The History of the Landings and the Battle of Normandy

In 1944, on June 6 and during the long summer that followed, men from all over the world came to fight in Normandy to defeat Nazism and restore freedom.

A little history

High place of memory

The Landing of June 6, 1944 was a decisive turning point in the Second World War: the Liberation of France and Europe began on the beaches of Normandy. It is in Normandy that the face of today’s world took shape. Since 1942, with the Dieppe Raid, the history of Normandy as a whole has been closely linked to that of the return of Liberty, Peace and Reconciliation.

On June 6, 1944 and the days that followed, thousands of young men representing around fifteen different nations (United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Australia…) and 177 French people from Commando Kieffer landed on the Normandy beaches to liberate the territory. On June 6, at midnight, more than 150,000 allied soldiers were in Normandy, including 23,000 paratroopers and 20,000 vehicles of all sizes. 12,000 men were killed, wounded or taken prisoner. What followed were three months of battles to liberate Normandy. Then it was the turn of Paris and finally of all of Europe.

The Normans, we often ignore, also paid a very heavy human and material price. During the 3 months of the Battle of Normandy, many Norman towns suffered from fighting and bombardments. Upon liberation, it is necessary to relocate and rebuild.

THE MAJOR STEPS OF THE LANDINGS AND THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY

In 1944, on June 6 and during the long summer that followed, men from all over the world came to fight in Normandy to defeat Nazism and restore freedom. Chronologically, in the operation of June 6, 1944, we can distinguish 3 phases: the landing by air (which affects the beaches of Utah to the west and Sword to the east), the aerial and naval bombardments on the Wall of the Atlantic and disembarkation by sea on the 5 beaches (Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword) and Pointe du Hoc.

1 – AFTER THE DIEPPE DISASTER, THE ALLIES PREPARE FOR D-DAY

Dieppe

The Dieppe raid on August 19, 1942, or Operation Jubilee, was a real human massacre. The failure of this operation will also be reused by Nazi propaganda to show the invincibility of the Atlantic Wall…

2 – THE LANDING BEACHES

Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Gold Beach, Juno Beach, Sword Beach

The Landing of June 6, 1944 on the beaches of Normandy is the largest amphibious and airborne operation of all time. Even today, millions of people come to worship on the D-Day Beaches and pay tribute to the soldiers who liberated France. Come and visit these places full of emotion.

3 – THE FIRST CITIES LIBERATED

Bayeux, Cherbourg, Saint-Lô, Caen

The paratroopers aim to seize the community bridges to secure the ground in order to allow the bulk of the troops to land on the beaches…

4 – THE CLIFF POCKET

Chambois

The month of August 1944 will see the end of the battle with the encirclement of the 5th and 7th German armies in the “Cliff Pocket”…

5 – NORMANDY WILL BEAR THE TRACES OF WAR FOR A LONG TIME

In Normandy

At the height of the clashes, civilian victims were numerous; to escape the bombs, we take refuge in cellars, quarries, we take the path of exodus…

THE LONG-HOPED LIBERATION…

The Battle of Normandy lasted almost three months, much longer than Allied strategists had anticipated. The liberation of the communes only happened slowly and gradually. The Normans discovered these liberating soldiers that they had been waiting for so long. But the fighting and bombings have caused too much ruin and mourning to experience this liberation without restraint. Everywhere the population welcomed their liberators, the Allies discovered cider and calvados, and the Normans, for their part, rediscovered the taste of chocolate or tobacco.

Due to the duration of the Battle of Normandy, many towns, far from the coast, had to wait a long time for the arrival of the troops.

The total liberation of the Manche department did not occur until August 15. As of August 21, the Orne department is liberated. For Calvados, the last commune to regain its freedom was Honfleur on August 25.

THE NORMANDS DISCOVERED THESE LIBERATOR SOLDIERS THEY HAD BEEN WAITING FOR SO LONG.

Find out more: https://www.normandie-tourisme.fr/decouverte/histoire/d-day-et-bataille-de-normandie/grandes-etapes-d-day-et-bataille-de-normandie/

Video C News Normandy landings Operation Overlord 1:36 min https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pnSe9rU0p0

Testimonials

Meeting and listening to World War II veterans at the D Day event provides valuable testimony and a first-hand understanding of the challenges and sacrifices they faced.

Veteran testimonials videos:

A Canadian veteran of the Sherbrooke Fusiliers who was ready to die for his King and his Country: Hugh Buckley

A German paratrooper who awaited the end of the Nazi yoke: Johannes Börner

More testimonials from veterans:Videos

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Dominique PFISTNER France

I remember my father’s tears remembering the day he went to recognize the body of his father shot by the S.S. in Audrieu on June 15, 1944.

My grandfather was on his way to pick up his daughter from family near Audrieu. He was arrested by the Germans as a spy and found half buried. My father was 19!

Laury DESPRES

France

A thought for all those people who sacrificed their lives to allow us to be free today.

A thought for those who survived it and who keep within them bloody memories and those friends they will no longer see.

A thought for those people who experienced the horror of war, the loss of family and friends, the diabolical determination of madmen, the absence of humanity and the inaccessibility of foodstuffs

A thought for this war which caused so many deaths, for a freedom that we think has been acquired.

A thought today, so that this horror does not happen again tomorrow

Luce N.

France

Remember for the future! “We must never forget what these people did to win Freedom. » That’s what my grandpa kept telling me when I was younger, without really understanding it. Today, older and a mother of 2 children, this makes perfect sense!

Jacqueline SINCERE

France

I remember the deafening explosions and my mother calming our fears on those terrifying nights. I remember seeing myself die.

I also remember the countryside, the bullets that brushed past our heads, the looks full of courage, the villages celebrating.

Jeremy COOPER

UK

We must never forget the sacrifice of all of the Allied Forces and those of the French people who suffered for us to live as we live today.

My father was in Italy at this time, being part of the landings to liberate Italy so we will be coming for the anniversary week in 2024 to stay and pay our respects. We thank our French friends and look forward to our visit on this coming June.

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