History Essay Sample: A Look Into D-Day

General Dwight D. Eisenhower once stated “we will accept nothing less than full victory”, on June 6, 1944 when more 160,000 Allied troops went to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France.  That is exactly what happen during Operation Overlord better known as D-Day.  D-Day was a well-planned operation that allowed Allied Forces to occupy and cease areas that Germans where in and cease German leader Adolf Hitler from expanding his supremacy.  The tactics and strategies the United States and Allied Forces used were impeccable and a key factor to the liberation of Western Europe and shortly after ending World War II. 

During the commencement of World War II in 1939, the United States did not start off by take part in the liberation of Western Europe.  In fact the United States was still in shock and recovering from World War I.  The United States realized that war was horrific and that they were not economically stable to engage in another wars.  It was not until Japan unexpectedly attacked Pearl Harbor, a United States Naval base on December 7, 1941.  This is when former president Franklin D. Roosevelt convinced congress to join Allied Forces to join the war. 

President Franklin D. Roosevelt assigned General Dwight D. Eisenhower as the commander for the U.S forces in Europe.  General Dwight D. Eisenhower then joined other leaders in the Allied Forces and planned the strategic invasion of Normandy, France.  The United States and other countries in the Allied Forces planned to take over the areas that Germans where occupying by element of surprise. They had a very good understanding that in order to be successful on this mission they had to attack fast and hard.  They thrived at this by leading the Germans to believe that other locations were key targets that the United States and Allied Forces wanted to attack right away.  

 Even though the United States and Allied Forces did want to attack right away they did not and they went back and forth on different ideas and plans on how they wanted the attack to go.  After all the will in advanced planning and finally deciding the day to attack on June 5, 1944, they had to wait an addition 24 hours because of the horrible weather conditions.  Finally on June 6, 194 they were able to put their plan to the test. They dropped bombs outside the invasion and they successfully encrypted German transmissions. 

 The encryptions allowed the Allied forces to know the planned counterattack of the Germans.  Knowing this information allowed for Allied Forces and United States to cease and occupy heavily man German locations. They also had Allied undercover agents who were misleading the Germans on information.  The Germans were heavily armed on the beaches of Normandy and if they had known the attack would occur there the Allied forces and United States would have had a hard time overcoming that battle. 

On the day of the invasion the United States along with other countries fought together to overcome a gruesome battle.  D-Day was the largest amphibious assault in war. More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft were involved in the invasion.  The 82nd and 101st airborne division also dropped around 13,100 paratroopers and gliders.  With all the man power that the United States and Allied Forces had combined around 10,000 in injuries or deaths. 

Despite all the injuries and fallen soldiers, the United Stated and Allied Forces were able to conquer and overcome the battle.  This battle has forever been remembered by the Unites States and other countries involved that day.  The extensive planning and disciplined tactics and strategies to overcome German forces was very vital and crucial to win the battle. Soon after it lead German Forces to surrender and Adolf Hitler committed suicide.