Land on the European continent
Following the conference which took place in CASABLANCA on january 1943, the allies decided to create a new battle front in order to relieve the heavily engaged Russian armies on the eastern front. OVERLORD was to be the operation code name.
« We will pursue the war until complete unconditionnal surrender by the ennemy ».
Until the end of march 1944, General Dwight EISENHOWER and his military strategists had planned to land on the three following beaches :
OMAHA BEACH
They had to organize a landing on two additional beaches in order to have a larger front : SWORD BEACH and UTAH BEACH. The principal key to success in this huge operation would be to provide supplies to the allied armies. They needed a functional deep water harbour immediately. CHERBOURG harbour was chosen.
Of the five landing sectors in Normandy, Utah Beach is of particular significance in the allied Operation Overlord plan of action. If, indeed, the landings were to fail on the fourth other sectors, the allied forces' high command had planned to concentrate its military efforts on Utah Beach, by assembling all the troops landed on the other Calvados beaches.