EOA 10: OPERATION OVERLORD 1944

1. EOA 10: OPERATION OVERLORD 1944 General Eisenhower Elements of Operational Art End state: Establish a lodgment on the continent from which further offensive operations can be developed. Condition: Allied forces must have Air superiority; costal defense; weather; reduction of the Atlantic Wall COG: German Army (Operational) and (strategic) OP Approach: Direct approach (amphibious assault) , IOT penetrate German defenses. Decisive Points: Securing landing; key terrain connecting the lines of operations Basing: England LOO/LOE: As the invading force, Allied Forces could only operate on interior lines of operations OP Reach:  little compared to Prussians. Tempo: Breakthrough of the Atlantic wall and penetration of German defense was needed IOT reduce German’s ability to reinforce and counterattack. Simultaneity and Depth: The Allies had to advance if they wanted to be successful. Phasing/Transitions: Poor and/or ineffective shaping efforts prior to the battle. PH1: Deception, PH2: Assault & Capture PH3: Enlargement of the area captured in Phase II Culmination: Successful breakthrough of Operation Cobra meant that the Allies will not be stopped in Normandy and the initiative was on their side. Risk: German costal defense; German counterattack Theorist Synthesis: The Usual Suspects Timeline: OPERATION OVERLORD, Battle of Normandy, 6 June 1944- 30 August 1944 22 April 1944: Exercise THUNDERCLAP (rehearsal for OPERATION OVERLORD, Battle of Normandy) 5 June 1944: OPERATION TONGA commences 6 June 1944: Allied Forces land on Utah Beech (right flank); Omaha Beech (main landing point); Sword Beech, Gold Beech, and Juno Beech 7-14 June 1944: OPERATION PERCH 11 June 1944: Battle of Le Mesnil-Party 13 June 1944: Battle of Bloody Gulch and Battle of Villers-Socage 24 August 1944: closure of Falaisepocket 25 August 1944: Liberation of Paris 30 August 1944: Germany retreats across Seine

2. EOA 10: OPERATION OVERLORD 1944 Germany Elements of Operational Art End state: A counterattack to push the Allies out of Normandy and repeat Dunkirk 1940. Condition: Allied forces must have Air superiority; costal defense; weather; reduction of the Atlantic Wall (obstacles) COG: German Army (Operational) and (strategic) OP Approach: Defense in depth/Defend in place; they could not exercise maneuver and initiative. Decisive Points: The invasion itself; it was not an option for the Allies to penetrate the defenses. Basing: Paris, Le Mons, and Fontainebleau LOO/LOE: Utilization of exterior lines as they had already established defense in depth in Normandy OP Reach: Restricted to time and space (how quickly can German forces provide reinforcements and/or launch a counter attack) Tempo: The invasion was a surprised coupled with leadership tension (Rommel and OKW) and deception/misinformation campaign, the Germans were unable to achieve and/or maintain tempo. Simultaneity and Depth: The Germans had depth, but without air superiority, they were vulnerable during maneuvers. Phasing/Transitions: PH1: Atlantic Wall improvements (Cherbourg); PH2: Defense in Depth: PH3: Counterattack; PH4: Withdrawal Culmination:Inability to retain beachheads and maintain a defense in depth posture southwest of Seine River. Risk: Release authority and location of Panzer Divisions (control/authority stripped from Rommel) Theorist Synthesis:The Usual Suspects Timeline: OPERATION OVERLORD, Battle of Normandy, 6 June 1944- 30 August 1944 22 April 1944: Exercise THUNDERCLAP (rehearsal for OPERATION OVERLORD, Battle of Normandy) 5 June 1944: OPERATION TONGA commences 6 June 1944: Allied Forces land on Utah Beech (right flank); Omaha Beech (main landing point); Sword Beech, Gold Beech, and Juno Beech 7-14 June 1944: OPERATION PERCH 11 June 1944: Battle of Le Mesnil-Party 13 June 1944: Battle of Bloody Gulch and Battle of Villers-Socage 24 August 1944: closure of Falaisepoket 25 August 1944: Liberation of Paris 30 August 1944: Germany retreats across Seine