June 6 - D-Day

Happy National D-Day! On this day back in 1944, it is known most commonly by the term D-Day. It refers to the landing of Allied forces storming the beaches of Normandy, France staging one of the pivotal attacks against Germany during World War II. 

The codename Operation Overlord became known as the beginning of the end of World War II. 

Following the Battle of Normandy, which began on June 6, 1944, along a fifty-mile stretch of beaches, including Utah and Omaha Beach, the attack became known as D-Day.  

While there are many explanations for the name, one reason may be due to the military countdown to the designated day and hour of the assault. The letter "D" represented "Day" and the letter "H" represented "Hour" in the military. 

The battle liberated Northern France with more than 160,000 Allied troops from Great Britain, the United States and Canada under the leadership of American Army General, statesman and 34th U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower. 

The troops manned more than five thousand ships and thirteen thousand aircraft the day of the initial landing. 

HOW TO OBSERVE 

World War II museums, memorials, and ceremonies will be honoring the American, British, and Canadian forces who landed along the fifty-mile stretch of beaches that day over seventy-five years ago.  

Learn more about the Battle of Normandy by exploring World War II museums. Read books about the Battle of Normandy or listen to a podcast such as: 

• 
  

  • The Longest Day by Cornelius Ryan (1959) 

• • Pegasus Bridge by Stephen E. Ambrose (1984) 

• • The Bedford Boys by Alex Kershaw (2001) 

• • D-Day Girls: The Spies Who Armed the Resistance, Sabotaged the Nazis, and Helped Win World War II by Sarah Rose (2019) 

• • Normandy ’44: D-Day and the Battle for France by James Holland (2019) 

• • History Extra Podcast 

Historians estimate that only 500,000 of the more than sixteen million Americans who served during World War II are still living. 

However, according to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, fewer than one thousand D-Day veterans are believed to be alive. 

Use #DDay to share on social media. 

HISTORY 

The landing of troops on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944, known around the world as D-Day, was given the name Operation Overlord. 

Leading up to the attack, plans of deception were carried out to mislead Germany. 

All gave some, some gave all. 

How can you honor or observe any of the surviving soldiers of D-Day today? 

#DDay 

@NationalDDAYMemorial 

@HISTORY 

@HistoryExtra 

@WWIIMuseum 

@nichecinema