D-Day - Causes and Consequences - Term Paper Example

Introduction: The history of human civilization witnessed many forms of brutality, destruction, and devastation of human lives as well as their property in name of war. However, none of those war casted an impact of equal magnitude as that of the World War II. Consequently, the World War II is also considered, perhaps, as the most important incident that determined the course of human civilization in the modern era. Within its six years of span (1939-1945), the Great War II exhibited several trends of strategic and war political movements that determined course of the war and finally ensured triumph of the Allied Force over Axis. While attack of the Japanese Air Force on Pearl Harbor on 7th December, 1941 is considered as one of the most aggressive steps by the Axis that cornered military power of America, on the other, it also is considered that the very incident also helped in evoking the indomitable fighting spirit within Americans that in the longer run, led to gradual diminishing of the Axis power around the world. It is from this time onwards, the members of the Allied Force clearly realized that unless their mutual relation is not strengthened and rather than being defensive, the policy of counter attacking is not adopted, their complete defeat is ensured. If the Pearl Harbor attack can be considered as the most important incident that initiated change of course in World War II, the D-Day can definitely be considered as the most explicit even which ensured starting of the end of German supremacy during World War II. History of the D-Day: Execution of the Operation Overload, which is the official nomenclature of the D-Day, on 6th June, 1944, might be just another operation or strategic movement of the Allied against the Axis, however, in reality it took several years to plan completion of the approach. According to historical references, it tool almost three years to make the entire plan, and also considered as the first such collaborative approach that brought two giants, the United States and Soviet Union together, to stand up against German atrocities (Hastings 369). The Washington Arcadia Conference is considered as an event of high interest in this context as primary planning of executing D-Day that is invasion of the shores of Normandy, France was made. It was agreed tentatively that in April, 1943, a collaboration of 30 US and 18 British divisions would participate in the action. Churchill’s meeting with Stalin in Moscow (August 1942), is regarded as another positive aspect in the context of strengthening such attack. Stalin also was quite concerned regarding increase of Hitler’s power in global context; at the same time, he also was concerned to diminish the pressure of Soviet force that was busy in defending their nation from coming under occupation of the Axis (Hastings 369). One of the most important factors that Allied leaders were putting so much importance on occupying the ports of France that they realized, unless power of the Fuehrer cannot be curtailed in Europe, it would be almost impossible for them to attain a secured position in the global context and as Europe remains the main source of power for Germany, in order to fight them, it also becomes necessary to provide adequate military supply. However, execution of the plan can only be materialized if the Allied have an easy access to the ports of Europe. France, having many superior ports, was considered to be an effective platform for execution of the plan; consequently, the importance of freeing those ports from hands of German occupation was also realized (Zaloga, and Gerrard 7). The German Intelligence was also not entirely reluctant towards assuming the possible steps of the Allies to curtail their power and consequently apprehended that the process of reducing German power can commence by attacking over the ports of France as those areas can provide the triumphant party to receive an easy access to different parts of Europe. German Intelligence apprehended that main target of the Allies could be Pas de Calais, as the region contained some of the most excellent ports of France. Thus, they increased their power to defend the Allies invasion to such an extent that planners of Operation Overload considered the ports of Brittany and Normandy alternative options. Brittany was also excluded from the list of possibilities as its location was quite distant from other English ports, raising a possibility of late communication that the Allies could not afford during such a crucial stage of war. Additionally, there was also a possibility that Germans could have secluded their forces closing the exit of Breton peninsula (Zaloga, and Gerrard 7). After keeping all these factors under serious consideration the Normandy emerged as the most effective option to execute plans of the operation. Irrespective of the fact that compared to other parts of France, Normandy offered lesser port facilities to the Allies, however, its close proximity with the English Channel and lesser concentration of German forces surely encouraged the Allies to start the operation in this region. It also was under plan that once Normandy will be occupied, the next step would be to ensure “suitable port facilities” and that responsibility was assigned to US army that they would occupy Cherbourg first and then the Breton ports. In order to proper and systematic execution of the plan occupation of the Utah Beach emerged as an issue of primary importance. Occupation of the Utah Beach was provided with highest importance among total five D-Day landings as it provided best reach of the Cherbourg (Zaloga, and Gerrard 7-8). D-Day: 6th June, 1944 Irrespective of all the planning, and assumed success over the opposition, the US force encountered a great deal of hardship in occupying the Beach. On one hand, the US soldiers had to save themselves from “intense German machine-gun and mortar fire” (Hall, and Hall 140) and on the other hand, the DD tanks, which were specifically designed to save the invaders from experiencing brutal oppression from opposition, sank and completely failed to execute the purpose. As the due to such massive failure, infantry was entirely exposed before German attack occupation of the Utah was finally materialized due to “acts of heroism and supreme bravery” (Hall, and Hall 140) by the US infantry. Consequent failure of plans and even mistake of the English bombards to destroy German defense enhanced plight of US soldiers to such an extent that Anthony Hall and Tony Hall have observed, “It is a slaughter. The infantry land to find not one tank on the breach and all the German defenses intact. Boat-loads of men are killed before they even leave their leading crafts (Hall, and Hall 144). However, finally due to immense bravery and indomitable attitude to attain the goal compelled the Germans to withdraw their occupation of the Utah Beach. Keeping in mind the struggle of US force from quite a vulnerable position against the supreme German force, furnished with all forms of modern ammunitions, historian like Joseph Balkoski is of opinion: “Although many “D-Days” occurred in World War II, history recognizes only one” (Balkoski 4) Works Cited Balkoski, Joseph. Omaha Beach: D-Day, June 6, 1944. Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. 2006. Gerrard, Howard. and Zaloga, Steven J. D-Day 1944: Utah Beach & Us Airborne Landings. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. 2004. Hall, Tony. and Hall, Anthony. D-Day: Operation Overlord Day by Day. Minnesota: Zenith Imprint. 2004. Hastings, Max. The Second World War: A World in Flames. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. 2004. Read More