D-Day as it Happened
Timings have been taken from a range of sources and are approximated to give a general impression of the main events that made up D-day.
Eventually, everything was ready to go and Eisenhower named June 5th as “D-Day”, a general term for the start date of any military operation (the D simply standing for day), but one that would become synonymous with the Normandy landings. 39 Allied divisions – 22 American, 12 British, 3 Canadian, 1 Polish, and 1 French, were ready and waiting on the south coast of England for invasion to begin.
However, by the morning of June 4th , the weather conditions over the Channel were atrocious, with high winds and heavy seas, totally unsuitable for landing craft and low cloud which would cause problems for aircraft. None of the criteria required for a viable landing were met. Montgomery made no secret that he wanted to press on regardless, without air cover, but Eisenhower disagreed with him and made the decision to postpone the start of the operation. Anchors stayed lowered in the ports as the storm raged and tensions mounted.
Eventually, everything was ready to go and Eisenhower named June 5th as “D-Day”, a general term for the start date of any military operation (the D simply standing for day), but one that would become synonymous with the Normandy landings. 39 Allied divisions – 22 American, 12 British, 3 Canadian, 1 Polish, and 1 French, were ready and waiting on the south coast of England for invasion to begin.
However, by the morning of June 4th , the weather conditions over the Channel were atrocious, with high winds and heavy seas, totally unsuitable for landing craft and low cloud which would cause problems for aircraft. None of the criteria required for a viable landing were met. Montgomery made no secret that he wanted to press on regardless, without air cover, but Eisenhower disagreed with him and made the decision to postpone the start of the operation. Anchors stayed lowered in the ports as the storm raged and tensions mounted.
On the evening of June 4th, Group Captain James Stagg of the RAF received news from his meteorological team based on a frigate in the Atlantic and predicted the weather would improve enough for the invasion to start on June 6th, 24-hours later than planned. Further delays would have meant a postponement until mid-June, the next time tidal conditions would allow a landing, albeit without a full moon. Moreover, it would have meant recalling men and ships already in position, increasing the chances of the Germans realising the invasion was imminent. After much discussion, Eisenhower decided the invasion would go ahead on June 6th.
German meteorologists did not have the benefit of the information available to the Allies and had predicted two weeks of storms. As a consequence, many commanders, convinced an attack would be impossible, left their posts to attend the “War Games” in Rennes and many men were given leave. Field Marshall Erwin Rommel, returned to Germany to celebrate his wife’s birthday.
During June 5th final preparations were made and minesweepers cleared the channels leading to the landing beaches. Two allied submarines, lay in position, off either end of the British-Canadian Sector.
During June 5th final preparations were made and minesweepers cleared the channels leading to the landing beaches. Two allied submarines, lay in position, off either end of the British-Canadian Sector.
On the Evening of June 5th, Operation Neptune’s Armada of 3,000 naval combat ships, ancillary craft and merchant vessels, set off , to transport 132,600 assault troops and thousands of tons of vehicles, tanks, supplies and ammunition.
They were divided into 5 forces, U,O,G,J and S – one force for each beach sector. Operation Gambit saw two submarines positioned off Ouistreham and Le Hamel, the lines at either end of the Canadian and British Sector.
Earlier that day, Eisenhower had issued SHAEF’s famous order of the day message starting:
Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force: You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.
He had also drafted a letter acknowledging his total responsibility if the operation failed.
They were divided into 5 forces, U,O,G,J and S – one force for each beach sector. Operation Gambit saw two submarines positioned off Ouistreham and Le Hamel, the lines at either end of the Canadian and British Sector.
Earlier that day, Eisenhower had issued SHAEF’s famous order of the day message starting:
Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force: You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.
He had also drafted a letter acknowledging his total responsibility if the operation failed.
SHAEF high command waited with bated breath at their forward command post located at Southwick House in Hampshire. Their command room contained huge interactive maps made in secret by the toy manufacturers Chad Valley.
Later that evening of the 5th, US and British Pathfinders were the first to embark. 23,400 paratroopers, trained to capture strategic targets at the western and eastern flanks, boarded their planes and gliders and Airborne operations began, whilst in the Channel, the seaborne forces lay in wait.
Just before midnight, the Allies aerial bombardment began, along the whole coast to maintain the impression, that an invasion could occur anywhere.
At 00:10, the first US Pathfinders landed by parachute to mark the drop zones (DZ) for the incoming C-47 pilots to drop airborne troops of the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions with their mission to secure the western flank. Almost immediately German troops reported the presence of enemy paratroopers but many reports were ignored. SAS were dropped behind enemy lines all over France to work with the Resistance,
At 00:16, the first of 3 British gliders landed near Benouville on the eastern flank, where their mission was to take the bridges across the Orne River and Caen Canal. The remaining two landed almost immediately after. They captured what is now called Pegasus Bridge within 16 minutes. Den Brotheridge became the first soldier to die in the invasion.
At 00:20, 60 pathfinders from the 22nd Independent Parachute Company landed east of the Orne at Ranville to mark out British DZs for Operation Tonga to neutralise the Battery at Merville and shore up the eastern flank by destroying bridges and prevent the arrival of German reinforcements.
At 00:20, 60 pathfinders from the 22nd Independent Parachute Company landed east of the Orne at Ranville to mark out British DZs for Operation Tonga to neutralise the Battery at Merville and shore up the eastern flank by destroying bridges and prevent the arrival of German reinforcements.
00:50, 5th Brigade of the 6th Parachute Regiment landed near Ranville on Operation Tonga.
By 02:00, The first US paratroopers have landed inland from Utah. Many German troops were placed on alert, but by 02:15 many are stood down. 8th US Air Force Bombers are headed for the coast of Normandy.
By 02:30-02:51 Ships from Force U and Force O began to arrive and anchor 24km offshore, while heavy fighting was taking place in Ranville, where the 6th Airborne has met with stiff resistance from 21st Panzer Division. US Paratroopers landed around Carentan.
03:00, The S-Boote German Kriegsmarine patrol of the channel encountered no target. US soldiers from Forces O and U began to disembark onto landing craft. German defence and artillery sites come under attack form aerial bombardment. RAF launched attacks on Caen. Germans sent reinforcements towards Benouville.
By 02:30-02:51 Ships from Force U and Force O began to arrive and anchor 24km offshore, while heavy fighting was taking place in Ranville, where the 6th Airborne has met with stiff resistance from 21st Panzer Division. US Paratroopers landed around Carentan.
03:00, The S-Boote German Kriegsmarine patrol of the channel encountered no target. US soldiers from Forces O and U began to disembark onto landing craft. German defence and artillery sites come under attack form aerial bombardment. RAF launched attacks on Caen. Germans sent reinforcements towards Benouville.
03:20 -03:55, Germans located Allied ships 11km off Omaha. 6th Airborne Parachute Regiment landings continued: General Gale landed near Ranville and Lt Col Terence Otway was able to gather only170 out of 635 of his paratroopers but regardless, headed north to attack Merville Battery on the eastern flank. US parachutists continued to land behind Utah Beach. First prisoners taken by Germans. Air attack on Pointe de Hoc and surrounding area.
04:00, St Mere Eglise was liberated by the US 3rd Batt 505th PIR. Aerial attacks on German strongpoints WN 44/47/48. Back in Berlin,. Panzer groups put on alert and German movement orders given. Hitler went to bed late after staying up to listen to Wagner.
04:30, US land on the Islands of St Marcouf. German 914th Regiment attack US Paratroopers south of Carentan. Assault on Merville Battery began. The Command HQ at Southwick House received their first up-to-date messages from Phantom GHQ Liaison Regiment who began transmitting using their 22 sets while still at sea in their LCTs.
04:45, At a cost of 70 men, Otway has taken control of the Merville Battery. Pocket submarines begin to mark the landing routes for the Allied Armada. Germans still unable to locate any ships.
05:00-10, Allied battleships start firing on coastal defences.
05:30, Norwegian Destroyer Svenner was sunk off Sword Beach by 3 S-Bootes. Soldiers in the first wave of Force S embark in landing craft.
05:35, 29 US amphibious tanks are launched 6km off Omaha, 27 were sunk. The guns at Longues-sur-mer open fire.
04:00, St Mere Eglise was liberated by the US 3rd Batt 505th PIR. Aerial attacks on German strongpoints WN 44/47/48. Back in Berlin,. Panzer groups put on alert and German movement orders given. Hitler went to bed late after staying up to listen to Wagner.
04:30, US land on the Islands of St Marcouf. German 914th Regiment attack US Paratroopers south of Carentan. Assault on Merville Battery began. The Command HQ at Southwick House received their first up-to-date messages from Phantom GHQ Liaison Regiment who began transmitting using their 22 sets while still at sea in their LCTs.
04:45, At a cost of 70 men, Otway has taken control of the Merville Battery. Pocket submarines begin to mark the landing routes for the Allied Armada. Germans still unable to locate any ships.
05:00-10, Allied battleships start firing on coastal defences.
05:30, Norwegian Destroyer Svenner was sunk off Sword Beach by 3 S-Bootes. Soldiers in the first wave of Force S embark in landing craft.
05:35, 29 US amphibious tanks are launched 6km off Omaha, 27 were sunk. The guns at Longues-sur-mer open fire.
05:58, – Sunrise – weather was grey, wind force 3-4 with low cloud and drizzle.
06:00, Aerial bombing intensifies. Bridges disabled on the Dives River. Germans became aware of more and more ships along the coast. Landing Craft begin to make their approaches.
06:29, 32 US Amphibious tanks landed at Dog Green and Dog White on Omaha.
06:30, – H-Hour –
06:00, Aerial bombing intensifies. Bridges disabled on the Dives River. Germans became aware of more and more ships along the coast. Landing Craft begin to make their approaches.
06:29, 32 US Amphibious tanks landed at Dog Green and Dog White on Omaha.
06:30, – H-Hour –
06:31, Utah Beach landings began.
06:35, Omaha Beach landings began. Utah Beach Second Wave landed.
06:45, Smoke Screen deployed by USAAF and RAF. Naval artillery continued to fire on strongpoints and batteries.
06:52, 60-80 landing craft approached Colleville. Utah and Omaha Beach landings continued.
07:00, Rudder’s Rangers land at 07:10 at Pte du Hoc . Omaha landings continue.
07:20, Naval Bombardment of Gold, Juno and Sword ended and landings began with10 LCT with tanks on Sword.
06:35, Omaha Beach landings began. Utah Beach Second Wave landed.
06:45, Smoke Screen deployed by USAAF and RAF. Naval artillery continued to fire on strongpoints and batteries.
06:52, 60-80 landing craft approached Colleville. Utah and Omaha Beach landings continued.
07:00, Rudder’s Rangers land at 07:10 at Pte du Hoc . Omaha landings continue.
07:20, Naval Bombardment of Gold, Juno and Sword ended and landings began with10 LCT with tanks on Sword.
07:25, Mine clearance and obstacle clearing tanks landed on Gold, Juno and Sword. 50th British Infantry landed on Gold. 79th Armoured landed on Sword.
07:30, Utah beach exit no3 taken. Conditions were tough on Omaha.
07:32, Keiffer landed at Colleville-sur-Orne. Attacks on strongpoints continued to succeed.
07:45, Progress on Omaha; US tanks broke through at WN66. 3rd Canadians landed at Juno.
08:00, Four battalions had landed at Utah.. Heavy fighting on Juno – 16 shells per minute. An anti-tank section at Sword beach silenced defensive positions.
07:30, Utah beach exit no3 taken. Conditions were tough on Omaha.
07:32, Keiffer landed at Colleville-sur-Orne. Attacks on strongpoints continued to succeed.
07:45, Progress on Omaha; US tanks broke through at WN66. 3rd Canadians landed at Juno.
08:00, Four battalions had landed at Utah.. Heavy fighting on Juno – 16 shells per minute. An anti-tank section at Sword beach silenced defensive positions.
08:20, Green Howards land on Gold. No4 Commandos land on Sword and Royal Marines No47 land on Gold. On Omaha, landing craft sink, the Maisy Battery was still firing on troops as they landed. US soldiers reached WN60 but soldiers cannot exit the beach.
08:30 Assault on Omaha was temporarily paused. WN60 retaken by Germans. Assault on Brecourt Manor.
08:55 Conditions on Omaha are atrocious.
09:00 2nd gun at Crisbeq Battery destroyed by naval bombardment. Counter attack repulsed at Pte du Hoc. WN 60 silenced temporarily . Hitler awoke but was convinced the invasion in Normandy was a decoy. Juno beach assault was going well.
08:30 Assault on Omaha was temporarily paused. WN60 retaken by Germans. Assault on Brecourt Manor.
08:55 Conditions on Omaha are atrocious.
09:00 2nd gun at Crisbeq Battery destroyed by naval bombardment. Counter attack repulsed at Pte du Hoc. WN 60 silenced temporarily . Hitler awoke but was convinced the invasion in Normandy was a decoy. Juno beach assault was going well.
09:10 The tide was rising fast and on Omaha, beach obstacles had not been removed. Demolitions teams requested. WN 65/68/70 taken. Panzer Divisions take up defensive positions.
09:20 A 28 minute US naval barrage killing many US soldiers takes place on Omaha. British tanks approach Meuvaines, 3km inland of Gold. Casino at Ouistreham stormed.09:30 heavy losses reported on Omaha, but second artillery barrage ordered. WN35/6 destroyed on Sword but 12 German fighters attack the beach. Hermanville is liberated by the South Lancashires.
By10:00 progress had at last been made on Omaha when US soldiers scaled the cliffs and reached Vierville and silence WN64. The port of Ouistreham is reached by Commandos. German tanks begin to counter-attack - British 6th Airborne come under fire along the River Orne.
10:15 WN 62 on Omaha damaged by naval artillery. 60/70 landing craft resume the assault.
10:30 On Utah 505th PIR involved in heavy fighting inland at Neuville.
By 11:00 progress is being made inland at all sectors – even Omaha. On Gold Beach 7 exits have been cleared. Germans attempt counter attacks.
By 12:00 Utah forces reach Angoville. Pte du Hoc finally taken. Houteville battery 4km inland of Colleville ran out of ammunition.
09:20 A 28 minute US naval barrage killing many US soldiers takes place on Omaha. British tanks approach Meuvaines, 3km inland of Gold. Casino at Ouistreham stormed.09:30 heavy losses reported on Omaha, but second artillery barrage ordered. WN35/6 destroyed on Sword but 12 German fighters attack the beach. Hermanville is liberated by the South Lancashires.
By10:00 progress had at last been made on Omaha when US soldiers scaled the cliffs and reached Vierville and silence WN64. The port of Ouistreham is reached by Commandos. German tanks begin to counter-attack - British 6th Airborne come under fire along the River Orne.
10:15 WN 62 on Omaha damaged by naval artillery. 60/70 landing craft resume the assault.
10:30 On Utah 505th PIR involved in heavy fighting inland at Neuville.
By 11:00 progress is being made inland at all sectors – even Omaha. On Gold Beach 7 exits have been cleared. Germans attempt counter attacks.
By 12:00 Utah forces reach Angoville. Pte du Hoc finally taken. Houteville battery 4km inland of Colleville ran out of ammunition.
12:02 Lord Lovatt arrives at Pegasus Bridge and apologises for being 2minutes 30 seconds late.
By 13:00 Further successes at Omaha as the heights are taken and the church at Colleville, is taken. At 13:30 an aerial bombardment of Caen began. By 13:41 resistance at Omaha stopped but WN 62 remains in action.
By 14:00 Sufficient progress had been made to allow the consolidation phase to begin - to install a solid bridgehead in Normandy. Pockets of resistance remained and the Germans attempted several counter attacks such as at Colleville on Omaha,
15:30 Hein Servelot the last German soldier still fighting at WN62 abandons his post and escapes. Ouistreham Port controlled by allies.
16:00 Inland from Utah, Germans counter attacked the bridge at La Fiere defended by Able Co 505th PIR 82nd AB. The first tank off Omaha reaches the road but is destroyed. WN35 captured by the Hampshires on Sword. To the east, villages inland liberated as allied soldiers move inland.
17:00 Church tower housing German snipers in Colleville destroyed by Naval shell. Laurent-sur-mer liberated.
17:30 French General De Gaulle broadcasted to the French on the BBC “The supreme battle is engaged.”
18:00 Battery at Longues-sur-mer silenced. St Aubin-sur-mer liberated. East Yorkshire Regiment stormed the Daimler WN12.
19:00 -20:00 Violent fighting at Colleville, bombardment of Vierville continued. German bombardments still hampering Omaha landings.
By 13:00 Further successes at Omaha as the heights are taken and the church at Colleville, is taken. At 13:30 an aerial bombardment of Caen began. By 13:41 resistance at Omaha stopped but WN 62 remains in action.
By 14:00 Sufficient progress had been made to allow the consolidation phase to begin - to install a solid bridgehead in Normandy. Pockets of resistance remained and the Germans attempted several counter attacks such as at Colleville on Omaha,
15:30 Hein Servelot the last German soldier still fighting at WN62 abandons his post and escapes. Ouistreham Port controlled by allies.
16:00 Inland from Utah, Germans counter attacked the bridge at La Fiere defended by Able Co 505th PIR 82nd AB. The first tank off Omaha reaches the road but is destroyed. WN35 captured by the Hampshires on Sword. To the east, villages inland liberated as allied soldiers move inland.
17:00 Church tower housing German snipers in Colleville destroyed by Naval shell. Laurent-sur-mer liberated.
17:30 French General De Gaulle broadcasted to the French on the BBC “The supreme battle is engaged.”
18:00 Battery at Longues-sur-mer silenced. St Aubin-sur-mer liberated. East Yorkshire Regiment stormed the Daimler WN12.
19:00 -20:00 Violent fighting at Colleville, bombardment of Vierville continued. German bombardments still hampering Omaha landings.
20:00 Hillman Strongpoint attacked by 1st Suffolks and stormed 15 minutes later.
20:55 last elements of 6th Airborne landed with 256 gliders at Ranville and Benouville. Aor landings (Operation Elmira) began at Hiesville inland from Utah.
21:00 failed Panzer attack south of Juno.
21:30 Field Marshall Rommel arrives after an 800km drive by car. Omaha beach still under bombardment and casualties could not be evacuated.
22:30 Aerial Bombardment of Caen. Arromanches liberated by 1st Hampshires who had landed at Asnelles on Gold Beach.
By midnight on D-Day, a firmly anchored bridgehead has been secured and scores of villages liberated 156,115 Allied soldiers had landed on the five beaches and nearly 73,000 American and 83 115 British and Canadian soldiers had parachuted or been air-transported. The Atlantic wall had only really been effective on “Bloody Omaha” where progress inland had been slow and at the highest cost.
20:55 last elements of 6th Airborne landed with 256 gliders at Ranville and Benouville. Aor landings (Operation Elmira) began at Hiesville inland from Utah.
21:00 failed Panzer attack south of Juno.
21:30 Field Marshall Rommel arrives after an 800km drive by car. Omaha beach still under bombardment and casualties could not be evacuated.
22:30 Aerial Bombardment of Caen. Arromanches liberated by 1st Hampshires who had landed at Asnelles on Gold Beach.
By midnight on D-Day, a firmly anchored bridgehead has been secured and scores of villages liberated 156,115 Allied soldiers had landed on the five beaches and nearly 73,000 American and 83 115 British and Canadian soldiers had parachuted or been air-transported. The Atlantic wall had only really been effective on “Bloody Omaha” where progress inland had been slow and at the highest cost.
Animation of D-Day progress every 30 minutes
However, none of the original objectives had been achieved; Carentan, St Lo and Caen remained in enemy hands. The Allies were still vulnerable to a largescale German counterattack by tanks but with air superiority, the Allies send out fighter plane patrols: they carry out over 10,000 sorties, compared to just 319 by the Germans.
All this came at a huge price; Allied casualties on the first day were at least 10,000, with 4,414 confirmed dead. It is estimated the Germans lost between 4,000 and 9000 men and French civilian casualties during the first 48 hour of the invasion topped 3,000.
This significance of this historic day is commemorated to this day as all those involved in the landings and in the planning and infrastructure behind them, especially those who lost their lives are honoured.
This significance of this historic day is commemorated to this day as all those involved in the landings and in the planning and infrastructure behind them, especially those who lost their lives are honoured.
