D-Day

D-Day Invasion at Normandy – June 6, 1944

Invasion at Normandy – June 6, 1944

Invasion Date

June 6, 1944 – The D in D-Day stands for “day” since the final invasion date was unknown and weather dependent.

Allied Forces

156,000 Allied troops  from The United States, The United Kingdom, Canada, Free France and Norway

Areas of Invasion

The Allied code names for the beaches along the 50-mile stretch of Normandy coast targeted for landing were Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. Omaha was the costliest beach in terms of Allied casualties.

The Armada

5,000 ships and landing craft

50,000 vehicles

11,000 planes

Commanders

United States – Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar Bradley

The United Kingdom – Bernard Law Montgomery, Trafford Leigh-Mallory, Arthur Tedder, Miles Dempsey, Bertram Ramsay

Germany – Erwin Rommel, Gerd von Rundstedt, Friedrich Dollmann

Casualties

Numbers represent total killed, wounded, missing or captured

United States – 6,603 (1,465 killed)

United Kingdom – 2,700

Canada – 1,074 (359 fatal)

Germany – Estimated between 4,000 – 9,000

The Outcome

By June 11, with the beachheads firmly secured, more than 326,000 troops had crossed with more than 100,000 tons of military equipment. Paris was liberated on August 25. Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945.

Veterans Today

The number of remaining D-Day vets is estimated anywhere between 8,000 and 60,000. The Veterans Administration has detailed numbers on total WWII vets remaining available at www.nationalww2museum.org/the-greatest-generation

The National World War II Museum tells the story of the American Experience in the war that changed the world – why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today.  Dedicated in 2000 as The National D-Day Museum and now designated by Congress as America’s National World War II Museum, it celebrates the American Spirit, the teamwork, optimism, courage and sacrifice of the men and women who fought on the battlefront and the Home Front. For more information, call 877-813-3329 or 504-527-6012 or visit www.nationalww2museum.org. Follow us on Twitter atWWIImuseum or visit our Facebook fan page.