List of Allied forces in the Normandy campaign facts for kids
The Normandy campaign was a huge military operation during World War II that began on June 6, 1944, known as D-Day. It was the start of the Allied invasion of German-occupied Western Europe. This list shows the main ground forces from the Allied side that took part in this important campaign, which lasted until August 25, 1944. These forces included soldiers from many different countries working together to free France from German control.
Contents
United States Forces in Normandy
The United States sent a large number of soldiers, tanks, and paratroopers to Normandy. These units played a key role in landing on the beaches and fighting their way inland.
| Unit | Arrival Date | Landing Beach | Commander |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Infantry Division | June 6 | Omaha | Major General Clarence R. Huebner |
| 2nd Infantry Division | June 7 | Omaha | Major General Walter M. Robertson |
| 4th Infantry Division | June 6 | Utah | Major General Raymond O. Barton |
| 5th Infantry Division | July 9 | Utah | Major General Stafford LeRoy Irwin |
| 8th Infantry Division | July 4 | Utah | Major General William C. McMahon |
| 9th Infantry Division | June 10 | Utah | Major General Manton S. Eddy |
| 28th Infantry Division | July 22 | Omaha | Major General Lloyd D. Brown |
| 29th Infantry Division | June 6 | Omaha | Major General Charles H. Gerhardt |
| 30th Infantry Division | June 10 | Omaha | Major General Leland Hobbs |
| 35th Infantry Division | July 5 | Omaha | Major General Paul W. Baade |
| 79th Infantry Division | June 12 | Utah | Major General Ira T. Wyche |
| 83rd Infantry Division | June 18 | Omaha | Major General Robert C. Macon |
| 90th Infantry Division | June 6 | Utah | Brigadier General Jay W. MacKelvie |
| 2nd Armored Division | June 9 | Omaha | Major General Edward H. Brooks |
| 3rd Armored Division | June 23 | Omaha | Major General Leroy H. Watson |
| 4th Armored Division | July 11 | Utah | Major General John S. Wood |
| 5th Armored Division | July 24 | Utah | Major General Lunsford E. Oliver |
| 6th Armored Division | July 19 | Utah | Major General Robert W. Grow |
| 82nd Airborne Division | June 6 | Utah | Major General Matthew Ridgway |
| 101st Airborne Division | June 6 | Utah | Major General Maxwell D. Taylor |
| 2nd Ranger Battalion | June 6 | Omaha | Lt. Colonel James E. Rudder |
| 5th Ranger Battalion | June 6 | Omaha | Lt. Colonel Max F. Schneider |
United Kingdom Forces in Normandy
The United Kingdom contributed many divisions, including armored and airborne units, which landed on different beaches and fought in key areas of the Normandy campaign.
| Unit | Arrival Date | Landing Beach | Commander |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guards Armoured Division | June 28 | Juno | Major-General Allan H.S. Adair |
| 7th Armoured Division | June 6-12 | Gold | Major-General George W.E.J. Erskine |
| 11th Armoured Division | June 13 | Juno | Major-General George P.B. Roberts |
| 8th Armoured Brigade | June 6 | Gold | Brigadier Bernard Cracroft |
| 27th Armoured Brigade | June 6 | Sword | Brigadier G. E. Prior-Palmer |
| 6th Airborne Division | June 6 | Orne Bridgehead | Major-General Richard Gale |
| 3rd Infantry Division | June 6 | Sword | Major-General Thomas G. Rennie |
| 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division | June 14 | (Unknown) | Major General G.H.A. MacMillan |
| 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division | June 24 | Juno | Major General G.I. Thomas |
| 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division | June 13 | Gold | Major General E.H. Barker |
| 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division | June 6 | Gold | Major General D.A.H. Graham |
| 51st (Highland) Infantry Division | June 6-7 | Juno | Major-General D.C. Bullen-Smith |
| 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division | June 27 | (Unknown) | Major General R.K. Ross |
| 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division | June 27 | (Unknown) | Major General Lewis Lyne |
| 79th Armoured Division | June 6 | Supported Gold, Sword, and Juno | Major-General Percy Hobart |
| 1st Special Service Brigade | June 6 | Sword | Brigadier Lord Lovat |
| 4th Special Service Brigade | June 6 | Sword, Juno, Gold | Brigadier Bernard W. Leicester |
Canadian Forces in Normandy
Canadian forces were a vital part of the Allied invasion, especially on Juno Beach, and fought bravely throughout the campaign.
| Unit | Arrival Date | Landing Beach | Commander | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division | July 29 | Juno | Major General George Kitching | |
| 2nd Canadian Infantry Division | July 7 | Juno | Major General C. Foulkes | |
| 3rd Canadian Infantry Division | June 6 | Juno | Major General Rodney F.L. Keller | |
| 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade | June 6 | Juno | Brigadier Robert A. Wyman | |
| Other Canadian Units | ||||
| 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion (worked with the British 6th Airborne Division) | June 6 | Orne Bridgehead | Lieutenant-Colonel George Bradbrooke | |
Free French Forces in Normandy
Even though France was occupied, many French soldiers continued to fight for their country's freedom. These "Free French" forces were an important part of the Allied effort.
| Unit | Arrival Date | Commander | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2e Division Blindée (2nd Armored Division) | August 1 | General Philippe Leclerc | ||
| Other French Units | ||||
| Nos 1 and 8 Troop, No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando (worked with No. 4 Commando) | June 6 | Capitaine de frégate Philippe Kieffer | ||
| 3ème Bataillon d'Infanterie de l'Air (3rd Parachute Chasseur Battalion) | July 17 | Capitaine Pierre Château-Jobert | ||
| 4ème Bataillon d'Infanterie de l'Air (4th Parachute Chasseur Battalion) | June 6 | Capitaine Pierre-Louis Bourgoin | ||
Free Polish Forces in Normandy
Polish soldiers, who had escaped their occupied homeland, formed units that fought alongside the Allies. Their 1st Armoured Division was particularly important in the later stages of the Normandy campaign.
| Unit | Arrival Date | Commander |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Armoured Division | By August 7 | Major-General Stanisław Maczek |
Free Belgian Forces in Normandy
Belgium also had forces fighting for its freedom. The "Brigade Piron" was a well-known Belgian unit that joined the fight in Normandy.
| Unit | Arrival Date | Commander |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Belgian Infantry Brigade ("Brigade Piron") | Between July 30 – August 8 | Colonel Jean-Baptiste Piron |
Free Czechoslovak Forces in Normandy
Czechoslovak soldiers, like those from other occupied nations, formed their own fighting units. The 1st Czechoslovak Independent Armoured Brigade Group arrived towards the end of the campaign.
| Unit | Arrival Date | Commander |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Czechoslovak Independent Armoured Brigade Group | August 30 | Major General Alois Liška |
Free Dutch Forces in Normandy
The Netherlands also had a brigade of soldiers, the "Princess Irene Brigade," fighting to liberate Europe.
| Unit | Arrival Date | Commander |
|---|---|---|
| Koninklijke Nederlandse Brigade "Prinses Irene" ("Princess Irene Brigade") | August 6 | Colonel A. C. de Ruyter van Steveninck |
Free Norwegian Forces in Normandy
Norway contributed about 1,950 military personnel to the Normandy campaign. They fought in Norwegian units or as part of other Allied forces. Many Norwegian civilian ships and sailors also helped transport supplies. These units often worked under British command.
Some of the Norwegian units that took part included:
- Air Force squadrons:
- 331 Squadron
- 332 Squadron
- Navy ships:
- HNoMS Stord (a destroyer)
- HNoMS Svenner (a destroyer)
- HNoMS Glaisdale (a destroyer)
- HNoMS Andenes (a corvette)
- HNoMS Eglantine (a corvette)
- HNoMS Rose (a corvette)
- HNoMS Nordkapp (a fishery protection vessel)
- Motor Launches No. 128, 213 and 573
See also
- Australian contribution to the Battle of Normandy
