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?

Veterans set sail for D-Day commemoration
Attribution
Hampshire & Isle of Wight
Posted
4 June 2019
School pupils have been retelling the poignant story of the D-Day landings. Julian Clegg. Audio, 00:02:33
Pupils from Bay House School in Gosport are using theatre to reflect on D-Day.
Attribution
BBC Radio Solent
Posted
4 June 2019
GI baby's 40-year fight to find dad. Video, 00:01:04
Attribution
Cornwall
Posted
4 June 2019
'Lost' WW2 clicker found in D-Day appeal
Attribution
Birmingham & Black Country
Posted
4 June 2019
Witness History. D-Day. Audio, 9 minutes
Eyewitness accounts of the Allied landings in Normandy during WW2 on 6 June 1944.
Attribution
BBC World Service
Available for over a year
A love letter and an illegal D-Day diary. Video, 00:01:47
Attribution
Dorset
Posted
4 June 2019
British soldier 'drowns in canal in France'
Attribution
UK
Posted
3 June 2019
'I didn't have time to be frightened'
Attribution
Scotland
Posted
3 June 2019
D-Day landmarks listed for 75th anniversary
Attribution
England
Posted
3 June 2019
'What I saw... was so horrible' Video, 00:02:25
Attribution
Europe
Posted
3 June 2019
Stamps mark D-Day 75th anniversary
Attribution
UK
Posted
2 June 2019
The men who saved city from WW2 'big bang'
Attribution
Hereford & Worcester
Posted
1 June 2019
American veterans visit D-Day wall
Attribution
Hampshire & Isle of Wight
Posted
31 May 2019
'Dad's Army' cycling to war on PTSD. Video, 00:02:28
Attribution
Sussex
Posted
31 May 2019
Appeal for D-Day veteran's relatives
Attribution
Birmingham & Black Country
Posted
30 May 2019
WW2 child soldier honoured with sign
Attribution
Hampshire & Isle of Wight
Posted
18 May 2019
D-day veteran dies before 75th anniversary
Attribution
Edinburgh, Fife & East Scotland
Posted
16 May 2019
Bletchley memorial to duchess' 'granny'
Attribution
Beds, Herts & Bucks
Posted
14 May 2019
Convoy re-enacts Eisenhower D-day trip
Attribution
Berkshire
Posted
6 May 2019
WW2 'lorry that swims' restored by farmer
Attribution
Cambridgeshire
Posted
5 May 2019
Bootprints mark D-Day disaster. Video, 00:01:13
Attribution
UK
Posted
28 April 2019
Beach art memorial to D-Day disaster
Attribution
Devon
Posted
28 April 2019
D-Day 'clickers' sought for anniversary
Attribution
Birmingham & Black Country
Posted
26 April 2019
Trump 'will detract from D-Day event'
Attribution
Hampshire & Isle of Wight
Posted
23 April 2019