I had to do an information leaflet for my English Language coursework, so I chose to do a piece on the D-Day landings for a musuem leaflet.
However, one trick. It was supposed to be aimed at teenagers, from a school, visiting the musuem on a school educational trip or something similar.
Here goes, anyway. I'm not too familiar with information writing, so don't expect much.
Oh, by the way, this has been handed in already, so I can't really make any changes.
Also, it's not actually in this format. This is just the plain text.
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Historical Background – Why it happened
The Nazis had conquered most of Europe, but by 1944 was on the back foot, as on the Eastern Front vs. the Russians the tide had turned against them, and they had been pushed out of North Africa some of Italy. It was time for an attack on their Western Front, to keep them stretched.
The Allies (America, Britain, Canada mainly) were always wary of a frontal attack on Europe. Ocean assaults against heavily defended land positions often caused high death tolls, so the decision was a hard one. The D-Day landings were going to have to be the most planned in military history.
They chose Normandy. It was sheltered from disruptive winds but further from Germany than the Pas de Calais, where the Nazis thought an invasion was more likely. Secrecy was crucial – they invented fake plans to mislead the Germans, sent radio transmissions from South-west England, and constructed fake army camps. They even fooled the Germans into thinking there would be two invasions! The deceptions worked. Germany concentrated their best troops in Calais. If they had been there at D-Day, the whole plan may have failed.
June 5 1944 was the original date chosen, but strong winds struck again after a story summer and a 24-hour delay was issued. The weather cleared up and the operation was given the go ahead, for June 6th.
The Event – How it happened
0000h - As the first paratroopers landed on the Normandy Coast, at approximately midnight, Operation Overlord had begun. Hundreds upon thousands of men would soon contest the largest invasion ever attempted.
0015h - Fifteen minutes later, innovative glider technology enabled men to capture two bridges of significant importance across the Caen Canal. These were the vanguard for the round assault, and would later prevent German armoured reinforcements from counter-attacking.
0300h - Almost three hours later the first glimpses of landing craft could be spotted from the German positions at Omaha Beach, to be assaulted by the US infantry. Not long after other US troops attacked Utah, British forces landed on Sword and Gold, and the Canadians went for Juno. Days of concentrated naval and aerial bombing had left much of German fortified German positions ruined. But one was left standing. The job to neutralise the menacing rock of Pointe du Hoc was given to a battalion of the US Rangers. They would clamber the foreboding, jagged cliffs.
0630h - The first landing craft smashed their way onto the sand and men poured out, like swarms of wasps. They stung and battled their way forwards. British and Canadian forces quickly brushed away light resistance. The Americans on Utah did the same. Unfortunately the men at Omaha were confronted by elite troops and became unstuck. Heroics and sheer guts of the local leadership eventually enabled the troops to advance.
0710h - The Rangers scaled the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc to silence the deadly battery, already bombed and shelled. The men managed to destroy the guns even though they had been found one mile further inland. They lost half their men.
D-Day +1 - By the next day a lodgement area had been established, three sectors of British/Canadian and two American sectors in total. But it had been at a terrible cost. 3,000 men had died, and up to 6,000 were wounded.
Questions
Why is it called D-Day?
D-Day is the standard name for a day in which a military operation commences. It is easier to say when referring to days afterwards e.g. D-Day +1, D-Day +7, and also to prevent confusion – if T-time was used as the starting point, soldiers might have different opinions of when to eat!
How many people were involved in D-Day?
Nearly two million people on both sides viciously contended the fate of Northern France including air, naval and ground forces.
How did Allied troops receive munitions and supplies?
They constructed artificial harbours known by the codename of ‘Mulberry’. They were finished on June 19th, but they were soon disused as most supplies were beach landed.
How many air and naval craft were involved in Operation Overlord?
3,000 landing craft, 2,500 other ships and 500 escort and bombardment vessels would carry the invasion, along with 13,000 aircraft.
Aftermath
From D-Day till August 1944, the Battle of Normandy had begun. The Allied troops secured a 50 mile zone across the channel coastlines. The Americans captured the major port of Cherbourg in the north, which would help supplies reach the frontlines. In the second fortnight of July, British forces captured key locations – the port of Caen and Saint-Lô. After significant gains, by 21st August, the Battle of Normandy was over. It was the Allies first victory in Europe. Three days later they had taken Paris.
60th Anniversary
60 years ago thousands of men sacrificed their lives to keep us free. We must remember the heroes of World War 2 and honour their memory. This anniversary may be the last time all the surviving veterans can be together and so it is of special significance. There are lessons that can be learnt by today’s’ world leaders – about the horror and destruction of war. But they have not.
Always remember. Never forget.
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Comments welcome and appreciated.
Ta, FS.
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