“Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade.”

This is the story of the preparations for D-Day.

In November, 1943 the “Big Three”–that is, Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin–meet in person for the first time to discuss launching an Operation “Overlord,” a cross-channel invasion of Nazi-held France. With the leaders’ go-ahead, the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) led by General Dwight D. Eisenhower doubles down. As fighting continues in the Mediterranean theater, Ike works to gather sufficient men, supplies, and landing equipment, but it’s no easy feat.

As 1943 turns into 1944, more than 1.4 million American troops arrive in Great Britain for training. The men face extreme weather conditions, equipment malfunction, and maybe even friendly fire during training? Yeah, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows on the southern coast of Merry England, especially as the weather forecast for the planned attack of France looks atrocious. Will Ike and his men be able to pull off what’s gearing up to be the largest amphibious invasion in history?

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