World War II was one of the deadliest conflicts in human history but was eventually won by the Allies through dedication, commitment, and sacrifice. Many operations led to the Allies' victory over the Axis Powers, but one of these operations was the turning point for World War II.

D-Day is one of the most well-known military operations in history. Learn more about this historic event and how it changed the tides in the Second World War.

What Is D-Day?

D-Day is the day the beaches in Normandy, France were invaded by military troops from the Allied countries on June 6th, 1944. During that time, Frace was predominately occupied by the Nazis.

The assault, which was nicknamed Operation Overlord, brought over 156,000 troops to Normandy, making it one of the largest military operations in history. After the first few days passed, over 325,000 troops and plenty of equipment landed. D-Day is now remembered as the start of the liberation of France and the end of the Second World War.

The Preparations for D-Day

Once World War II started, Nazi Germany invaded France and heavily occupied the northwestern region in 1940. One year later, America entered the war and started discussions with the British to stage a major invasion to take back territory in France. Throughout the early years of the war, these discussions turned into serious planning to take back control from Germany. As news of these plans spread, Hitler increased defenses in this region, which included over 2,400 miles of landmines, bunkers, and water obstacles.

Eventually, the Allies committed to an invasion plan and put General Dwight Eisenhower in charge of Operation Overlord in January 1944. This operation involved deceiving the Germans into believing an invasion would take place in Pas-de-Calais rather than Normandy. The Allies used many different methods to deceive the Germans, including creating a fake army, creating fake radio transmissions, and using fake equipment.

Originally, Eisenhower planned for the invasion of Normandy to take place on June 5th, 1944. However, poor weather conditions leading up to the planned day of the assault caused a 24-hour delay. Instead, the invasion would take place the following day with improving weather conditions, with over 5,000 landing crafts and ships carrying supplies and troops from England to France.

A Victory in Normandy

In the early hours of June 6th, 1944, there were already thousands of troops behind enemy lines to target German troops during any retreat. The invasion on the beaches started around 6:30 a.m. and by the end of the day, over 150,000 troops had successfully stormed the Normandy beaches. Just a short week later, the beaches were officially secured. Over 4,000 Allied troops lost their lives during the invasion, with many more missing or wounded.

The sudden assault confused German forces and the lack of reinforcements and delays made it easier for the Allies to take back French land. Over the next few weeks, the Allies fought across France to reclaim the territory and eventually seized Cherbourg, a vital port.

Toward the end of August 1944, the Allied troops successfully pushed through France and liberated Paris, removing German forces from the country and drawing the Battle of Normandy to an end. This invasion was a turning point in the war, preventing the German military and Hitler from launching an advance against the Soviets and other Allied countries. Less than a year after the invasion of Normandy, the Germans surrendered on May 8th, 1945, bringing an end to the Second World War.

Remembering D-Day at MLC

D-Day was an important turning point in our history and created a pathway for a victory in a war that could’ve changed the world as we know it. It’s crucial to not get lost in history and remember D-Day for what it was. Remembering history is what keeps us from repeating it, so we at MLC take the time to remember D-Day, the lives lost, and the sacrifices of Allied troops to protect the freedoms of the world.