D-Day: The Normandy Landings

What happened

Operation Overlord, the largest amphibious invasion in history, put nearly 160,000 Allied troops ashore across five Normandy beaches — code-named Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword — supported by thousands of ships and aircraft under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Why it matters

D-Day opened the long-awaited Western Front in France, beginning the liberation of northwestern Europe from Nazi occupation.

Sources

• The National WWII Museum. D-Day: The Allies Invade Europe · General source
• Imperial War Museums. 10 Things You Need To Know About D-Day · General source