La Cambe German War Cemetery

The Normandy landings marked a pivotal turning point in the Second World War, initiating the liberation of France and Western Europe. This historic seaborne invasion, codenamed Operation Neptune and commonly known as D-Day, commenced on June 6, 1944, with extensive aerial and naval bombardments supporting airborne troops. Planning for this immense undertaking had begun the previous year, involving significant Allied deception efforts to mislead German forces.

The invasion's timing was critically dependent on specific lunar and tidal conditions, leading to a crucial 24-hour delay due to weather. Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was tasked with strengthening Atlantic Wall defences, while Major General Dwight D. Eisenhower led the Allied forces. The landings themselves began with airborne assaults shortly after midnight, followed swiftly by amphibious landings on the French coast, ultimately shaping the course of the war on the Western Front.