D-Day: Beachhead

Page 3 of 7

• 1. A controversial plan
• 2. Choosing Normandy
• 3. Build-up and bluff
• 4. Window of opportunity
• 5. D-Day
• 6. Beachhead secured
• 7. Find out more
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Build-up and bluff

Meanwhile Operation Bolero, codename for the American build-up in Britain, transformed southern England into an armed camp. By early June 1944 more than two million Americans had arrived, along with a quarter-of-a-million Canadians.

Despite massive amounts of equipment, including thousands of aircraft, tanks and guns, many American divisions were poorly trained. Some British veteran formations, survivors of action in North Africa, Sicily and Italy, were unenthusiastic about a frontal assault on Hitler's Fortress Europe.

The planners did all they could to ensure a successful assault. By the spring of 1944 all the divisions taking part in the initial seaborne landing had participated in extensive amphibious exercises, usually off the coast of Scotland. During one exercise, off Slapton Sands in Devon, German E Boats sank three landing craft, drowning more than 700 American personnel.

The British created 79th Armoured Division, a formation of specialised armoured assault vehicles, including Duplex drive (DD) 'swimming' tanks, mine-clearing (Flail) tanks, tanks with enormous Petard mortars which could drop explosive charges next to bunkers, cracking the concrete, and tanks with flame-throwers (Crocodiles), which would then pump liquid fire through the cracks, effectively cooking the defenders.

All the British and Canadian assault divisions had units of the 79th Division attached to them. The British offered the Americans the equipment as well, but the US High Command turned down everything except the DD tanks.

'Vast, fake army camps appeared around Maidstone and Canterbury... '

Secrecy was absolutely crucial. To mislead the Germans, the British devised ingenious deception plans, notably Operation Fortitude. They deliberately transmitted and broadcast all the radio traffic generated by US forces in south-west England, and British and Canadian forces in south central England, from radio stations in Kent. Vast, fake army camps appeared around Maidstone and Canterbury, with thousands of partly concealed dummy tanks and aircraft.

One of the Allies' most flamboyant generals, George Patton, toured the area. German agents 'turned' by MI5 leaked the news that the Allies' most powerful assault formation, US 3rd Army, was destined to assault the Pas de Calais.

The deception worked. The Germans concentrated their most powerful formation, 15th Army, in the Pas de Calais. Normandy was held by the smaller, but still formidable 7th Army. Had 15th Army had turned up on D-Day, the landings would probably have ended in disaster.

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Published: 2004-05-19