Why did the allied forces invade normandy?

Answer 1

The Allies chose to liberate Europe by way of Normandy for several reasons. In no particular order, it was the area along the coast that the Axis Forces least expected the Allies to come ashore at. Therefore, it was the least fortified, making the Allies' amphibious assault easier than say at Calais. Also, the Allies could use their overwhelming air superiority to "cut off" the region by destroying the French rail system into the area. The entire system was not destroyed, just a semi-circle around Normandy, so that once the Allies landed, the Axis forces would find it far more difficult to bring re-enforcements to the battle area. And since there were no harbours in the area large enough to handle the needs of Allied shipping, the beaches at Normandy were ideal to bring one's own harbour & build it there. The Allies did this, until they captured Cherbourg from the rear, where it's defenses were the weakest. Faced with few alternatives that gave the Allies good odds of success, the Normandy landings went rather well. When one is given lemons, you make lemonade.

Answer 2

Calais was the original intended site as it is only 17 miles from Dover. However, the Atlantic Wall was completed at Calais and was heavily reinforced. The German High Command figured this was the obvious point for an amphibious attack. After some clever misinformation by the Allies, the attack was moved to Normandy.

They needed a foothold in France closer to Berlin. They also needed to break the Atlantic Wall. Most generals believed if they could achieve these things, they had a chance to win the war.

Also, because France was invaded by Germany and France was part of the Allies so they wanted to plant a blow to knock out the Germans so they would be wide open with only their country to defend

Answer 3

The battle of Normandy (Also known as 'D-Day' or 'Operation Overlord') began because Nazi Germany wanted to improve their conquering of land. They already conquered France and many parts of Europe, and their next goal was to take over Great Britain.

Answer 4

During World War II, Allied forces invaded Normandy, a coastal agricultural region in northern France, in order to liberate Europe from German occupation. Taking place on June 6, 1944, the invasion was successful; it led to the eventual overthrow of Germany in the Spring of 1945.

Answer 5

The singular answer has to be to restore peace and prosperity to those who had survived the years of German domination and cruelty.

Actually it's far bigger than that. It was planning. The Allies had been promising for years to take the pressure off the Russians on the Eastern front by taking action in the West. By 1944 the concentration of arms and armies had finally reached the point where there was some possibility of succeeding with a landing in Europe. A seaborne landing was fraught with many more chances of failure than the land-borne Russian front had. The British had already tried it a couple of times and failed.

It was also the private wish of Stalin that Western armies would fight themselves to exhaustion and that his armies could continue the fine work of the displaced Nazi's.

Answer 6

The Normandy Beaches had the largest amount of land to land many thousands of warriors and war equipment. They built their own piers to unload ships. This location also allowed them to fool Adolf Hitler. Hitler had expected them to land in the Pas De Calais because the Allies had instigated a complex plan to fool him.

Consider this: At the Pas De Calais and Dunkirk there was a fortified fortress whereas in Normandy there was a wall with periodic pill boxes. It is far easier to go against individual pill boxes than to go against an entire fortress.

Answer 7

The Allies invade Normandy because the beaches there were suitable for landings. More northern beaches were not suitable for various reasons. Also the German thinking was that the Allies would attack at the closest point, Calais, so a different place was to surprise them.

Answer 8

Think of it more as invading Occupied France - they had to defeat Hitler's control of Europe.