<P> Rommel, believing that the Germans' best chance was to stop the invasion at the shore, requested that mobile reserves--especially tanks--be stationed as close to the coast as possible . Rundstedt, General Leo Geyr von Schweppenburg (commander of Panzer Group West), and other senior commanders believed that the invasion could not be stopped on the beaches . Geyr argued for a conventional doctrine: keeping the Panzer formations concentrated in a central position around Paris and Rouen and deploying them only when the main Allied beachhead had been identified . Geyr also noted that in the Italian Campaign the armour stationed near the coast had been damaged by naval bombardment . Rommel's opinion was that because of the overwhelming Allied air superiority, large - scale movement of tanks would not be possible once the invasion was underway . Hitler made the final decision: he left three divisions under Geyr's command and gave Rommel operational control of three tank - divisions as reserves . Hitler took personal control of four divisions as strategic reserves, not to be used without his direct orders . </P> <P> You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months . The eyes of the world are upon you . The hopes and prayers of liberty - loving people everywhere march with you . In company with our brave Allies and brothers - in - arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world . </P> <P> By May 1944, 1.5 million American troops had arrived in the United Kingdom . Most were housed in temporary camps in the south - west of England, ready to move across the Channel to the western section of the landing zone . British and Canadian troops were billeted in accommodation further east, spread from Southampton to Newhaven, and even on the east coast for men who would be coming across in later waves . A complex system called Movement Control assured that the men and vehicles left on schedule from twenty departure points . Some men had to board their craft nearly a week before departure . The ships met at a rendezvous point (nicknamed "Piccadilly Circus") south - east of the Isle of Wight to assemble into convoys to cross the Channel . Minesweepers began clearing lanes on the evening of 5 June, and a thousand bombers left before dawn to attack the coastal defences . Some 1,200 aircraft departed England just before midnight to transport three airborne divisions to their drop zones behind enemy lines several hours before the beach landings . The American 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions were assigned objectives on the Cotentin Peninsula west of Utah . The British 6th Airborne Division was assigned to capture intact the bridges over the Caen Canal and River Orne . The Free French 4th SAS battalion of 538 men was assigned objectives in Brittany (Operation Dingson, Operation Samwest). Some 132,000 men were transported by sea on D - Day, and a further 24,000 came by air . Preliminary naval bombardment commenced at 05: 45 and continued until 06: 25 from five battleships, twenty cruisers, sixty - five destroyers, and two monitors . Infantry began arriving on the beaches at around 06: 30 . </P> <P> The craft bearing the U.S. 4th Infantry Division assaulting Utah were pushed by the current to a spot about 1,800 metres (2,000 yd) south of their intended landing zone . The troops met light resistance, suffering fewer than 200 casualties . Their efforts to push inland fell far short of their targets for the first day, but they were able to advance about 4 miles (6.4 km), making contact with the 101st Airborne Division . The airborne landings west of Utah were not very successful, as only ten per cent of the paratroopers landed in their drop zones . Gathering the men together into fighting units was made difficult by a shortage of radios and by the terrain, with its hedgerows, stone walls and marshes . The 82nd Airborne Division captured its primary objective at Sainte - Mère - Église and worked to protect the western flank . Its failure to capture the river crossings at the River Merderet resulted in a delay in sealing off the Cotentin Peninsula . The 101st Airborne Division helped protect the southern flank and captured the lock on the River Douve at La Barquette, but did not capture the assigned nearby bridges on the first day . </P>

Where did the d day landings sail from