00:15
hrs
17,000 British and American paratroopers
and glider troops drop behind German
lines into Normandy. |
00:35
hrs
British Airborne troops take control
of bridges over the Orne Canal and River. |
01:00
hrs
First Navy hands ordered to man battle
stations. Landing craft begin to be
lowered into the water; on shore, Airborne
troops cut phone line and knock down
telephone poles. |
02:00
hrs
First bombers take off from bases in
England to attack targets around the
beachhead. |
03:00
hrs
More glider troops begin to reinforce
Airborne troops. |
03:09
hrs
German radar detects Allied invasion
fleet. Admiral Krancke orders shore
batteries to prepare for invasion. |
03:30
hrs
The assault troops begin loading into
landing craft. |
04:30
hrs
British capture the Merville battery,
clearing the way for troops to land
on Sword beach. |
05:30
hrs
Allied bombardment of beaches begins,
U.S. troops land by boats on St. Marcouf,
a German-held island just off Utah beach. |
06:00
hrs
German 7th Army HQ informed of heavy
Allied bombardment. |
06:30
hrs
H-Hour on Utah and Omaha Beaches. |
07:00
hrs
First landing wave pinned down on Omaha
U.S. Rangers begin scaling Pointe-du-Hoc. |
07:30
hrs
H-Hour on Gold and Sword Beaches. |
07:45
hrs
U.S. troops advance inland from Utah.
H-Hour on Juno Beach. |
08:00
hrs
U.S. troops on Omaha begin ascending
bluffs. |
09:00
hrs
German 84th Corps informed of sea borne
landings. |
09:30
hrs
Announcement of Invasion made to press.
British troops one mile inleand from
Gold. British capture Hermanville. |
10:00
hrs
U.S. troops reach cliff tops overlooking
Omaha. |
10:15
hrs
Rommel learns that the Allies have landed
and rushes back to France from Germany. |
10:30
hrs
G21st Panzer division ordered to attack
between Caen and Bayeux. |
11:00
hrs
U.S. soldiers enter Vierville. |
11:15
hrs
St. Aubin falls to Canadians. |
12:03
hrs
British Commandos link up with Airborne
troops at Orne bridges. |
12:15
hrs
German tanks reported north of Caen. |
12:30
hrs
British 185th Brigade moves inland from
Sword. |
13:00
hrs
U.S. 4th Infantry Division links with
101st Airborne at Pouppeville. |
13:30
hrs
U.S. troops move inland from Omaha. |
13:35
hrs
German 352nd Division reported to have
thrown the enemy back into sea from
Omaha. |
14:00
hrs
Fighting on Periers Ridge overlooking
Sword. Hilter holds his first meeting
about the Allied landings. |
16:00
hrs
British and Germans clash between Villers-le-Sec
and Bazenville. U.S. tanks begin moving
inland from Omaha. 12th S.S. Panzer
Lehr divisions released from reserve. |
16:30
hrs
21st Panzer Division attacks Sword beachhead. |
18:00
hrs
British advance on Caen halted. |
19:00
hrs
1st Division commander, General Huebner
sets up command post on Omaha. |
20:00
hrs
Colleville-sur-Med secured by Allies. |
20:10
hrs
Taillerville captured by Canadians. |
21:00
hrs
Gliders carrying reinforcements land
behind Utah and east of the Orne River. |
00:00
hrs
Nine Allied divisions are ashore, many
objectives are unattained, but all five
beachheads are secure. The liberation
of Europe has begun. |
