<P> Attendees at the Trident Conference in Washington in May 1943 took the decision to launch a cross-Channel invasion within the next year . Churchill favoured making the main Allied thrust into Germany from the Mediterranean theatre , but his American allies , who were providing the bulk of the men and equipment , over-ruled him . British Lieutenant - General Frederick E. Morgan was appointed Chief of Staff , Supreme Allied Commander ( COSSAC ) , to begin detailed planning . The initial plans were constrained by the number of available landing - craft , most of which were already committed in the Mediterranean and in the Pacific . In part because of lessons learned in the Dieppe Raid of 19 August 1942 , the Allies decided not to directly assault a heavily defended French seaport in their first landing . The failure at Dieppe also highlighted the need for adequate artillery and air support , particularly close air support , and specialised ships able to travel extremely close to shore . The short operating - range of British aircraft such as the Spitfire and Typhoon greatly limited the number of potential landing - sites , as comprehensive air - support depended upon having planes overhead for as long as possible . Morgan considered four sites for the landings : Brittany , the Cotentin Peninsula , Normandy , and the Pas de Calais . As Brittany and Cotentin are peninsulas , the Germans could have cut off the Allied advance at a relatively narrow isthmus , so these sites were rejected . </P>
<P> Attendees at the Trident Conference in Washington in May 1943 took the decision to launch a cross-Channel invasion within the next year . Churchill favoured making the main Allied thrust into Germany from the Mediterranean theatre , but his American allies , who were providing the bulk of the men and equipment , over-ruled him . British Lieutenant - General Frederick E. Morgan was appointed Chief of Staff , Supreme Allied Commander ( COSSAC ) , to begin detailed planning . The initial plans were constrained by the number of available landing - craft , most of which were already committed in the Mediterranean and in the Pacific . In part because of lessons learned in the Dieppe Raid of 19 August 1942 , the Allies decided not to directly assault a heavily defended French seaport in their first landing . The failure at Dieppe also highlighted the need for adequate artillery and air support , particularly close air support , and specialised ships able to travel extremely close to shore . The short operating - range of British aircraft such as the Spitfire and Typhoon greatly limited the number of potential landing - sites , as comprehensive air - support depended upon having planes overhead for as long as possible . Morgan considered four sites for the landings : Brittany , the Cotentin Peninsula , Normandy , and the Pas de Calais . As Brittany and Cotentin are peninsulas , the Germans could have cut off the Allied advance at a relatively narrow isthmus , so these sites were rejected . </P>
who was in charge of the d day invasion
who was in charge of the d day invasion
British Lieutenant - General Frederick E. Morgan
British Lieutenant - General Frederick E. Morgan