By 1944, the Soviet Union had borne the brunt of Nazi attacks on the Eastern Front. Stalin pressured the Allies to open a second front in the West to relieve some of the pressure on Soviet forces. D-Day was the key to achieving that objective.
On June 6, 1944, D-Day unleashed Operation Overlord, a bold invasion that would reshape the course of World War II. This was the day when Allied forces launched Operation Overlord, a massive invasion that would ultimately liberate Nazi-occupied Western Europe. Known as "the largest seaborne invasion in history," the landings on Normandy’s beaches became a powerful symbol of courage and sacrifice.
Read on to uncover the dramatic events, the heroes who faced the unimaginable, and the lasting legacy of D-Day.
May 8, 1945: Victory in Europe (VE) Day, when Nazi Germany surrendered, officially marking the end of World War II in Europe.
Operation Overlord: The plan
The preparation for D-Day was nothing short of extraordinary. Operation Overlord, the overall plan for the invasion, involved assembling more than 150,000 troops and massive supplies. It was an operation that involved troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and other Allied nations.
Deception and misinformation
The Allies used deceptive tactics to mislead the Germans about the landing location. Operation Bodyguard created a false narrative, convincing Germany that the Allies would invade at Pas-de-Calais rather than Normandy, ensuring the element of surprise.
Key figures in planning
General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, played a critical role in overseeing the invasion. He worked closely with leaders like General Bernard Montgomery and General Omar Bradley to coordinate the various Allied forces and resources.
The "D" in D-Day simply stands for "Day"—it’s a placeholder the military used for the day an operation was set to launch. So D-Day just means "the day," with the days following labeled D+1, D+2, and so on. It was used for other missions too, but June 6, 1944, made it iconic.
Normandy had broad beaches perfect for landing troops and was within range of British air support. Most importantly, it was less fortified than Pas-de-Calais, where the Germans were actually expecting an attack.
D-Day was part of Operation Overlord—the full campaign to liberate France. The landings themselves were called Operation Neptune, while Operation Bodyguard ran an elaborate deception game to keep the Germans guessing.
More than 156,000 Allied troops stormed the beaches by sea and air. Backing them was an armada of 7,000 ships and 14,000 Allied aircraft flying relentless support missions.
The U.S. hit Utah and Omaha, while Gold and Sword went to the British, and Juno to the Canadians. Omaha was the bloodiest, thanks to steep cliffs and relentless German fire.
By nightfall, they had secured all five beaches, though linking them up took nearly a week. Cherbourg fell by the end of June, but Caen took more than a month to capture.
They were the silent saboteurs—blowing up bridges, cutting train lines, feeding intel to the Allies, and making German troop movements as difficult as possible on D-Day and beyond.
The Allies suffered around 10,000 casualties, including over 4,000 confirmed dead. German numbers are harder to pin down but estimated between 4,000 to 9,000. About 3,000 French civilians were also tragically caught in the crossfire.
These were floating, temporary harbors the Allies assembled off the beaches to unload tanks, troops, and tons of gear. You can still see pieces of them at Arromanches today.
Every year, Normandy hosts moving ceremonies that draw veterans, families, and world leaders. The region is also home to some incredible museums and memorials dedicated to the bravery of June 6, 1944.
From Paris: WWII US D-Day Beaches Guided Tour with Optional Lunch
From Paris: WWII D-Day Normandy USA Landing Beaches Semi-Private Guided Full-Day Tour with Optional Lunch
From Paris: WWII Canadian D-Day Beaches Semi-Private Guided Tour