At one time it was more fashionable to attribute to attribute importance to such natural forces as climate in discussing the power of states in international politics. It is easy to understand how prevailing regional or seasonal climate or even specific daily weather conditions can influence discrete events in the course of world history.
The success or failure of great events in armed conflicts has often depended in part upon weather conditions For example, the timing of the D – Day invasion of the Normandy coast of France in 1944, and thus the beginning of the great Allied offensive against Germany from the west, was planned with the forces of moon and tide very much in mind and was delayed by the disruptive aspect of bad weather. The late Winston Churchill, prime minister of Britain when the invasion took place, remembered the tremendous anxiety over weather at the scheduled time of the invasion : We were haunted by the knowledge that if the bad weather continued and the postponement had to be prolonged beyond June 7, we could not again get the necessary combination of moon and tide for at least another fortnight. Meanwhile, the troops had all been briefed. They clearly could not be kept on board these tiny ships indefinitely.
We went to bed at about half – past one …….. At 4 : 15 a.m. Eisenhower again met his commanders, and heard from the weather experts the ominous report, sky overcast, cloud ceiling low, strong south – westerly wind, with rain and moderate sea. The forecast for the 5th was even worse. Reluctantly he ordered a postponement of the attack for twenty – four hours, and the whole vast array was put into reverse…….. All convoys at sea turned about and small craft sought shelter in convenient anchorages.
Of course, the weather improved, the massive landing on the coast of France took place, and the Allied powers were ultimately victorious.