On June 6, the allied forces are gathered within the 21st army division. They have learnt from the experience of the Dieppe fiasco and from the landings in Sicily and Salerno. The initial assault consists of successive waves led by 50,000 men, 1,500 tanks and 3,000 guns. On D-Day, 287,000 men board 6,939 ships. The allied armies concentrate a large number of men in the UK in June 1944: 1.5 million American and 2.72 million British soldiers. These armies benefit from the support of powerful artillery. The assets of the U.S. Army are its logistics, its mobility, and its material resources for which there is subsequent air support. The British army is characterized by its ability to carry out amphibious operations. However, the infantry does not gather the best soldiers and there is a lack of experience.
On March 1st, the German army comprises a total of 1.4 million indoctrinated men. It is well endowed with mortars and automatic weapons. The major asset of the Wehrmacht lies in its tank divisions (Panzers). On D-Day the reserves are sufficient (two weeks of ammunition for coastal defences) and the Atlantic Wall has been reinforced under the leadership of Rommel (see the article "The crossing of the English Channel and its pitfalls"). However, the average age of the troops is quite old. In addition, the offensive capabilities of the Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe are limited and the lack of unity of command between the different armies results in wastes of time.
/ Education