Why was Normandy chosen for D-Day's attack?

Answer 1

The raid on Dieppe had shown, at great cost, that taking a French port intact was not a viable option. The disinformation plan that the invasion, the Germans knew it was coming, would be in the Calais region, had some success. Naval & Air supremacy were vital to the Allies, the continual buildup had to be sustainable and massive: Most importantly, once ashore, the US, Canadian & British forces could not be repelled. If Sealion planning is compared, the Nazi planning for invading England in 1940, then it would have to be in SE of England. Fortunately the Allies, by 1944, had the benefit, if you will, of studying their options essentially since Dunkirk. If France was to be liberated as a stepping stone towards Germany, then only a massive, wide reaching, overwhelming plan could be successful. The Italian peninsula had shown just what defenses the Germans could use, the Alps appeared large in the minds of any move through Austria to Germany. Looking back, it seems that D Day was plain sailing, not quite as plain as it appers in the event, Omaha was close to being a disaster, but surprise was all. The invasion, subsequently, of the south of France Op Anvil/Dragoon, was, in the event, a damp squib, though not to those liberated, I'm sure. In hindsight, just what were the alternatives to Normandy? Certrainly the weather was not conducive to a channel crossing at the time, and, as I say, it was not quite as plain sailing as it subsequently appears.