Figure 1.--A soldier of the 1st Polish Armoured Division feeding a little Dutch girl. Tilburg area, The Netherlands 30 October 1944.Photograph was provided by The Imperial War Museum.m.

The two primary countries launching D-Day were America and Britain. America was already providing the bulk of the Allied equipoment well before D-Day. This included weaponry like planes, ships, tanks, artillery, landing craft, trucks and communications as well as basic supplies like food, oil, and all the mumdane supplies needed by the troops landing on the beach. D-Day was a turning point in terms of troop commitment. D-Day ended the phase of the War in which the British would be providing the bulk of the fighting men on the ground. British and American troops were about equal on D-Day. And as the reinforcements flowed into the Nomandy beachhead the American ground units soon became the dominant forces fighting the Germans in the West. Unlike the British, the Americans had a massive numnrr of replacements and reenfiorcements to commit to the fight.There was of course another country involved that was not present--the Soviet Union. D-Day was tough enough in June 1944. It would have been impooible earlier. Only with the Soviet Red Army tearing the heart out of the German Wehrmacht in the East was D-Day possible, The British were worried that the Germanshad not been weakened enough. They were right in 1943, but by 1944 the Americans were determined to strike. One of the invasion beaches was Canadian--Juno. It was situated between the two British beaches. The Canadians were at first the most important country after Britain and America, not only on D-Day, but Normandy combat and the the ensuing liberatoin of France. Eventually the revived French Army would outnumber the Canadians for the invasion of Germany. While America, Britain, and Cadada were the headline participants, several other countries were involved. They included the French, Poles, and others. Two French forces participated (the Free French and French Resistance) in D-Day. The The Resistance helped to bring down German communications. Free French Commandos landing on Sword Beach liberatedt Ouistreham, the western flank of the Normandy beachead. The Free French and Resistance were rapidly integrated to form a revived French Army which would enter Paris with comsiderable fanfare. The Poles who had fought in North Africa and Italy, also participated in a meaninful way--most prominently at Falaise. There was also some limited participation from Australia, Czechoslovakia, New Zealand, and Norway.

Soviet Union

There was of course another country involved that was not present--the Soviet Union. D-Day was tough enough in June 1944. It would have been impossible earlier. Only with the Soviet Red Army tearing the heart out of the German Wehrmacht in the East was D-Day possible, The British were worried that the Germanshad not been weakened enough. They were right in 1943, but by 1944 the Americans were determined to strike. And shortly after D-Day, the Soviets launched Operation Bagratipn which destroyed Geramn's Army Group Center--the most powerfil formation in the Geram Army. This meant that the Germans would be unable to shif forcdes west to contain the Western Allies.

United States

The two primary countries launching D-Day were America and Britain. America was already providing the bulk of the Allied equipoment well before D-Day. This included weaponry like planes, ships, tanks, artillery, landing craft, trucks and communications as well as basic supplies like food, oil, and all the mumdane supplies needed by the troops landing on the beach. The Americans were the western flank of D-Day--Omaha and Utah Beach. Airborn divisons protected the flank and helped coveer efforts to close the gap between Omaha and Utah. D-Day was a turning point in terms of troop commitment. D-Day ended the phase of the War in which the British would be providing the bulk of the fighting men on the ground. British and American troops were about equal on D-Day. And as the reinforcements flowed into the Nomandy beachhead the American ground units soon became the dominant forces fighting the Germans in the West. Unlike the British, the Americans had a massive number of replacements and reenfiorcements to commit to the fight. The Amerucans began the breakthrough from Normancy with a massive aerial bombardmemnt at St. Lo with Operation Cobra (July 25). The Americans would help liberate Paris and drive through central France at the Allies apprroached the Rhine with the British on the left and French on the right.

Britain

Britain had carried the brunt of the Allied war effort in the West after the fall of France (June 1940). After the Battle of Britain (July-September 1940), the Germans decided against invading Britain. Land combat shifted to the Western Desert, first with an Italian invasion. The Germans joined the fight (March 1941). Throughout the fight for North Africa, even with the Torch landings (November 1942), the British provided th majority of the combat troops. This continued in Sicily and Italy. Aprimately equal numbers of Brits and Americans landed on D-Day. From that point on, however, the American began to outnumber the Brits. British airborn divisions played an important role, defemfing the eastern flank of the invasion. They were to take Caen on Day 1, but the German armor stopped them in their tracks. The SS 21st Armored (Hitler Youth) Division played a key role in holding Caen despite repeated British and Canadian attacks. Once Caen fell and the Falaise Pocket collpased, the British with the Oloes and Canadians drove north along the coast, constituting the left flank of the Allied drive.

Canada

At the time of Dunkirk (June 1940), the First Canadian Division was the only fully equipped divion in Britain if the Geramns had invaded. The Canadians particioated in the failed Diaeppe Raid (August 1942). One of the D-Day invasion beaches was Canadian--Juno. It was situated between the two British beaches. The Canadians would fight with the British in the effort to take Caen and then the fighting for the Falaise pocket. The Canadians were at first the most important country after Britain and America, not only on D-Day, but during the Normandy combat and the the ensuing liberation of France. At the end of the War, the Canadians would liberate the northern Netherlands where the Germans were punishing the Dutch by starving them.

France

While America, Britain, and Cadada were the headline participants, several other countries were involved. They included the French, Poles, and others. Two French forces participated (the Free French and French Resistance) in D-Day. The The Resistance helped to bring down German communications. Free French Commandos landing on Sword Beach liberatedt Ouistreham, the western flank of the Normandy beachead. The Free French and Resistance were rapidly integrated to form a revived French Army which would enter Paris with comsiderable fanfare. The French Army would condtitute the right flank of the Allied drive that liberated France and approched the Rhine.

Poland

Poland was the only country to combat NAZI Germany from the first day World War II when the Germas invaded (September 1939). The Poles were quickly defeated, but never surrendered. The NAZIs and Soviers interned most of the Polish Army in horenous conditioms in which many died. Some Poles escaped to fight in the West. After the NAZI invasion of the Soviet Union (June 1941), the Soviets released the Polish POWs they had not killed. Some fought with the Red Army. Others commanded by Gen. Władysław Anders joined the British in the Middle East. The Poles who had fought in North Africa and Italy were joind by the 1st Armord Divion. The 1st Polish Armored Division was formed Britain (February 1942). It was initially deployed in Scotland under the command of Gen. Stanisław Maczek. It wasa named the Black Divisiin after a famed medieval unit that saved Vienna from the Ottomans. Polish airmen and several Polish ships participated in the D-Day landing. The 1st Polish Armored Division landed after the bridgehead had been established. The Division equipped with Sherman tanks and other Amrican equioment played a key role in the battle of the Argentan-Falaise Pocket, opening the way for the Allies to liberate Paris. They helped break through the German defence in the Caen-Falaise sector (August 8). Within 10 days they encircled and destroyed the German 5th Panzer Corps positioned around Chambois. Field Marshall Mongomery commented, "“Under Falaise, we locked the Germans like they were in a bottle, and the Polish Armoured Division was the cork in this bottle.” The 1st Armoured Division pursued the withdrawing German troops, liberating towns in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Some new recruits were found among prisoners liberated in France. The 1st Independent Parachute Brigade under the command of General Stanislaw Sosabowski participated in Operation Market Garden (October 1944). The 1st Armored Division finally reached Wilhelmshaven, a German naval base. They accepted the surrender of the German base (May 5, 1945).

Other Countries

There was also some limited participation from Australia, Czechoslovakia, New Zealand, and Norway.

Created: 7:18 PM 10/2/20196
Last updated: 7:18 PM 10/2/2019