D-Day in Numbers

D-DAY IN NUMBERS From 1941 to 1944 America and its allies pursued the goal of defeating "Germany First." Their strategy rested on a key assumption, ultimately there would have to be a massive invasion of Northwest Europe aimed at the heart of the Axis empire. This would reduce German pressure on the Soviet Union by creating a true "second front" in Europe. Germany would be trapped between the Soviets in the east and the Americans and British in the west. By 1943 success on the battlefield and production in the factories made it possible to begin formal planning for this bold operation,the largest amphibious invasion in history. The target date was spring 1944. 6, 6-4-1944 CONT At 6-00 A.M. on June 4, due to weather conditions, Eisenhower decided to postpone the invasion for at least one day. The large storm that arose in the English Channel ended up pushing the operation until June 6.