Ike: Countdown to D-Day

General Dwight D. Eisenhower navigates the immense political and military pressures of commanding the Allied invasion of Normandy, balancing conflicting personalities among his top commanders. The film culminates in his agonizing decision to launch the invasion despite uncertain weather.

As Supreme Allied Commander, Eisenhower coordinated an unprecedented multinational force and had to manage friction between commanders such as Montgomery and Patton while making the fateful call to proceed with the invasion on 6 June 1944 despite poor conditions.

The film is grounded in well-documented historical events and Eisenhower's own accounts, with dialogue dramatized for television.

The largest amphibious operation in history put Allied armies ashore on five beaches in Normandy, opening the campaign that would liberate Western Europe.

Airborne divisions landed behind the beaches overnight to secure flanks and causeways. Seaborne assaults hit Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword from first light; Omaha was very nearly held. By nightfall roughly 156,000 men were ashore, though few D-Day objectives inland had been taken.

Directed by Robert Harmon

Cast: Tom Selleck, Timothy Bottoms, Bruce Greenwood, James Remar

Positioned at February–June 1944 within the Planning of the Normandy invasion phase of the war, as part of the Operation Overlord planning. This is entry 111 of 150 in the chronological archive.

• Eisenhower
• D-Day planning
• Supreme Allied Command
• television film
• leadership

• 

  Overlord

  1944

• 

  Twelve O'Clock High

  1942–1943

• 

  The Great Escape

  24–25 March 1944

• 

  D-Day the Sixth of June

  6 June 1944

• 

  The Longest Day

  6 June 1944

• 

  Saving Private Ryan

  6–13 June 1944