Commemorations to remember the sacrifice of soldiers and reflect on peace, with a reminder to unity in the face of today's conflicts such as the one in Ukraine. Eighty years ago , the fate of the Second World War, and with it that of all of us Europeans, underwent a decisive turning point. The 6 June , the Allied forces launched an unprecedented amphibious operation on the coasts of Normandia , marking the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi rule.
That day became known as D-Day. This year, the celebrations not only pay homage to the sacrifice of those who participated in this titanic undertaking, but also invite us to reflect on peace in the current context of conflicts, such as that in Ukraine. In , the Nazi Germany dominated much of Europe.
The Soviet Union had already suffered huge losses on the Eastern Front, while the United States and the United Kingdom were determined to open a second front in Europe to relieve pressure on the Eastern Allies and accelerate the defeat of Nazism. After years of devastating conflict, the Allied forces β made up mostly of US, British and Canadian troops β decided it was the time to launch a massive invasion to liberate the European continent.
L' Operation Overlord , the code name for the invasion of Normandy, was the largest amphibious operation ever attempted in history. The planning for D-Day was meticulous and complex. The general Dwight D. Eisenhower , supreme commander of the Allied forces, orchestrated an assault that it involved over The success of the operation depended on surprise and precision, factors that were attended to down to the smallest detail despite logistical and meteorological challenges.
The goal was break through German defenses on the coast of Normandy and open a new front in Western Europe. The German defenses were impressive, with fortifications, minefields and heavy artillery. The first hours of the landing were characterized by intense fighting and heavy losses , particularly on Omaha Beach, where American troops encountered fierce resistance. Despite initial difficulties β with thousands of soldiers killed or wounded β the Allied forces managed to establish a bridgehead in Normandy and to land in occupied France.
