jun 6, 1944 - Normandy Landings

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The Normandy landings, also known as D-Day, were the largest seaborne invasion in history, marking the liberation of France and Western Europe during World War II. The operation began in 1943 with a military deception, Operation Bodyguard, to deceive the Germans about the date and location of the main Allied landings. The weather on the chosen day was not ideal, causing a 24-hour delay. Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was placed in command of German forces, while Major General Dwight D. Eisenhower was in command of Allied forces.

The invasion began on 6 June 1944, with extensive aerial and naval bombardment and an airborne assault. The Normandy coast was divided into five sectors: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. The landing craft faced heavy fire from gun emplacements overlooking the beaches, and the shore was mined and covered with obstacles. The highest number of casualties was at Omaha, with its high cliffs. At Gold, Juno, and Sword, several fortified towns were cleared in house-to-house fighting, and two major gun emplacements at Gold were disabled using specialized tanks.

The Allies established beachheads at each of the five landing sites on the first day, but Carentan, Saint-Lô, and Bayeux remained in German hands. Caen, a major objective, was not captured until 21 July. Only two of the beaches (Juno and Gold) were linked on the first day, and all five beachheads were not connected until 12 June. German casualties on D-Day were estimated at 4,000 to 9,000 men, while Allied casualties were at least 10,000, with 4,414 confirmed dead.

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