On June 6, 1944, more than 150,000 American, British and Canadian troops landed on the shores of northern France as part of D-Day, a major turning point in World War II that helped lead to the defeat of Nazi forces in Europe. About 2,500 of the 73,000 U.S. soldiers who fought in the battle died. Even at that time, the soldiers understood the Normandy invasion was pivotal to winning the war, a do or die situation.
Allied land forces came from the United States, Britain, Canada, and Free French forces. In the weeks following the invasion, Polish forces and contingents from Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece and the Netherlands participated in the ground campaign; most also provided air and naval support alongside elements of the Royal Australian Air Force, the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and the Royal Norwegian Navy.
Into the jaws of death. The U.S. Coast Guard caption identifies the unit as Company E, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division.
Photo U.S. Army/National Archives
The town of Caen, France freed by the Allies. AP Images
The dreadful cost of victory:
Reflecting Pool at Normandy American Cemetery in France
Normandy American Cemetery is the final resting place to more than 9,000 Americans that gave their lives in World War II.
NOT FORGOTTEN !
