Mixing hardened veterans with green units, the US Army was committing four infantry and two airborne divisions to Overlord, backed by the overwhelming industrial might of their homeland and corresponding air and sea superiority.

As the vast Allied armada bore down on France, the German leadership and their forces were well aware the strike was coming, but not where. Preparations had been in place for months, but with the apparent respite brought by the foul weather, the Germans were on a relatively low alert status.