l19 day of d

Question 1

role of paratroopers on d-day

Answer 1

destroy german guns that threatened the landing beaches to the east.
destroy bridges used to bring reinforcements into normandy coastline
take control of logistics and securing causeways near utah beach

Question 2

aim of the beach landings on d-day

Answer 2

to break through the alantic wall and establish a beachhead while more allied troops land

Question 3

problems with the omaha beach landings

Answer 3

terrain at omaha suited for defender
strong currents sent men into wrong places
27/29 amphibious dd tanks sunk due to sea conditions, no close armoured support

Question 4

reasons for the ineffective german response

Answer 4

somehow largely went undetected by germans
rommel was visiting family and most senior german commanders are at training
orders slow among chaos or disrupted by paratroopers
many in german high command believed normandy was a diversion to the non existent attack on pas de calais and hitler was asleep

Question 5

outcomes of operation overlord

Answer 5

germans beaten
400k german casualties v 230k allied casualties
stalin happy :D
end of august, allied forces liberated paris and by september they had liberated belgium
early 1945 4.5m allied troops at germoney’s border

Question 6

significance of operation overlord

Answer 6

largest amphibious invasion in history
germans lost 400k of best units
precursor to invsasion of germoney and end of ww2 in european theatre
retook france and belgium