Book SummaryWhen the Sea Came Alive, by Garrett M. Graff

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The comprehensive organization and mobilization of military units in anticipation of the D-Day offensive.

The extensive preparations included not only choosing a location and training the troops but also formulating strategies to deceive the adversary.

Graff emphasizes the immense scope and complexity of the planning process that led to the D-Day invasion. The sustained endeavor required a united front from global heads of state, encompassing not only the prominent "Big Three" which included leaders like Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin, but also uniting the expertise of military tacticians, strategists, and the intellectual prowess of scientific and engineering experts.

By 1942's close, the foundational plans for Operation BOLERO, which involved a significant movement of American troops and equipment to the United Kingdom, had been laid out, yet the early strategies devised during that period were largely theoretical and did not include precise information regarding the exact location or extent of the impending invasion. Then, after the 1943 conference in Casablanca, Allied leaders firmed up their approach concerning the operation known as the Normandy landing and assigned the task to a dedicated planning team, COSSAC, to devise invasion tactics and ready themselves for a rapid cross-Channel attack in the event of a sudden collapse of the German government, a project dubbed SLEDGEHAMMER.

The evaluation of Norway as a potential site for an incursion was eventually dismissed due to the logistical challenges it presented.

In 1943, upon Eisenhower's appointment as the head of the Allied Expeditionary Force, the COSSAC planners, who were subsequently joined by the more extensive team under SHAEF, concentrated on assessing various locations for the transatlantic offensive against Europe. In the end, they were compelled to balance the tactical benefits of a location with the significant challenges associated with moving troops and gear across the ocean. The operation required an exceptional degree of planning and logistical effort to overcome the limitations of the coalition's array of ships and landing craft.

Choosing a site along the northern coast of Norway to establish a foothold was strategically advantageous because it was close to the United Kingdom, had fewer German military installations, and presented an opportunity to involve neutral Sweden in the hostilities. General Carl "Tooey" Spaatz, commander of the US Air Force, maintained the conviction that France could be invaded until deep into the spring of 1944. The discussions highlighted that the remote coastlines of Germany and Denmark in the North Sea were unreachable by Allied fighter planes, leading to the abandonment of the strategy, a point underscored by US commander Omar Bradley.

The Allies employed decoys, including inflatable tanks, to deceive the Germans regarding the true site of the impending attack.

After thorough deliberation, the planners selected a stretch along the Normandy shores in France that, despite its difficult terrain and intricate supply routes, offered the best compromise among the various challenging alternatives. Throughout the initial months of 1943 extending into the beginning of 1944, the strategists of the Allied forces concentrated on devising a top-secret strategy intended to deceive the Germans regarding the specifics and timing of the impending assault. Internally, this was called Operation FORTITUDE and included two key portions: FORTITUDE NORTH, meant to mislead the Germans into believing the invasion was targeting Norway and that they should not reposition Scandinavian forces to other parts of Europe, and FORTITUDE SOUTH, which aimed to reinforce the German High Command's preconceptions by suggesting that the primary Allied attack would occur at the narrowest part of the English Channel, near the Pas-de-Calais region where the distance between England and France is just 20 miles.

Graff highlights that the endeavor dubbed FORTITUDE NORTH involved a small number of Scottish troops and the creation of an imaginary "Fourth Army HQ," tasked with managing radio communications, carrying out maneuvers, and coordinating the deployment of forces to create the illusion of an impending attack. FORTITUDE SOUTH, meanwhile, created the illusion of a substantial military presence by orchestrating fictitious troop movements, wireless communications, and mock exercises that suggested reinforcements were converging on the coastal areas. In remote regions, large military installations were built to house numerous troops, but only the necessary staff stayed behind to keep the flames alight, making them detectable to enemy aviation units. Churchill details the deployment of military forces in Kent and Sussex, the assembly of imitation vessels at the Cinque Ports, the execution of rehearsal landings on nearby coasts, and the intensification of radio communications. Our surveillance efforts ended up being more focused on regions that were not initially intended for investigation rather than the locations we had originally pinpointed. The strategy involved hiring a performer who bore a striking resemblance to Bernard L. Montgomery, the distinguished commander of the allied forces, with the intention of giving the illusion that he was occupied with a diplomatic endeavor elsewhere.

American soldiers participated in joint maneuvers with vessels from the British navy off the coast of Slapton Sands, preparing for the crucial invasion of Normandy.

In 1942, the US military launched a program to ready its troops for a projected attack on a secret European location, and with the arrival of 1943, the magnitude of these drills expanded, involving a multitude of soldiers participating in simulated beach landings across England, Wales, and Scotland, with the assistance of British naval vessels. In November 1943, the British...

When the Sea Came Alive Summary The soldiers' encounters throughout the D-Day landings.

Even with thorough planning and control of the skies, the initial stages of the assault on Omaha Beach were characterized by chaos and confusion.

Graff notes that the situation at Omaha Beach was arguably the most chaotic and difficult when contrasted with the circumstances encountered at the remaining four beaches of the D-Day landings. The first wave of attackers suffered through extended periods of rough seas because they set off in their landing vessels far from the coastline, and despite the carefully planned artillery bombardment aimed at destroying key defenses, it failed to take out the important spots that commanded the only way off the beach, resulting in accurate and deadly gunfire directed at the soldiers moving forward beginning at 6:30 AM.

Difficulties arose before the assault forces reached the shore. The ocean's fierce assault, although impressive, failed to destroy the majority of the German artillery positions. The soldiers, who did not suffer from the incapacitating impact of seasickness, were filled with awe and happiness as they observed the Texas, their armored forms evoking images of ancient warriors joined by a legendary and formidable ally in...

When the Sea Came Alive Summary The invasion's strength was considerably enhanced by the inclusion of naval units, as well as the deployment of both aircraft and paratroopers.

The pivotal contribution of US and UK airborne troops in setting the limits of the invasion and obstructing the advancement of German troops.

Graff points out that the success of the Allied forces in the D-Day invasion was significantly influenced by the widespread deployment of paratroopers in the vicinity, tasked with ensuring open routes from the beaches and hindering German efforts to mobilize and counterattack. The awe-inspiring sight of numerous planes descending through the night sky as June 5th gave way to June 6th, 1944, made a lasting impact on observers, irrespective of whether they supported the Allies or the Axis.

Graff tells the story, focusing on the individual and collective experiences of soldiers in squads or platoons, highlighting the bravery and challenges faced by lone soldiers or small units stranded in hostile territories as day begins to break. Out of the original 120 members in their company, a veteran from the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion reported that a mere 35 reached the intended drop zone. The remainder were dispersed in various locations. I found myself engulfed by elements that were foreign to me, with no recognizable features in my...

When the Sea Came Alive Summary The global impact and the defensive strategies enacted by German forces due to the incursion of the Allies into Normandy.

The complex structure of authority among the German military in Normandy, along with the difficulties Rommel faced in fortifying the Atlantic Wall

Graff emphasizes that Germany, while somewhat prepared to defend its shoreline defenses, was utterly surprised by the bold complexity and scale of the Allied attack. Adolf Hitler's paranoia and the unusual structure of command he established consistently compromised the years Rommel spent strengthening the Atlantic Wall's fortifications. Before the attack commenced, Hitler held the conviction that victory could only be secured by turning back the Allied forces at the water's brink, leading him to command his forces with strict and unreasonable directives detailing the precise measures to be executed with the onset of the Allied invasion. The German military command was incapacitated, rendering them incapable of executing essential strategic maneuvers or initiating counterattacks during a period when such actions were crucial.

The commanders from Germany faced challenges as they rushed to fortify the Atlantic Wall, hindered by a lack of both soldiers and supplies.

By 1944, at the time of the D-Day invasion, the German...