D-Day

What were the D-Day landings?

On the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings in German-occupied France, we explain what went on.

Eighty years since D-Day

D-Day 80: We Were There. Video, 58 minutes
Eighty years on, Rachel Burden hears the stories and memories of the UK's D-Day veterans.
Attribution
BBC Two
Available for 6 months
John McOwan: ‘We hoodwinked Hitler’ Video, 00:03:29
Posted
23 May
Joe Cattini: I saw teen soldiers crying for their mothers. Video, 00:03:13
Attribution
UK
Posted
4 June
Bill Redston: 'We knew it could have been us killed' Video, 00:03:31
Attribution
UK
Posted
21 June 2023
George Spencer: 'I had the best view of the landings' Video, 00:02:32
Posted
31 May
Ken Cooke: 'I'd never been on a boat before' Video, 00:03:03
Posted
21 May
Bill Gladden: 'I made a rather unorthodox landing' Video, 00:03:27
Attribution
Suffolk
Posted
26 April

The BBC is looking to gather first-hand accounts of World War Two. Please get in touch.

Do you or someone you know have a story to share?

‘My family was the first to be liberated on D-Day’
Attribution
Coventry & Warwickshire
Posted
5 January
Veteran says D-Day was a 'doddle'
Attribution
Manchester
Posted
30 December 2023
Funeral takes place for WW2 veteran Billy Reynolds
Attribution
Jersey
Posted
15 December 2023
'When we got over the target all hell broke loose' Video, 00:03:27
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UK
Posted
10 November 2023
Cyril Elliott: Funeral for Normandy WW2 veteran
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Sheffield & South Yorkshire
Posted
6 November 2023
Dozens of WW2 veterans sign history buff's rifle
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Cambridgeshire
Posted
6 November 2023
Apartments to be built at historic WW2 hotel
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Northampton
Posted
10 October 2023
Real Dictators. Adolf Hitler: Operation Valkyrie, Blowing up the Führer. Audio, 50 minutes
A group of generals attempts an audacious military coup.
Attribution
BBC Sounds
Available for over a year
Son's final farewell to father killed in WW2
Attribution
Humberside
Posted
19 September 2023
Bullets unearthed from mass execution of German prisoners in WW2
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Europe
Posted
27 August 2023
What is D-Day and why is it important?
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Newsround
Posted
7 August 2023
Welsh D-Day veteran dies aged 98
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Wales
Posted
19 July 2023
Harbour mural remembers D-Day troops
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Devon
Posted
15 July 2023
Man rescued on D-Day celebrates 102nd birthday
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Liverpool
Posted
30 June 2023
'The only heroes are the ones that don't come back' Video, 00:03:21
Attribution
UK
Posted
30 June 2023
Bill Redston: 'We knew it could have been us killed' Video, 00:03:31
Attribution
UK
Posted
21 June 2023
'Survival was luck of the draw on D-Day'
Attribution
Lincolnshire
Posted
6 June 2023
History's Secret Heroes. 6. The Mystery of Garbo. Audio, 29 minutes
One of World War Two’s most successful double agents is finally revealed.
Attribution
BBC Radio 4
Available for over a year
Funeral for one of last D-Day veterans, aged 100
Attribution
Suffolk
Posted
19 May 2023
Eddie Brown: 'I flew home after D-Day to see my girl' Video, 00:03:13
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UK
Posted
18 May 2023
D-Day veteran Edward Gaines dies aged 98
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Dorset
Posted
11 May 2023
D-Day veteran dies months after 100th birthday
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Hampshire & Isle of Wight
Posted
19 April 2023
City pays final respects to D-Day veteran
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Hampshire & Isle of Wight
Posted
23 February 2023
Ken Hay: 'Sometimes you wondered, will I ever get home?' Video, 00:02:55
Attribution
UK
Posted
23 February 2023