The Battle of Normandy, also known as D-Day, began on 6 June 1944, and resulted in the Allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany’s control.
Codenamed Operation Overlord, the battle began when some 156,000 Allied soldiers, transported by 7,000 naval vessels, went ashore on five beaches along a 50 mile stretch of a heavily fortified French coastline. They were protected by thousands of aircraft who carried out more than 14,000 sorties, bombing targets and dropping or landing some 24,000 airborne personnel behind enemy lines.
The invasion was one of the largest amphibious military assaults in history. And the code names of the Normandy beach sections: Omaha, Utah, Juno, Gold and Sword remain etched in our minds and the annals of 20th century warfare.
By the end of that first day, over 130,000 personnel representing 13 nations had come ashore. That success came at a terrible cost. All told, the allies suffered 10,000 casualties in the skies, seas and on the beaches of Normandy on 6th June alone.
But D-Day was only the beginning. For the next three months of ‘Operation Overlord’, the fighting would rage in the towns and villages of Northern France. It was a fight for liberation that would involve more than two million allied personnel, with 72,000 making the ultimate sacrifice.
By late August 1944, they had breached Hitler’s famed ‘Atlantic Wall’ and northern France had been liberated and they had gained a foothold in ‘Fortress Europe’.
Hard fought, and costly, the Battle of Normandy was a decisive victory which paved the way to end the Second World War in Europe.
Even as there are very few living D-Day veterans, and the date recedes into the past, the event still stands, in the eyes of history, and those who were there, as one of the most heroic and dramatic battles of WW2.
Lord of the nations,
we honour the bravery and sacrifice of those who served.
Grant us similar courage to recognise and restrain evil in our own day,
and may those who lead the nations of the world
work together to defend human liberty,
that we may live peaceably one with another.
This we ask in the name of the Prince of Peace,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
At 9.15 pm on 6 June 2024, many communities across Europe will be lighting Beacons, or lamps of peace, and undertaking the reading of The International Tribute – below. Why don’t you stop what you are doing at that time and join in wherever you are?
As Chaplain to the Paphos Branch of the Royal British Legion I’ll be leading a short Service of Remembrance at Mandria Beach, Paphos on this most poignant of days.
DDay 80 Short Service of Remembrance
revPACman 