D-Day by the numbers

June 6 marked the 68th anniversary of the Allies massive assault on German forces. Reviewing what happened on D-Day: Approximate number of Allied troops landed 73,000 American Verified deaths 2,499 American Total ships in the armada 1,915 Other Allied

156,000

83,115 British and Canadian

4,414

About 5,000
9 battleships 23 cruisers 104 destroyers

Divisions slated to participate in the invasion

39
20 American 14 British

11,590
5 Canadian/ French/Polish Support aircraft available

71 large landing craft, minesweepers and merchantmen

14,674 Sorties flown 127 Aircraft lost

Over 100,000
Allied land vehicles and heavy weapons 30,000 vehicles landed along 50-mile stretch of fortified French coastline June 30 Allies establish foothold in Normandy July Allies take control of the port city of Cherbourg, as the Germans retreat Aug. 19 Allies cross the River Seine; after four years of German occupation, Paris is liberated by the Allies and the French Resistance

The Allied invasion

September 1941 Britain begins investigating the feasability of an amphibious assault in Europe December 1941 American planners begin formal cooperation with Britain, just after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor 1942-43 Various dates are discussed and the strategy is honed; numerous military campaigns continue against Germany

May 30, 1944 The Allied invasion of France commences; as part of Operation Overlord, troops based in England begin mobilizing to cross the English Channel June 5 Overlord begins; an advance wave of paratroopers descends into enemy territory, securing positions June 6 A naval bombardment of German positions begins in the morning; Operation Neptune begins; fighting begins, more than 150,000 troops and

1941

1942

1943

1944 U.S. troops British and Canadian troops German troops counterattck and retreat

ENGLAND
Portland

Southampton

Portsmouth

Shorehamby-Sea

Dartmouth

English Channel

German front line 1944

Utah and Omaha beaches

Cherbourg

Gold, Juno and Sword beaches

1 2 3

June 12 July 24 Aug. 16

Sainte-Mere-Eglise La Haye du Puits Coutances 2 1 Caen Saint-Lo Flers Mortain 3 Argentan Falaise

River Seine

EUROPE FRANCE

Normandy

Saint-Malo

Avranches

FRANCE

Paris
20 km 20 miles

Source: U.S. Army Center of Military History, D-Day Museum and Overlord Embroidery, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, PBS, How Stuff Works

Graphic: Chicago Tribune

2012 MCT