To understand D-Day, a person must first understand the years of events that preceded the invasion. The story of D-Day began when World War II began in Europe. The cause of the war started with the alliance of Germany, under the control of the Nazi party, and Italy, which was under the control of the fascist regime.1 The leader of Germany at this time was Adolf Hitler, while Benito Mussolini led Italy. Before the beginning of the war, Germany and Italy, also self-proclaimed as the Axis powers, invaded a section

After D-day, Germany attempted only one more offensive against the Allies. In December 1944, the Allied invasion stalled around the border of France and Germany. This is when Germany decided to make one final offensive. This attack, which came to be known as the Battle of the Bulge, surprised the Allied forces. The United States and the rest of the Allies, however, defeated the Germans in this battle and began marching toward Germany. In March 1945, the United States made its way into Germany. At this same time, another Allied power, the Soviet Union also moved into Germany. One month later, the two sides of the Allied force met in Germany. After this occurred, it became very apparent that the war in Europe was basically over. On May 8, 1945, Germany finally surrendered. Citizens of the Allied powers everywhere celebrated the news of this day, which came to be known as Victory over Europe day.18 The news of the German surrender left Japan as the United States' only remaining enemy. The United States could now focus on the war that had been going on in the Pacific ever since the beginning of the war. After Roosevelt's death on April 12 1945, Vice-president Harry Truman took the office as president. Truman proceeded to end the entire war by dropping atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Eisenhower decided to send paratroopers over the Atlantic Wall and penetrate the German border to begin the invasion. To accomplish this, Eisenhower had to initiate training sessions for these paratroopers so they could learn what to do when the time came to attack. Training began in the United Kingdom, North Africa, and at home in the United States for all troops that were to be included in the invasion. The plan for attack stated that early in the morning of the invasion, paratroopers would be sent in and would attack the Germans from the inside. Next, still in the middle of the night, British planes would strike and weaken the Atlantic Wall, the German infantry forces, and the camps set up by the Germans. After that, an amphibious team sent in from boats would land on the beach and attack the Germans in a regular battle situation. The site of the invasion was also decided on at this time. The two beaches that the Americans would land were code named Utah and Omaha. After knowing all that all that must take place, Eisenhower now needed the supplies and men to accomplish the job. Men from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada all entered the ranks of the Allied forces preparing for the invasion. By the time of the invasion, almost three million men and two and a half million tons of equipment were ready for what would be the largest invasion of its kind in history.8 The troops would be carried to the beaches on boats called LCVP's which stands for Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel.9 These boats could carry thirty-two men, but they did not have seats. The troops simply had to crouch into the boats in rows and wait to be let out.

In June, only the 5th, 6th, and 7th days had both the right phase of the moon and the right tides at the right hours. But on Saturday, the 3rd, the weather was bad and the forecast was discouraging. By Sunday it was clear that Monday, the 5th, would be hopeless. The prediction was for weather so bad that the air forces wouldn't be able to deliver their all-important bombardment. General Eisenhower postponed the attack for twenty-four hours. The question was whether it (the attack) could be made on the 6th.10

After the air force had done all that it could, the time had come for the most important job of the entire invasion: the first waves. "The enormous weight of the whole gigantic effort rested entirely, for the time being, on the men in the first waves."14 The men who had traveled for hours in the LCVP's across the English Channel had to exit their ships, run onto the beach, and into their nightmares. The goal of these men was to make t

Some common words found in the essay are:
Vehicle Personnel9, War II, Atlantic Wall, France5 Roosevelt, British American, North Africa, English Channel, France England, Wall German, George Taylor, world war, world war ii, war ii, atlantic wall, france england, axis powers, united kingdom, air force, declared war, soviet union, change course history, entire invasion, june 6 1944, holes atlantic wall, job entire invasion,
Approximate Word count = 2742
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)