War veterans and world leaders gathered this Thursday (60 in Normandy, France, in honor of the 80th anniversary of the landing of soldiers in this region – the famous ‘D-Day’ – on June 6, 1944, an episode that marked the beginning of the end of World War II.
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, King Charles, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, along with many other important political figures, participated in the day of tributes.
U.S. President Joe Biden acknowledged that this year’s D-Day commemoration may be the last involving living veterans, a fact that, according to him, should lead Americans to continue fighting against tyranny.
“We are not far from the moment when the last living voices of those who fought and bled on D-Day will no longer be with us, so we have a special obligation in the years to come,” Biden said. “The fact that they were heroes here on that day does not absolve us of what we must do today. Democracy is not guaranteed. Every generation must preserve it, defend it, and fight for it,” he continued. “In memory of those who fought here, died here, and literally saved the world here, let us be worthy of their sacrifice,” Biden added.
D-Day
D-Day was the name given to the invasion of the beaches of Normandy, in northern France, on June 6, 1944, by troops from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries – the Allied forces – during World War II. At the time, France was occupied by the armies of Nazi Germany, and the amphibious assault – codenamed Operation Overlord – landed about 156,000 Allied soldiers on the beaches of Normandy by the end of the day.
Despite the success, about 4,000 Allied soldiers were killed by German soldiers defending the beaches.
The D-Day invasion was the largest naval, aerial, and ground operation in history, and within a few days, about 326,000 soldiers, over 50,000 vehicles, and around 100,000 tons of equipment had been landed. By August 1944, all of northern France had been liberated, and by spring 1945, the Allies had defeated the Germans. Therefore, historians often refer to D-Day as the beginning of the end of World War II.
The 3 Best Movies About D-Day
If you want to know more about this crucial day in 20th-century history, watch the following films:
• SAVING PRIVATE RYAN
Steven Spielberg – 1998
This battle is the context of the visceral opening of Steven Spielberg’s film, which made a point of presenting it in all its brutality: over 4,400 Allies lost their lives in that action, along with another 6,600 wounded. A carnage. In the scene, young men are shredded by machine guns, limbs fly through the air, the sea turns red.
• WHERE EAGLES DARE
Brian G. Hutton – 1968
When an Allied plane crashes in German territory, a general is captured by the Nazis. What they don’t know is that the officer is one of the organizers of D-Day – and has confidential information. Before he spills the beans, a commando is sent on a rescue mission, led by a Brit (Richard Burton) and an American (Clint Eastwood).
• THE LONGEST DAY
Ken Annakin, Andrew Marton, Bernhard Wicki – 1962
Until the release of Schindler’s List (1993), this film held the record for over 30 years as the most expensive black-and-white film in history. 22 ships from the Sixth Fleet were used, Spitfires (British fighter planes)… In addition to a dream team cast: John Wayne, Sean Connery, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, Richard Burton, among others.
Sources: CNN and Super Interessante