Why is it called D-Day? Meaning behind name explained and what it stands for on Normandy landings anniversary
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Today marks the anniversary of the D-Day landings, one of the most significant operations of the Second World War.
On the morning of Tuesday 6 June, 1944, the Allied invasion of German-occupied France began, with thousands of troops arriving on the beaches at Normandy.
Around 10,000 Allied troops were killed or wounded in the first 24 hours of the battle in what was to prove a pivotal moment in the defeat of Nazi Germany.
Almost 80 years later, countries including the UK, the US, Canada and Australia continue to mark 6 June as day that changed history.
Why is it called D-Day?
The significance of the “D” in D-Day is often misunderstood, with some people thinking it stands for something such as “death day” or “Doomsday”.
In fact, it simply stands for “day” and D-Day has long been used to refer to the start of any significant military operation, often to keep the exact date a secret.
However, it is now firmly associated with the Normandy landings.
What happened?
The Allied invasion in northern France – codenamed Operation Overlord – was the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare.
The numbers were staggering. Starting at 6.30am, the Allies used around 5,000 ships to land more than 150,000 troops on five beaches in Normandy.
The beaches were codenamed Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword.
By the end of the day on 6 June, the Allies had established a foothold in Normandy, paving the way for their liberation of north-western Europe.
Who was involved?
The aim of the French invasion was to open up a second front against Germany, relieving pressure on the Soviet Union in the east.
Plans began being drawn up in 1943 with a team led by US General Dwight D Eisenhower.
Normandy was not the closest part of France to the UK but was chosen in an effort to deceive Hitler who thought the troops would cross at the narrowest point of the English Channel.
The Allies had spent years building up supplies and bringing troops into the UK, including 1.4 million servicemen from Canada and the US.
The invasion was a truly global effort however, with contribution from countries including Australia, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Holland, France, Greece, New Zealand, Norway and Poland.
What was the result?
Although not all the beaches were captured as intended on D-Day, the operation was ultimately succesful.
The Allies established a 60-mile front along Normandy and began their march through France.
By the end of August 1944, the Germans were in full retreat although they managed to regroup and launch a counteroffensive at the end of the year.
By the following April, Soviet troops had stormed and captured Berlin.
Why was D-Day successful?
Historians highlight a number of factors as to why the Allies were successful on D-Day.
The Germans had been unable to complete defences on the Atlantic Wall while deception tactics had also left generals defending a long stretch of the coastline.
Allied supremacy in the air prevented Germany disrupting the attack before it began, while the French resistance was similarly effective in blocking supplies and reinforcements.
How is D-Day marked today?
At least 9,000 troops are buried at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer and it remains the most visited burial site outside the US.
Theodore Roosevelt Junior, son of the former president, is among those buried there.
The cemetery is featured at the start of the 1998 film Saving Private Ryan which told the story of American soldiers involved in Operation Overlord.
In 2019, the late Queen Elizabeth II was joined by heads of state from around the world for a commemoration event in Portsmouth to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
She told veterans who attended: “It is with humility and pleasure, on behalf of the entire country – indeed the whole free world – that I say to you all, thank you.”