This Thursday, 75 years ago, most of the troops earmarked for the invasion of Normandy made their final pre-deployment movement into the “Sausages.” They would reside within them until called to mount their transport aircraft or board their ships for what would be the largest single purpose operation of our civilization. Here, they would mentally prepare themselves for what lay ahead. It was not particularly pretty, but the program was singularly effective.
More than a year prior, the English government, in coordination with General Eisenhower's staff planners, began to establish what became known as “sausages.” These were tracts of land on the south and east coast areas of England to house the half a million plus assault troops. They were in woodlands, fallow farms, and the rugged coasts that marked this part of England. Here, they would be closer to the ports and airfields designated for the invasion embarkations.
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