In 1944 much of Western Europe was in the iron grip of the Nazis. Senior commanders and politicians in London and Washington knew that nothing less than the biggest military operation in history would be needed to restore peace to the Continent
At the height of the depression in 1930-31 the Royal Australian Navy was reduced to only the cruisers Australia and Canberra and the seaplane carrier Albatross in full commission, and one old destroyer with reduced complement.