History Fact Finder | War and Conflict: Twentieth Century - Why Was The Invasion Of Normandy A Decisive Battle?

Why was the invasion of Normandy a decisive battle?

On June 6, 1944, Allied forces invaded Normandy, a region in northwestern France that lies along the English Channel, and liberated France from Nazi (an abbreviation for the National Socialist German Workers's Party) German occupation. It was a decisive battle because it proved to be a turning point in World War II (1939–45): after the Allies (the United States and Great Britain) liberated France, they swept across the country into Europe and eventually forced Germany to surrender. Officially called Operation Overlord and headed by General Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) of the United States, the invasion had been in the planning since 1943 and constituted the largest seaborne campaign in history. Despite delays because of poor weather, Allied forces crossed the English Channel and arrived on the beaches of Normandy on the morning of June 6. Brutal...

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