It's been a lifetime, literally, since the invasion of the beaches at Normandy in France in 1944.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the event historians often refer to as the beginning of the end of World War II.
To mark the anniversary, President Biden, along with some WWII survivors, will head to France. Biden is expected to double down on his support of NATO and insist the U.S. and its allies are strongest when they stand together, like they did 80 years ago.
For the survivors, it was a trip back to the beaches where several fought in some of the bloodiest combat of D-Day. The youngest of the 66 making the honor flight journey was 95; the oldest 107. Their average age: 100.8.
Here's what happened in 1944.
When is the 2024 D-Day anniversary?
D-Day occurred June 6, 1944. It's when Allied forces made an assault on five beaches in Normandy in northwestern France, which was then under Nazi occupation.
2024 marks D-Day's 80th anniversary
It's been 80 years since an estimated 156,00 Allied troops from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and other countries came ashore.
D-Day by the numbers
Information compiled from History.com
- Date: June 6, 1944
- Original date: June 5, 1944. Bad weather brought a 24-hour delay.
- Assault began: 6:30 a.m. but was preceded by pre-dawn paratroopers landing inland to cut off exits and destroy bridges.
- Amphibious assault: More than 7,000 ships and landing craft
- Planes: More than 11,000 provided air cover and support
- Number of Allied troops: 133,000 from U.S., British Commonwealth
- Number of German troops: 50,000
- Supplies: U.S. shipped 7 million tons of supplies, including 450,000 tons of ammunition to staging area in England.
- Casualties: 10,300.
- Toughest fighting: Omaha Beach. Bombing runs had failed to take out heavily fortified Nazi artillery positions.
- Days after invasion: 326,000 troops, 50,000 vehicles, 100,000 tons of equipment were on shore.
What is D-Day?
Simply put, D-Day marks the invasion of northern France during World War II.
The invasion took place on five beaches in Normandy, which were given the code names Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword.
The D-Day operation brought together the land, air, and sea forces of the allied armies in what became known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history, according to the EisenhowerLibrary.gov.
Operation Overlord: 'The eyes of the world are upon you'
In January 1944, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower was put in command of was known officially as Operation Overlord.
Prior to the invasion, the Allies made several efforts to deceive the Germans on where an invasion would take place, including Pas-de-Calais (the narrowest point between Britain and France) and even Norway, according to History.com.
On the day of the invasion, Eisenhower told the troops: “You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you.
"Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely. The tide has turned! I have full confidence in our courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. I was accept nothing less than full Victory!"
By the end of August 1944, the Allies had reached the Seine River, Paris was liberated and the Germans had been removed from northwestern France, effectively concluding the Battle of Normandy.
Less than a year later,on May 7, 1945, Germany signed an unconditional surrender.
Read Gen. Eisenhower's words to the troops for D-Day invasion
Exercise Tiger: Rehearsal for D-Day invasion killed more than 700 troops
Exercise Tiger was held on an evacuated beach in England two months before D-Day. A fleet of German E-boats learned about the mock invasion and torpedoed American tank landing ships. A total of 749 troops lost their lives.
Survivors described the Exercise Tiger fiasco as more terrifying than the D-Day landing on Omaha Beach, according to History.com.
Where is Normandy?
Normandy is in northwest France. It stretches out to the coast, where the River Seine flows into the English Channel, and is bordered by Brittany in the southwest.
What does D-Day mean? Why is it called D-Day?
The D in D-Day merely stands for day, according to Army.mil. "This coded designation was used for the day of any important invasion or military operation."
Brigadier General Schultz said the invasion of Normandy, was not the only D-Day of World War II. Every amphibious assault — including those in the Pacific, in North Africa, and in Sicily and Italy — had its own D-Day.
Over the years, D-Day became synonymous to the event that took place June 6, 1944.
Florida events marking D-Day anniversary
- Living History Saturday: D-Day Anniversary, June 8
- Best Defense Foundation taking WWII veterans to Normandy
- University of Florida’s Fightin’ Gator Marching Bandperforming at the Memorial de Montormel in Falaise Thursday, June 6
D-Day movies to watch
Among the movies depicting the events that took place on D-Day are:
- "Saving Private Ryan"
- "36 Hours"
- "Where the Eagles Dare"
- "Overlord"
- "The Longest Day"
- "D-Day the Sixth of June"
- "Ike - Countdown to D Day"
- "The Great Escaper"
- "Eye of the Needle"
- "The Big Red One"
- "The Desert Fox"
- "Storming Juno"
- "My Way"
- "Churchill"
- "Breakthrough"
Not a film, but the series "Band of Brothers" comes highly recommended by D-DayInfo.
