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starter activity Film Veteran On 6 June 1944 the Allied Forces launched the D-Day landings in Europe to bring the war with Nazi Germany to a swift end. Watch the two clips – an interview with a veteran and a movie adaption. Which is most useful in finding about the experiences of ordinary soldiers? What other types of sources would you use?
Key words: Operation Overlord reconnaissance decoy Could you manage to stage your own D-Day? TBAT explain how Allies staged D-Day landings To evaluate the factors which led to its success LOs
Your task Task sheet D-Day, 6 June 1944, marked the start of the allied invasion of Europe, the greatest amphibious operation in history. Code-named OVERLORD, this vast cross-Channel attack enabled the United Kingdom, the United States and their allies to land substantial forces on mainland Europe and defeat the enemy in battle. Your task is to imagine you are a military general planning the invasion of Europe. Have you got what it takes to land your troops and break through the German defences?
1. You need to gather your troops and supplies near departure zone. How do you conceal them so they won’t be spotted by German reconnaissance planes?
US troops, vehicles, supplies arrive in southern England Training Deception – operation FORTITUDE Bombing Reconnaissance January 1942 4,000 July 1942 80,000 January 1943 120,000 July 1943 240,000 January 1944 930,000 May 1944 1,500,000 Operation Fortitude Table showing build up of US troops in UK
2. Which site do you choose for the invasion? Calais is much nearer but heavily defended. Normandy & Brittany are further away, but there is more chance of getting past the German defences.
Calais too heavily defended • Normandy relatively near, but less well defended • Coastline more suitable for landing invasion army & equipment • Germans expecting Allies to land in Calais
3.Once you have chosen your landing site, how do you deceive the Germans into thinking you are not going to land there?
Allied bombing of Calais intensified • Misinformation & decoys – e.g. ‘Man Who Never Was’ • 9 separate major decoy operations including, e.g. Operation Titanic (10 SAS paratroopers simulated major invasion of Boulogne) • RAF dropped foil strips (windows) to blind German radar
4. There are only a few days to go now until D-Day. With so many people involved, how do you stop news of your invasion plans leaking out?
Soldiers restricted to military bases • Leave cancelled • News blackout • Movement around coastline restricted • Crossword in Telegraph contained many Overlord codewords US troops in Portsmouth before D-Day, aka ‘The Longest Day’
5.You arrive at the beaches and find they are heavily defended with mines, barbed wire and anti-tank weapons. How do you get your troops ashore with the minimum number of casualties?
Aerial bombardment Landings at low tide Hobart’s funnies - ‘Swimming’, bridge & flail tanks Infantry follow behind armoured vehicles Heavy machinery, e.g. bridge-laying Bridge tanks Swimming tanks
Sherman ‘flail’ tank Diagram showing Allied invasion strategy
6. Your troops have landed, but they need constant supplies of weapons, food and fuel. How do you manage to maintain your supplies throughout the heavy fighting?
‘Mulberry’ harbours • Pluto – undersea fuel pipeline Mulberry harbours
Hey girls! What factors do you think led to the success of D-Day?
Your task • You are General Eisenhower. You have been asked to explain to Winston Churchill why the D-Day landings were successful. Write a report explaining the reasons for your success. Consider these factors • Chance • Military planning • New technology • Individuals Insert any other factors you think were important
Key words: Operation Overlord reconnaissance decoy Could you manage to stage your own D-Day? TBAT explain how Allies staged D-Day landings To evaluate the factors which led to its success LOs
Extension The British used lots of deception techniques during WWII. What’s odd about the stamp on the left? Find out about the part played by magician Jasper Maskelyne in winning the war
