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June 6, 1944, better known as D-Day, marked the beginning of Operation Overlord, the massive Allied effort to free Western Europe from German occupation during World War II. The invasion began with Operation Neptune, the historic landings along the beaches of Normandy, France. More than 150,000 Allied troops crossed the English Channel that day, launching one of the largest military operations in history and turning the tide of the war in Europe.
The invasion got underway shortly after midnight on June 6, 1944, with heavy air and naval bombardment, followed by thousands of American, British, and Canadian paratroopers landing behind enemy lines. By about 6:30 that morning, Allied troops began coming ashore along an 80-kilometer, or 50-mile, stretch of the Normandy coast. The beaches were divided into five landing zones: Utah and Omaha for American forces, Gold and Sword for the British, and Juno for the Canadians. Strong winds and rough seas pushed many landing craft off course, especially at Utah and Omaha, making an already dangerous mission even more challenging.
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