The Normandy Landings

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Mark Cartwright
by
published on 04 July 2024
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In this collection of resources, we look at the events of D-Day, 6 June 1944, when the Allies stormed the Normandy beaches in France on the first day of a campaign to free Western Europe from occupation by Nazi Germany during the Second World War (1939-45). We examine the objectives of D-Day, each of the five beaches of the landings in detail, and the experiences of the civilians who found themselves involved in one of the most momentous days in history.

In twenty-eight years of service, three wars, fourteen overseas tours of duty, thousands of faces, only Normandy and D-Day remain vivid, as if it happened only yesterday. What we did was important and worthwhile.

(Charles Sullivan, quoted in Ambrose, 367)

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Questions & Answers

What happened in the Normandy landings?

The Normandy Landings involved Allied troops storming five German-held beaches in Normandy on D-Day, 6 June 1944. The beaches were secured and the Allies pushed deep inland into northern France.

How many troops died on D-Day?

There are no official figures for 6 June only, but it is estimated that 135,000 men landed on D-Day, and there were around 5,000 casualties.

Which beach was the worst on D-Day?

The worst beach on D-Day in terms of casualties and difficulty in securing was Omaha Beach. Here, there were around 2,200 casualties, whereas the other four beaches combined accounted for 3,000 casualties.
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About the Author

Mark Cartwright
Mark is a full-time writer, researcher, historian, and editor. Special interests include art, architecture, and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. He holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the WHE Publishing Director.

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