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31 December 1943 – 2 January 1944
The first amphibious exercise for American troops takes place at Slapton Sands, Devon. The exercise involves 16,000 assault troops, and is a rehearsal of the techniques that will be used…
24 December 1943
US General Dwight D. Eisenhower is finally appointed as Supreme Allied Commander, in overall charge of Operation Overlord. General Sir Bernard Montgomery – ‘Monty’ – is appointed to command 21st…
November 1943
Construction work begins at various points along the English coasts on the first sections of the Mulberry Harbours. These two artificial harbours will be made in huge sections from steel…
3 September 1943
Operation Baytown, the Allied landings on mainland Italy begin.
21 November 1943
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel is given responsibility for improving the German defences on the French coast, which the Allies will have to overcome on D-Day including minefields, obstacles to sink…
28 November 1943 – 1 December 1943
The British, American and Soviet leaders – Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin – meet together for the first time, at the Teheran Conference. Stalin urgently wants to know…
25 October 1943
British Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay is appointed as the Allied naval commander for D-Day. Earlier in the war Ramsay had commanded the evacuation from Dunkirk.
17 – 24 August 1943
At the Quebec Conference, the Allies adopt COSSAC’s outline plan for D-Day. Air Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh Mallory is appointed commander of the Allied Expeditionary Air Forces.
9 July 1943
Operation Husky, the Allies land in Sicily. Italy surrenders during the campaign and joins the Allies.
March 1943
An Anglo-American staff is formed under the command of British Lieutenant General Morgan to develop a plan for landing in occupied Europe. He is given the title of COSSAC (Chief…
14 – 24 January 1943
At the Casablanca Conference, the Allies agree that the conditions are not right for D-Day to take place in 1943. Instead, the Allies will capture Sicily. They decide to form…
