The Show Me Guide To D-Day

Unless you’ve had a very thick balaclava on backwards for the last month, you’ll know that it’s the 60th anniversary of D-Day on June 6. But what exactly was D-Day and why are people still talking about it sixty years on?

Photo: it's late at night on June 5, and these soldiers are making sure their watches all tell the same time so that they can start their mission at exactly the right moment.

© Imperial War Museum, London

D-Day was the name given to the first day of a massive invasion of France called ‘Operation Overlord’. It happened on June 6 1944 during World War Two.

World War Two began in 1939. Britain, France, America, Russia, China and the British Commonwealth countries were allies (partners) in the war. They were called the Allied powers. They fought against Germany, Japan and Italy who were called the Axis powers.

Photo: an Allied landing craft (a type of boat) with its ramp open to let soldiers into the water and onto the beach.

Photo courtesy of the Imperial War Museum

Over the next six years there was fierce fighting on the sea, in the air and on land. By the end of the war in 1945 about 50 million people had been killed.

The many reasons behind the war and the things that happened during the war years are far too complicated to fit into this article, but if you’d like to find out more there are some great web links for you to explore at the bottom of this page.

Photo: American soldiers in the sea, struggling to the shore. Think of how wet and cold they must have been!

Photo courtesy of the Imperial War Museum

In 1944 France was occupied (ruled by) Germany. Operation Overlord was a plan thought up by the Allied powers to invade France and fight the Germans. The invasion took a huge amount of top secret planning over two years.

Overlord involved troops from Allied air forces, navies and armies all working together. It was the biggest military operation ever attempted. Troops, weapons and supplies were gathered in the South of England ready to cross the English Channel and land in France.

Photo: Allied soldiers wade ashore at 'Sword' Beach.

Photo courtesy of the Imperial War Museum

D-Day began just after midnight on June 6 1944 when British and American air forces landed on the beaches of Normandy. As the day went on warships bombarded German defences and a fleet of 7000 ships and small boats crossed the channel carrying men and supplies to the beaches.

By the end of D-Day the planning had paid off. About 156,000 troops and 10,000 vehicles had landed. Sadly, thousands of troops were injured or killed on both sides, but the invasion did mark the beginning of the end for the Axis Powers.

Photo: soldiers gathering on 'Queen Red' Beach, early in the morning on June 6.

© Imperial War Museum

Overlord continued until the end of August as the Allies fought the Germans in a series of fierce battles and bombing raids. The Germans eventually surrendered in May 1945.

D-Day is remembered for many reasons. People across the world mark the day each year so as to remember all those who died.

Photo: the D-Day embroidery at the D-Day Museum in Southsea tells the story of 'Operation Overlord'.

Picture courtesy of the D-Day Museum

D-Day is also remembered as a turning point of the war. The fighting had gone on for so long, with so much suffering and so many deaths, that any sign an end was near was very welcome indeed.

Do you know anyone who was involved in D-Day? Perhaps your great-grandparents remember it? Why not ask around to see what you can find out?

Photo: you can find out more about what it was like for children during the war if you check out the links below!

© Imperial War Museum

There are events and exhibitions in many UK museums at the moment to remember and celebrate D-Day. To find out what’s going on check out this list of events from the 24 Hour Museum website.

World War Two Web Links

The Imperial War Museum and The National Archives have lots of information about World War Two and D-Day on several mini-sites. Some of the sites are designed especially for children, others for grown-ups. They all have lots of facts, pictures, memories and things to do.

What was life like in the Second World War? from the Imperial War Museum

Children of World War Two from the BBC and The Imperial War Museum

Home Front 1939-1945 from The National Archives

Westall’s War is a site all about a bombing raid on North Shields in the north of England in 1941.