Operation Sledgehammer

Operation Sledgehammer ( German Operation Sledgehammer ) was favored by the United States in the early stages of the Second World War companies to invade Western Europe. It was only provided for the case that the Soviet resistance against the advancing eastward German Wehrmacht collapse or should be significantly weakened.

The American Planning Staff, used by Dwight D. Eisenhower to plan elaboration, walked out of a possible landing in the summer of 1942. You should be performed first by British units, which should follow after American reinforcements. A number of American divisions were part of Operation Bolero already en route to the United Kingdom. As the attack (D -Day) a date between July 15 and August 1 was adopted. The operation should fifteen -day air attacks precede that should lead to the withdrawal from the eastern front German aircraft. The airspace over the English Channel and the continental coast between Dunkirk and Abbeville was provided as an Allied control room. More air raids should be flown on the coasts of the Netherlands, Belgium and Normandy. 30 days after the landing attack the main force was provided which was to control the area north of the Seine and Oise.

A little later worked for revision surgery Sledgehammer was after the U.S. plans for a six divisions strong landing force, which should cross the Channel to Cherbourg. The then to be formed bridgehead had the main task to wait for replenishment deliveries from the UK and build a strong armed depot for an advance to be executed later in the French interior.

A subordinate enterprise that Operation Jupiter was intended to build a beachhead in Norway.

But the British have already spoken in mid July 1942 for a later invasion date accordingly. The operation of them favored Roundup was the earliest scheduled for the first half of 1943.

Since the Soviet Union led by Joseph Stalin quickly called for the establishment of a second front in the west, the disappointment was great when the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill at a meeting in Moscow in mid-August 1942, the decision announced to postpone the invasion plans.

In the course succeeded Churchill, his opponent Franklin D. Roosevelt from a landing in North West Africa in the fall of 1942 (Operation Gymnast / Torch ) instead of Operation Sledgehammer convince.