Normandy landings

The Normandy landings were the landing operations of the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II. Its codename was Operation Neptune and later became known as D-Day.

Background

In response to Joseph Stalin's call for a second front in western Europe after the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, the Allies initially planned an invasion for 1942 but faced delays. Instead, they achieved victories in the Mediterranean and launched successful campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, and mainland Italy by mid-1943. The decision to invade Normandy in 1944 was made at conferences in Washington and Tehran. Overcoming challenges like the lack of port facilities, the Allies developed Mulberry harbors and specialized tanks. Initially set for 1 May, the invasion, led by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, was delayed to June due to the need for additional landing craft. It involved thirty-nine Allied divisions and marked a pivotal moment in World War II.

Beach landings

On 6 June 1944, a LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel) from the US Coast Guard-manned USS Samuel Chase disembarked troops of Company E, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division and waded onto the Fox Green section of Omaha Beach, Normandy, France. American soldiers encountered resistance from the newly formed German 352nd Division when landing. During the initial landing two-thirds of Company E were killed.

Destroyers provided fire support, and by noon, artillery and ammunition shortages weakened German defenses. About 600 men reached higher ground by late morning. Lanes on the beach were cleared, and gullies were opened for vehicle movement. The beachhead expanded in the following days, with their initial objectives achieved by June 9.

Aftermath

The Normandy landings, the largest seaborne invasion in history, involved nearly 5,000 craft and over 160,000 troops on D-Day, with 10,000 Allied casualties, including 4,414 confirmed dead. German losses were around 1,000. Initial objectives like capturing key towns were not achieved, and the beachheads weren't connected until June 12. Caen, a major target, remained in German hands until July 21. Successful Allied strategies included incomplete German defenses, effective deceptions, air supremacy, disruption of French infrastructure, and indecisiveness in the German command structure. Civilian casualties on D-Day and D+1 were estimated at 3,000.

Legacy

In 2012, the photograph of US Marines coming ashore on the beach taken by the US Coast Guard petty officer Robert F. Sargent, was acquired by the Assassin Clay Kaczmarek and hidden in the Animus for his successor, Desmond Miles to find. Desmond did so in September of that year. The picture was hidden with the Glyph puzzle titled "The Bunker".

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed II (photo only)