What you need to know about the invasion of Normandy

1. The largest amphibious invasion in history
The D-Day invasion, called Operation Overlord, was the largest amphibious assault ever executed. On June 6, 1944, more than 156,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy, France.

2. Five bridgeheads with code names
The Normandy landings were spread over five beachheads, each with a unique code name: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. American forces landed at Utah and Omaha, while British and Canadian forces landed at Gold, Juno, and Sword.

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3. Deceptive tactics
Operation Fortitude was a critical deception plan designed to mislead the Germans about the location of the invasion. Fake equipment, a phantom army commanded by General Patton, and double agents convinced the Germans that the invasion would take place at the Pas de Calais.

4. The role of airborne divisions
Prior to the beach landings, approximately 24,000 Allied paratroopers and glider troops were dropped behind enemy lines to secure key objectives and disrupt German defenses. These airborne operations were crucial to the success of the beach landings.

5. The sacrifice on Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach had the heaviest casualties among the five landing sites. American forces faced strong resistance from well-entrenched German troops, resulting in approximately 2,000 American casualties on the first day alone.

6. Operation Neptune
Operation Neptune was the code name for the naval component of the D-Day invasion. More than 6,000 ships, including battleships, destroyers and landing craft, were involved in troop transport and naval gunfire support.

7. Mulberry Harbours
To facilitate the rapid unloading of supplies and reinforcements, the Allies built two artificial harbors, known as Mulberry Harbors. These portable ports were crucial to sustaining the invasion force in the days following the landings.

8. The wall of the Atlantic
The Germans had fortified the French coast with extensive defenses known as the Atlantic Wall. This included bunkers, minefields and anti-tank obstacles designed to repel an Allied invasion. Overcoming these defenses was a major challenge for the invading forces.

9. Allied Air Superiority
The success of D-Day depended largely on Allied air superiority. Thousands of aircraft bombarded German positions, provided close air support for ground troops, and disrupted German supply lines and reinforcements.

10. The turning point in Europe
D-Day marked the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany. The successful landings and subsequent escape from Normandy led to the liberation of Paris and ultimately the defeat of Germany in May 1945. It was a key moment in World War II, reshaping the course of the history