D-Day | War History

320th Barrage Balloon Battalion: The Only African-American Unit to Storm Normandy on D-Day

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Ships anchored off the coast of Omaha Beach, while barrage balloons float overhead

“The conventional wisdom of D-Day is that there were no Black soldiers who landed on those beaches, but the truth is that there were almost…

The Irish Postmistress Whose Weather Forecast Changed the Course of D-Day

Barrage balloons and ships along the coast of Omaha Beach

Throughout World War II, many individuals went about their everyday lives, unaware of the repercussions of their actions. One of them was Maureen Flavin Sweeney,…

HMS Medusa (A353): The Ship That Marked the Way to Omaha Beach in June 1944

HMS Medusa (A353) anchored at a dock

The HMS Medusa (A353) – formerly known as the Harbour Motor Defence Launch (HMDL) 1387 – was near Omaha Beach on June 5, 1944, the…

10 Weapons the Germans Used to Fight Against the Allied Advance on D-Day

152 mm German naval gun along the Atlantic Wall

The turning point for the war in Europe, D-Day saw the Allies execute a daring invasion of German-held France via Normandy. Both sides were equipped…

Trailer for ‘The Great Escaper’ Shows Michael Caine as D-Day Veteran Jordan Bernard

Michael Caine standing on a red carpet + Bernard Jordan waving from a car

In 2014, a World War II veteran by the name of Bernard Jordan made headlines after he left his retirement home in Britain and journeyed…

‘Piper Bill’ Millin Played British Commandos from Sword Beach to Pegasus Bridge

Flags flying around a statue of Bill Millin

Among the heroes to emerge on D-Day was one man known not for his ferocious fighting, but for his astounding ability to play music through…

E-boat: The Effective German Fast Attack Boat of the Second World War

E-boat transiting near port

The Schnellboot – or S-Boot – was a German fast attack craft that served with the Kriegsmarine during the Second World War. It was referred…

Higgins Boat: The Landing Craft That Helped the Allies Win World War II

American personnel approaching Omaha Beach aboard a Higgins boat

The landing craft, vehicle, personnel (LCVP) – or Higgins boat – was used by the Allies to conduct amphibious operations during the Second World War.…

100-Year-Old D-Day Veteran Shares His Experiences On Popular TikTok Account

Portrait of Jake Larson

TikTok isn’t just a place for fun dance trends and story times that get a bit too TMI (too much information). It’s since grown into…

Exercise Tiger: The D-Day Live-Fire Rehearsal That Resulted In Over 700 Allied Deaths

Allied troops crawling across the beach at Slapton Sands

An immense amount of preparation was involved in ensuring the success of D-Day. The Allies had to make sure they’d achieve the desired outcome, meaning…

Normandy-Based Historians Create Documentary Honoring Canadian Regiment That Fought On D-Day

Re-enactors dressed as members of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles Regiment

A group of historians from Normandy have come together to produce a film highlighting the sacrifices made by Canadian troops before, during and after D-Day.…

D-Day In Color: A Look at the Largest Amphibious Invasion In History

Ships, aircraft and landing craft positioned near the shore of a beach

On June 6, 1944, the Allies conducted the largest amphibious invasion in history. Landing on five beaches, as well as at various landing zones behind…