The 5 W’s Of D-Day

June 6, 1944 is the day American troops and Allied Forces invaded the Beaches of Normandy France during World War II. We pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives in the battle dubbed D-Day, that foreshadowed the end of World War II. Here we provide the five W’s of D-Day; the Who, What, When, Where and Why – to illustrate the importance of this historical day and to remember the lives of those who fought and sacrificed to secure a victory.

Who was Involved in the Battle of Normandy?

The Normandy Landings involved the Allied Forces against the Nazi Party. The Allied Forces consisted of the United Kingdom, US, Canada, Australia, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Greece, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Poland. The Nazi’s were the German Army under the reign of Adolf Hitler.

Code-named Operation Overlord, D-Day was, and still is, the single largest joint military operation as it involved air, land and sea attacks. Over 5,000 ships, 11,000 air crafts and 150,000 allied troops stormed the Beaches of Normandy, France after years of intense and detailed planning. The battle foreshadowed the beginning of the end for the Nazi Party and reign of Adolf Hitler.

When and Where did the Battle of Normandy Happen?

While the operation was first conceived in 1943, the actual event did not take place until June 6th, 1944. The landings were the Allied Forces first efforts to take back and liberate Europe from Nazi rule. The Beaches of Normandy refers to five different beaches that the Allied Forces used as landing points. The beaches were code named Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno and Sword.

The five different beaches used in Operation Overlord were not your typical sandy beach. Those in the battle faced rocks, cliffs, and worst of all, the Nazis firing down upon them. This was an intense battle that took the lives of many Allied Forces, but they did overcome the German defenses.

Why did the Allied Forces Launch this Attack?

The Invasion of Normandy was the beginning of the Allied Forces effort to liberate Europe of Nazi control during World War II. The invasion also contributed to the Allied victory on the Western European Front.

What Actually Happened?

The entire operation was a significant shifting point during World War II. It brought hope to those in Europe who felt they were alone against Hitler’s Nazi forces. While a total of 425,000 Allied and German troops were killed, wounded or missing after D-Day, the Allied Forces were victorious and it helped change the trajectory of the war, and world history.

Homes for Heroes remembers and honors the sacrifices of our American military; especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice and their loved ones.

Thank you for your service.