Ike: Countdown to D-Day

In December 1943, Eisenhower meets with Churchill to discuss the invasion of German-occupied Europe. He threatens to resign as Supreme Commander of SHAEF unless he is given total control of all operations. Churchill agrees to grant broader authority, and Ike begins shaping the invasion plan with Montgomery and Bradley.

Eisenhower plans the invasion with Bernard Montgomery and Omar Bradley, coordinating ground and armored forces. They outline initial assault schemes and overall strategy for the operation. The planning sessions align command structures for the forthcoming assault.

Eisenhower publicly reprimands Patton for remarks to the press that downplay the importance of Allied partners. He reminds him of the earlier slapping incidents and emphasizes unity among Allied commanders. The rebuke signals the need to maintain discipline and cooperative messaging.

In private, Eisenhower tells his chief of staff Walter Bedell Smith that Patton does not understand why they are fighting the war. He also notes that Patton's armor prowess will be essential once the Allies are ashore. The exchange highlights the tension between personal risk and strategic value.

Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory voices concern about the plan, arguing that airborne troops could suffer extraordinarily high casualties if conditions are not favourable. He urges caution and more conservative estimates. The exchange underscores Allied risk management ahead of the invasion.

During a training exercise off the English coast, German E-Boats attack a convoy. Nearly a thousand soldiers are lost along with valuable LST landing craft. The incident underscores the stakes and the fragility of the upcoming operation.

Bradley reports that the Ghost Army has successfully deceived the Germans into believing the landings will occur at Pas-de-Calais under Patton's command. The deception buys critical time and complicates German defensive planning. Confidence in Allied misdirection reinforces the strategic setup.

Believing the deception will not last, Eisenhower sets the invasion date for 5 June. He weighs weather, seas, and the plan with his senior staff. The scheduling marks a commitment to proceed despite uncertainties.

Eisenhower relieves his friend Henry Miller of command for publicly disclosing sensitive information. The action demonstrates the consequences of leaks at high levels. The decision reinforces the need for discipline within the Allied leadership.

Allied leaders brief King George VI and Queen Elizabeth about Operation Overlord. The King confides his fears about heavy losses, and Eisenhower admits that he shares those concerns. Churchill is impressed by Ike's willingness to shoulder responsibility alone.

When Bradley and Smith report on redeploying strong German forces to American landing zones, Eisenhower is forced to mediate a heated debate between Leigh-Mallory and Bradley. Bradley's assessment wins out, and Ike remains mindful of the price they may pay. The moment reflects the tension between risk and strategic surprise.

The day before the landings, Eisenhower meets with Charles de Gaulle, who disagrees with AMGOT and who should address the French people by radio. The exchange highlights postwar leadership complexities and French governance questions. Ike navigates the political sensitivities ahead of the assault.

A heavy rainstorm forces a 24-hour delay of the invasion, shifting the plan from 5 June to 6 June. The weather uncertainty tests the resolve of the Allied command and affects mission timing. Contingency planning remains a crucial element of the operation.

Eisenhower gives the final order for Operation Neptune and visits American paratroopers preparing to board. He drafts a letter taking full responsibility for the possible failure to create a beachhead, to be distributed to the press if the landings fail. As reports of a successful invasion begin to arrive, Leigh-Mallory apologizes to Eisenhower for the stress his forecast had caused. Eisenhower performs a final walk through the operations room as the film fades to black.