Commemoration of D-Day - Significant occasion marking the Allied invasion of Normandy.
In honor of the significant international event celebrating the Allied landing in Normandy during WWII, various global leaders will gather at the north French coast.
During the ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day, attendees include US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, British King Charles III, and Dutch royalty. Russian representatives were not invited as per initial plans due to the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
D-Day as marking the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi rule
On June 6, 1944, Allied troops invaded the shores of Normandy. D-Day symbolizes the start of freeing France and Western Europe from Nazi power ("Operation Overlord"). It also signifies an unspeakable bloodbath with tens of thousands of fatalities and injuries. The initial forces comprised predominantly American soldiers, Britons, Canadians, Poles, and French. Approximately 3,100 landing craft transported over 150,000 soldiers to northern France.
The commemoration is happening on Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer's beach at the Omaha Beach section, where the British forces initially landed. Some elderly veterans have returned to Normandy for the festivities.
Earlier in the week, commemorations took place in England and France. President Macron praised the efforts of French resistance fighters alongside the Allies, stating, "The bravery and resilience of these united fighters played a crucial role in freeing our nation. Their heroic actions leave a long-lasting impact on our history." King Charles III recalled the bravery and perseverance of the soldiers in southern England. "It's our obligation to ensure we and future generations never forget their service and their sacrifice, replacing tyranny with freedom."
Battles led to thousands of casualties on both sides
The Germans had around 50,000 infantrymen and a few planes available in the affected coastal area. Up north, the majority of the divisions of the German Western Army were positioned. The beaches in the D-Day area were sparsely guarded. The Allies attacked at five beach sections with the code names Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword, east of Cherbourg. It took the Allies six days to connect these beachheads into a front stretching about 100 kilometers in length.
On D-Day itself, the Allies incurred losses of approximately 12,000 men, including around 4,400 fatalities. The estimated German casualties ranged from 4,000 to 9,000. In the "Operation Overlord," it is estimated that up to 200,000 Germans and 70,000 allies lost their lives. An estimated 20,000 civilians were killed in the demolished Normandy region.
