France and the United Kingdom initiate commemorations.
Eight decades ago, hordes of soldiers arrived at the north French coast during World War II, and this historic event is now recognized as D-Day. To honor this anniversary, a ceremony is being held in Portsmouth, England, on Wednesday, with King Charles III and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in attendance. This bustling English port was one of the starting points for the invasion on June 6, 1944. Certain warriors have embarked on their journey to Normandy earlier than the event.
On Thursday, an international commemoration ceremony is anticipated in France, where American President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are supposed to be present. The Allies' landing on Normandy's beaches started the liberation of France and Western Europe from Nazi control.
French President Emmanuel Macron will be presiding over various remembrance ceremonies on Wednesday across the nation. In towns throughout Normandy, the contributions of French resistance fighters and the impact on nearby civilians during the Allies' advance will be acknowledged.
In the evening, at Caen's former prison, tributes will be paid to the roughly 80 resistance fighters executed by the Germans on June 6, 1944. The Germans later excavated and relocated the hastily buried corpses to an unspecified grave site.
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The commemoration events in France and Great Britain mark the 78th anniversary of D-Day, a pivotal event in World War II that took place years ago. Following the ceremonies in Portsmouth, celebrations continue in France, where various remembrance ceremonies are held to honor the French resistance fighters and recognize the impact on nearby civilians during the Allies' advance.
