Remembering the Heroes of D-Day

Today is the 68^th anniversary of the June 6th “D-Day Invasion,” one of the biggest turning points in World War II.

On this day in 1944[1], forces from the United States, the United Kingdom, and seven other Allied countries joined together for what was, and still is, the largest military operation in history.

The two-day assault was carried out by nearly 200,000 troops, though not all were involved in the actual invasion. It was on this day that Allied forces began their major push back against the Nazis, whose leader, Adolf Hitler, publicly stated his desire to conquer the world.

In phase one, Allied forces launched air raids against German soldiers and bases in Nazi-occupied France. Phase two continued with over 100,000 soldiers, deploying from bases in England, invading the heavily-fortified coast of France over a 50-mile stretch.

It is unknown how many Allied casualties there were. However, it is estimated that there were over 6,000 American deaths[2] from the one-day invasion. To put that in perspective, the U.S. alone has lost about the same amount of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan in the past 11 years[3].

The significance of this invasion cannot be understated. Had D-Day failed, historians agree[4] that the Nazis would have gained control over all of Europe. But because it was a success, France began to fall back into Allied control, with the rest of Europe being liberated soon after. The Nazis surrendered in 1945, slightly less than one year after the D-Day Invasion.

Had these brave men not given their all, the world would look very different today. Their sacrifices resulted in the Nazis surrendering less than one year later, paving the way for a free Europe. While we celebrate their contributions on this day, the world owes them a debt which may never fully be repaid.

Several films have been made about the D-Day Invasion, and have treated a subject that is as sad as it is important with respect and honor. Two films in particular, The Longest Day (1962) and Saving Private Ryan (1998) both won Academy Awards.