A Historic Overview

Five D-Day Beaches: The Landing Sites of Operation Overlord

A Historic Overview

The D-Day Landings, codenamed Operation Overlord, were a crucial turning point in World War II. On June 6, 1944, more than 156,000 American, British, and Canadian troops stormed 50 miles of Normandy's fiercely defended beaches.

Utah Beach: The Landing of the 4th Infantry Division

Utah Beach was assigned to the US 4th Infantry Division. The landing was successful, with relatively few casualties. However, the troops faced fierce German resistance as they moved inland.

Taxis to Hell and Back

The iconic image of soldiers wading through chest-deep water at Utah Beach is known as "Taxis to Hell and Back." This photograph captured the perilous journey that the troops undertook on their way to the shore.

Omaha Beach: The Bloody Landing

Omaha Beach, assigned to the US 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions, was the deadliest of the D-Day landing sites. The Germans had heavily fortified the beach, and the American troops faced intense fire.

Into the Jaws of Death

The assault on Omaha Beach has been described as "Into the Jaws of Death." The troops suffered heavy casualties, but they eventually managed to establish a foothold on the shore.

Other D-Day Beaches

In addition to Utah and Omaha Beaches, there were three other D-Day landing sites: * Sword Beach: Assigned to the British 3rd Infantry Division * Gold Beach: Assigned to the British 50th Infantry Division * Juno Beach: Assigned to the Canadian 3rd Infantry Division All five beaches were essential to the success of Operation Overlord. The Allied troops fought bravely to secure the beaches and establish a foothold in Normandy. Their victory paved the way for the liberation of Europe from Nazi occupation.