The Wall_Spring 2023_Issue 9

Artwork: Jasmine Dent, S10

The Allies were progressing swiftly through France, and by the end of August, Paris was liberated. However, a huge problem emerged.All the food, ammunitions and fuel needed to supply the soldiers was getting stuck in Normandy because the supply chain couldn’t develop fast enough. Railways were all destroyed, so the “red ball express” was created.Thousands of trucks raced eastward, past Paris, and to the front lines. 6000 trucks were moving 12,000 tonnes of supplies daily within 5 days of the route’s opening.This was a sub-optimal solution however, as tyre replacement was an issue and fuel costs were high.Trucks would break down and roads would form sinkholes, delaying supplies. Meanwhile, engineers

were effective, especially with the lack of Luftwaffe aircraft in this region. Once the ships were in close proximity to the beaches, the first gunfire was exchanged. There were only two major naval losses in this key phase of the attacks, but many landing craft, planes and men fell victim to the German batteries.

were rapidly repairing railways, so the red ball express would soon be unnecessary.The first railway opened on July 9th, 1944, and many more followed. Whilst the red ball express was not the most efficient nor reliable transport method, it played a key role in the invasion of France; an intricately complex operation involving deception, trickery and tireless persistence.

Stage 3: The Red Ball Express

Interested in finding out more? Read the editors supplementary content by scanning the QR code!

The “red ball express” was a motorised supply chain stretching through France to the front lines, named after the American railway signs indicating priority for express freight trains.

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