Invasion of Normandy

The Western Allies of World War II launched the largest amphibious invasion in history when they assaulted Normandyball, located on the northern coast of France, on 6 June 1944. The invaders were able to establish a beachhead as part of Operation Overlord after a successful "D-Day," the first day of the invasion.

Allied land forces came from the USAball, UKball, Canadaball, and Free Frenchball forces. In the weeks following the invasion, Polish forces and contingents from Belgiumball, Czechoslovakiaball, Greeceball and the Netherlandsball participated in the ground campaign; most also provided air and naval support alongside elements of the Royal Australian Air Force, the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and the Royal Norwegian Navy. The Normandy invasion began with overnight parachute and glider landings, massive air attacks and naval bombardments. In the early morning, amphibious landings on five beaches codenamed Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha and Utah, The United States landing on beaches Omaha and Utah, Great Britain landing on beaches Gold and Sword and Canada landing on Juno. The invasion began and during the evening the remaining elements of the airborne divisions landed. Land forces used on D-Day sailed from bases along the south coast of England, the most important of these being Portsmouth.