Since 1940 Germany had occupied France and all of Wesyern Europe. Operation Overlord was the codename for the Battle of Normandy.The operation was launched on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings. Before the soldiers landed in France 1,200-planes  dropped bombs in the area hoping the reduce German firepower.  Then 5,000 vessels landed on the beaches of Normandy. Nearly 160,000 troops crossed the English Channel on 6 June, and more than two million Allied troops were in France by the end of August.