D-Day Landings?

Question

Why did Allied Eexpedetionary Force had to thrust thousands of lives into Normandy to their death when massive Ariel/carpet bombing could have been initiated on the German defences on Normandy coast? Just like the ones we saw on Birlin, Dresden and Ruhr. Remember the Thousand Bomber Raids. It proves that there was no dearth of aricraft or munitions for the purpose.

Luftwaffe had been knocked out of commission already which Allied Intelligence knew for sure, thus unable to thwart an ariel assualt. Thousands of men would have been alive if the D-Day landings were launched after completion of a grand airel campaign over targeted beaches and inland targets.

Answer 1

There was a massive aerial and naval bombardment that led up to the D-Day landings. However, carpet bombings provided two difficulties. Firstly, they were terribly inaccurate; many small targets like bridges and railways could take dozens of bombing runs to eliminate. Most of the truly horrifying results of mass bombing were done on cities, targets that were simply too large to miss. The overall tactical benefit of these runs was comparatively slim, serving more of a disruptive and psychological effect. Even the best bombers of the time would have had a tough time striking consistently against small fortified targets like a pillbox.

The other issue was unused ordinance. A 500 pound bomb left unexploded in a field was a recipe for civilian casualties, but a few dozen on a beach head could kill thousands. Even with this risk, the coastline up and down France was bombarded frequently before the invasion. However, to target Normandy specifically would have tipped the Germans off to the location of the Allied invasion, thus ruining the element (slim as it was) of surprise.

Without the advent of laser-guided bombs (which wouldn't appear until Vietnam), as well as the versatility of helicopters and multi-modal transports, the only effective option was a sea-based invasion. While the costs were tremendous, they are in no way as catastrophic as the invasions that occurred prior to Normandy. Inconvenient as it may be, it was the best option at the time.

Answer 2

I've been to Normandy. Some of thehe fortifications are still there. The concrete is 6 feet thick in some places. The bombs would have mostly just bounced right off even if the bombing was very accurate-which it wasn't at the time. Remember, the battleships let loose on the German defences as well, without all that much effect. Destroying a city and destroying fortifications are two different things.

Answer 3

There is no evidence that "carpet bombing" the coast would have been especially effective. Carpet bombing was most effective against urban centers where there was above-ground, closely-packed structures. The Normandy defenses were generally below-ground and not so closely-packed. In addition, a massive air campaign would have alerted German leadership to exactly where and when the invasion was going to come, allowing them to move more troops into the area and move the panzer divisions into a position for a quicker counterattack. More men would have died than did. Surprise is a key element, some say the most important element, in any attack. A massive air campaign would have eliminated that advantage.

Answer 4

There was a "grand airel campaign" against the German defenses. It was one of the largest single airiel bombardment operations of the war. But the scale of the defenses on the beaches made it impossible to wipe them out from the air. For the most part, the landings on D-Day went well. Only at Omaha beach did it look like they might not make it. There the bombardment had been less effective.

Answer 5

WOW - did you miss the boat on this one!

Yes - this was a miserable war and millions of lives were lost!
That is regretable! However, if we had bombed exactly where we
were going to land - it would have telegraphed where the enemy
should bolster their defenses - yay - even Billboards that the allies
were coming.

As it was - tactics included fake plans - to other beaches -
to keep the confusion high

Also remember, their bombs of WWII were not the ones we use today that can home in on a laser point or a radar installation.

And the Luftwaffe was not out of commission, just yet.

sorry - I believe you are wrong on this one

Answer 6

because the war isnt won until the boys with mud on their boots take the ground and hold it.
that aside we had pretty much saturated bmbed all viable military/industrial targets in germany and its ocupied territories.all that was left were smaller tactical targets.we had to go into france and europe because the germans still had a large army that mostly fought to the death.
when you have a loony tune for a leader its hard to just surrender like most generals wanted but couldnt say so because it would mean death.even though they were through as a ivasion force like in 39-40 hitler wouldnt give up as he still saw victory in 44.so we had to invade and liberate fortree europa to end the war.
also consider that the germans were working on developing atomic wepons and other suicide wepons.

Answer 7

Watch "The Longest Day" for a precis. in fact, the mixed forces of britain, North u.s. and loose Europe(French, Poles, etc.) landed at Normandy's seashores the place they proceeded tochronic in the direction of the interior Europe. on an analogous time, paratroopers and gliders tried occupying strategic factors in the back of the German lines.

Answer 8

"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing", and you demonstrate that well.

There are so many anomalies in your blog, it is little more than mindless drivel