Why did the Allies choose Normandy for the D-Day landings?
Normandy was close enough and provided the proper terrain suitable for landing armour on a large scale. Also, Normandy was close enough to allow for Operation Neptune (the Naval components, etc. of the invasion). The lessons of Dieppe taught the Allies that attacking a port was not going to be a suitable option. Therefore, we spent a tremendous amount of effort developing the Mulberry Harbors which were towed from England and sunk in place at the Normandy beaches (one British and one American harbor). Old ships were sunk out in front of the harbors to create a breakwall. Normandy presented it challenges though. This is hedgerow country, and fighting was fierce and at close quarters (battles for hedge lined fields were common). In a defensive measure, the Germans also flooded the countryside behind the invasion beaches, drowning many paratroopers weighted down with equipment, and making it difficult for the allies to move large numbers of troops, armour around. The Allies finally broke
