D-Day beaches map: where were the D-Day landings?
How many troops were involved in D-Day? Which country suffered more casualties, Britain or America? And why was Normandy chosen as the location? Our D-Day infographics explain the numbers…
The invasion of Nazi-occupied France was codenamed Operation Overlord and took place on Tuesday 6 June 1944, having been delayed by 24 hours because of poor weather. Allied forces launched a combined naval, air and land assault in what was the largest seaborne invasion in history. D-Day marked the beginning of the campaign to liberate north-west Europe from German occupation.
What were the five D-Day beaches?
American, British, and Canadian troops landed on five different beaches across the Normandy coastline. The five D-Day beaches were Utah, Omaha, Gold Beach, Juno, and Sword.
The Americans landed at Utah at the base of the Cotentin Peninsular and at Omaha at the western end of the northern Normandy coast; the British were to land at Gold Beach, east of Omaha; then the Canadians at Juno; and the British again at Sword, the easternmost invasion beach.
D-Day: Land, Air and Sea | A HistoryExtra podcast series
Member exclusive | Discover the story of 6 June 1944 from the perspectives of the soldiers, sailors and airborne troops who served. Featuring interviews with WW2 experts Saul David, Nick Hewitt and Giles Milton, as well as gripping eyewitness testimonies.Listen to all episodes now
Why were the Normandy beaches chosen for the D-Day landings?
The initial decision to land in Normandy was made by the chief of staff to the supreme allied commander (COSSAC) in 1943, Lieutenant-General Frederick Morgan. His team ruled out the Pas-de-Calais region and saw a landing between the Cotentin peninsula and near to Caen as being the most suitable, says military historian Paul Reed.
Brittany, Dieppe and Pas de Calais were all considered as alternative landing locations, but none were as attractive as Normandy.
At this stage in the war, due to lack of men and equipment, Morgan recommended landing on three beaches along the Normandy coastline, but this was later expanded to five.
The work of the French Resistance had indicated that there were fewer defences in Normandy than in the Pas-de-Calais, with many bunkers containing antiquated firepower from the First World War. Indeed, some of the bunker complexes were only partially completed. The mapping had also demonstrated good roads to get landing troops off the beach area and inland, and to take them beyond on the long road to liberation, says Reed.
Where did British troops depart from?
What happened in the days and weeks after D-Day?
Despite fierce German resistance, the Allies secured footholds at all five beaches within 48 hours of D-Day, and by 12 June had succeeded in linking all of the beachheads into one continuous front. In the weeks the followed, the Allies made gradual progress into German-occupied France, liberating Paris on 25 August 1944.
- Read more | From the USA's 'good war' to Britain's 'great hurrah': how is D-Day remembered around the world?
D-Day and the Normandy Campaign | A short course from HistoryExtra Academy
Member exclusive | In this four-week course, you’ll discover everything you need to know about the Normandy landings, guided by historian, author and broadcaster Taylor Downing.
To read more about the successes and failures of D-Day, visit our D-Day hub
Get exclusive access to Ruth Goodman’s six-week Academy course on Victorian Life, featuring two live Q&As + a book of your choice when you subscribe to BBC History Magazine
