1 As such, their sacrifice in that mighty endeavor should not go unnoticed. As with all the major battles of World War II, it will certainly be one of the last major anniversaries where any of the participants are still living.

Finally, the article asks the reader to question whether today’s joint force could achieve something similar, not in size or scale, but sophistication, even with the benefit of global digital command and control suites.Īs anniversaries go, the 75 th anniversary of Operation Overlord holds special significance. The article also provides teaching points for emerging military strategists and planners and critiques the operation. Geared to those who are familiar with, but not expert in, the critical components of the operation, this article reviews key aspects of the invasion and offers insight into the difficulty of orchestrating such a complicated joint and multinational endeavor at a time when radio communications were in their analog infancy. This article celebrates the success and sacrifice of Operation Overlord on its 75 th anniversary, acknowledges both the achievements and mistakes made in planning and execution, and asks readers to compare the abilities of the current joint force with those of World War II. In its success, Operation Overlord ushered in an open, democratically based economic system that has since expanded beyond its meager beginnings and improved the lives of hundreds of millions of Europeans.

The invasion not only enabled American, British, Canadian, French, and other forces to join the Russians in defeating Germany, but it also allowed them to advance far enough east to prevent Soviet suzerainty over most of Western Europe after the war. There, on June 6, 1944, Allied forces conducted an enormous amphibious invasion across five beaches-Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword-that caught the Germans by surprise and initiated the end of Nazi reign over Europe. The 50-mile stretch of French coastline running from midway up the Cotentin Peninsula east to the Orne River is hallowed ground for all who cherish democracy and the rule of law and the freedom and economic prosperity those values permit.

Largest tank battle in ww2 d-day