Colleville-Sur-Mer, France (AP) – Veterans gather in Normandy on Friday to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the D-Day Landings – a crucial event in World War II that contributed significantly to the downfall of Adolf Hitler’s regime.
Tens of thousands of spectators participated in memorial events along the coastline near D-Day Landing Beach. These occasions featured parachute jumps, flyovers, memorial ceremonies, parades, and historical reenactments.
A large number of veterans have been attending since the late 90s, all honoring the memory of those who lost their lives.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth highlighted the importance of the D-Day Landings, where American forces played a pivotal role.
On June 6, 1944, the D-Day invasion of France, then under Nazi occupation, involved the largest fleet in history, comprising ships, troops, planes, and vehicles, to breach Hitler’s defenses in Western Europe. A total of 4,414 Allied forces lost their lives on D-Day itself.
During the ongoing Battle of Normandy, 73,000 Allied forces were killed and 153,000 were injured. This operation, especially the Allied bombings of French towns and cities, resulted in the deaths of approximately 20,000 French civilians between June and August of 1944.
The exact number of German casualties remains uncertain; however, historians estimate that between 4,000 and 9,000 soldiers were killed, injured, or went missing as a result of the D-Day invasion alone.
“The bravery, honor, and sacrifice of the D-Day Allies continue to resonate within the US military and among European allies and partners,” stated Lieutenant General Jason T. Hins, deputy commander of the European Air Force in Europe – Air Forces Africa. “Let us remember those who served and those who fell.”
“Let us celebrate those who survived, returned home, and worked to build a better world, ensuring that their sacrifices are not forgotten as we face today’s challenges with the same determination, clarity of purpose, and commitment to freedom.”
Nearly 160,000 Allied forces landed on D-Day. Of these, 73,000 were from the US, and 83,000 from the UK and Canada. Additional forces from several other nations participated, including French units under General Charles de Gaulle. The Allies confronted about 50,000 German troops.
In total, over two million Allied soldiers, sailors, pilots, medics, and personnel from 12 other countries took part in Operation Overlord, a campaign aimed at liberating Western France from Nazi control that commenced on D-Day.
Source: apnews.com