D-day Invasion

6th June 1944

The long-awaited Anglo-American invasion of Nazi Europe begins just after midnight on June 6, 1944, as the first wave of U.S., British, and Canadian paratroopers plunge into the darkness over Normandy. It was the largest combined sea, air, and land military operation in history, with the participation of 3 million men, 13,000 aircraft, and 6,000 ships. At daybreak, a heavy bombardment of the French coast ended as 135,000 Allied troops stormed ashore at five landing sites. Despite the formidable German coastal defenses, beachheads were achieved at all five locations.