OPERATION OVERLORD

THE PLANNING OF THE GREAT INVASION

Whilst the German Army continued the build the "Atlantic Wall", the Allies had begun their panning. Soviet Premier, Joseph Stalin needed ergently a 'Western Front' to be created to keep some of Germany's load of the Soviet Union - Obviosly the campaigns in Afica where not helping.

To create a second front it would require a full scale invasion, but the United States and Brittan's armed forces where fighting in North Africa at the time, poised for an attack against Italy. Plus the equipment required for such an invasion had not yet been produced. The invasion had to wait. After 6 months or so Allied planners began planning for an invasion of Europe, though they still did not have the forces. Two proposals where presented. These where Operations Roundup, and Sledgehammer. These where not adopted. They waited until they had enough equipment to make another invasion in 1942, to replace the two weaker plans. In early 1942 Operation Roundup was adopted, but had to be delayed because the armies where already participating in another operation in North Africa. They did not have the equired resources yet anyway. In December 1943 the" big three" decided on a un-alterable invasion date: May 1944. Stalin agreed to this and to mount a simultaneous operation in Eastern Europe and to help in the fight against Italy and Japan when Germany was defeated.