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?

I was shot and captured after the D-Day landings
Attribution
NE Scotland, Orkney & Shetland
Posted
24 January 2023
Funeral held for Somerset WW2 veteran Jim Booth
Attribution
Somerset
Posted
6 January 2023
Woman's mission to preserve WW2 soldier's legacy
Attribution
Cornwall
Posted
5 January 2023
Teacher who guided troops to beaches on D-Day dies
Attribution
Somerset
Posted
20 December 2022
D-Day veteran, 97, remembers Normandy landings
Attribution
Tyne & Wear
Posted
13 November 2022
Soldier reunited with girl he met in France in WW2
Attribution
Wales
Posted
13 November 2022
Veteran reunited with woman he met after D-Day. Video, 00:01:45
Attribution
Wales
Posted
12 November 2022
'I will be the last person to turn the lights out'
Attribution
Humberside
Posted
11 November 2022
Funeral to take place for D-Day veteran, 106
Attribution
Derby
Posted
1 November 2022
WW2 veteran 'never talked openly about the war'
Attribution
Northern Ireland
Posted
30 October 2022
Legacy from D-Day veteran to fund future engineer
Attribution
Wiltshire
Posted
5 September 2022
Jersey D-Day veteran dies aged 97
Attribution
Jersey
Posted
29 June 2022
Veteran's peace orchard vandalised on Father's Day
Attribution
Coventry & Warwickshire
Posted
21 June 2022
Film inspired by letter reveals WW2 soldier's fate
Attribution
Manchester
Posted
6 June 2022
Funeral takes place for WW2 D-Day veteran
Attribution
Beds, Herts & Bucks
Posted
31 May 2022
Normandy town remembers D-Day memorial veteran. Video, 00:01:40
Attribution
UK
Posted
22 April 2022
The Speedshop. Series 1, Cobra and D-Day Bike. Video, 59 minutes
Titch takes on a very personal build in honour his of his D-Day hero grandfather.
Attribution
BBC Two
Available for over a year
D-Day veteran Harry Billinge dies aged 96
Attribution
Cornwall
Posted
5 April 2022
Funeral held for one of final D-Day veterans
Attribution
Humberside
Posted
12 November 2021
One of last D-Day veterans dies aged 97
Attribution
Humberside
Posted
22 October 2021
WW2 lookout point transformed into veterans' garden. Video, 00:01:55
Attribution
Wales
Posted
30 June 2021
Double Cross: The True Story of the D-Day Spies. Video, 59 minutes
Revealing the heroic spies who helped contribute to victory in WWII.
Attribution
BBC Two
Available for 6 months