of barbed wire, more mine fields, a maze of machine-gun-filled trenches, and a garrison of 200 men. The plan was to have 100 bombers drop 4,000 pound bombs on the battery. Glider trains were to bring in jeeps, antitank guns, and flamethrowers, Bangalore torpedoes (to cut through the barbed wire), mine detectors, mortars, and ladders. When the ground troops moved in, three gliders filled with men were to crash land on the battery, and if there is no success signal by 5:30, naval bombardment would commence. In reality, Bombing attack failed, and the glider train was lost. Only 150 men of 700 could be found, and that took so much time that they only had one hour to take the battery. They did not have the signal to give to the gliders that were to crash-land on it, so the gliders did not land on the battery. In spite of all this, they still managed to take the battery.

The Merville Battery consisted of four heavy guns in a massive concrete emplacement pointed at Sword beach. It was protected by mine fields and antitank ditches, a 15 foot thick hedge of barbed wire, more mine fields, a maze of machine-gun-filled trenches, and a garrison of 200 men. The plan was to have 100 bombers drop 4,000 pound bombs on the battery. Glider trains were to bring in jeeps, antitank guns, and flamethrowers, Bangalore torpedoes (to cut through the barbed wire), mine detectors, mortars, and ladders. When the ground troops moved in, three gliders filled with men were to crash land on the battery, and if there is no success signal by 5:30, naval bombardment would commence. In reality, Bombing attack failed, and the glider train was lost. Only 150 men of 700 could be found, and that took so much time that they only had one hour to take the battery. They did not have the signal to give to the gliders that were to crash-land on it, so the gliders did not land on the battery. In spite of all this, they still managed to take the battery.

Before the beach invasions began, 9,000 planes and hundreds of warships bombarded the coast. The craters are still visible in many places, including Point du Hoc.

Before the beach invasions began, 9,000 planes and hundreds of warships bombarded the coast. The craters are still visible in many places, including [[Point du Hoc]].

One of many bizarre historical coincidences, almost none of the German commanders were at the front on the day of the invasion. Rommel was back in Germany to speak with Hitler and for his wife's birthday, June 6. Von Tempelhof, Army Group B’s operations officer, was in Germany. Admiral Theodor Krandke, the naval commander in the west, was in Bordeaux. Major General Heinz Hellmich, Lieutenant General Karl von Schlieben, and Major General Wilhelm Falley were on their way to war games in Rennes. Colonel Wilhelm Meyer-Detring was on leave, and Hitler was at his Berchtesgaden retreat in Bavaria.

One of many bizarre historical coincidences, almost none of the German commanders were at the front on the day of the invasion. Rommel was back in Germany to speak with Hitler and for his wife's birthday, June 6. Von Tempelhof, Army Group B’s operations officer, was in Germany. Admiral Theodor Krandke, the naval commander in the west, was in Bordeaux. Major General Heinz Hellmich, Lieutenant General Karl von Schlieben, and Major General Wilhelm Falley were on their way to war games in Rennes. Colonel Wilhelm Meyer-Detring was on leave, and Hitler was at his Berchtesgaden retreat in Bavaria.

German army doctrine also said to hold the Panzers in reserve several miles away from the beaches and allow the Allies to land, then pound them with the Panzers once the troops had landed.  Even after the Allies had landed, Hitler held the main Panzer force in reserve because he thought that the landings in Normandy were a diversion and the real invasion would come in Calais and be commanded by General George S. Patton.

German army doctrine also said to hold the Panzers in reserve several miles away from the beaches and allow the Allies to land, then pound them with the Panzers once the troops had landed.  Even after the Allies had landed, Hitler held the main Panzer force in reserve because he thought that the landings in Normandy were a diversion and the real invasion would come in Calais and be commanded by General [[George S. Patton]].

The Normandy invasion signalled the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany, and the [[Allies]] would be slowed very little once the main force had landed. Two artificial ports were created that provided a constant supply of reinforcements. The day would be remembered in years to come as the "Longest Day".

The Normandy invasion signalled the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany, and the [[Allies]] would be slowed very little once the main force had landed. Two artificial ports were created that provided a constant supply of reinforcements. The day would be remembered in years to come as the "Longest Day".

[[Image:D-day 2.jpg]]

[[Image:D-day 2.jpg]]