WWII

D-Day: The Normandy Landings In Pictures

D-Day on 6 June 1944 was the largest amphibious invasion in history and was vital in the defeat of the Nazis in the Second World War.

More than 156,000 Allied troops landed on the shores of Normandy in Nazi-occupied France on D-Day.

The assault on the beaches in northern France began at 06:30am, with American, British and Canadian troops landing along a 50-mile stretch of the Normandy coast after crossing the English Channel.

The landings took place on five beaches codenamed Utah, Omaha, Gold, Sword and Juno.

British and Canadian forces faced relatively light German opposition as they captured Gold, Juno and Sword beaches.

Similarly, US troops encountered and overcame light opposition on Utah beach.

However, most of the casualties happened on Omaha beach, where American forces faced heavy combat and resistance and it is estimated that some 2,000 US troops perished there.

Despite the German resistance, within less than a week Allied troops had officially conquered and secured the beaches.

The operation involved nearly 7,000 vessels (80% of those were British) and more than 11,500 Allied aircraft.

D-Day marked the start of the Allies' liberation of France and laid the foundations for the eventual victory in the war.