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.
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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
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UK
Posted
4 June
Bill Redston: 'We knew it could have been us killed' Video, 00:03:31
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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
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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?

D-Day beach scene recreated in town centre
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Cambridgeshire
Posted
6 June
D-Day veteran recalls landing 'in flying coffin'
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Lincolnshire
Posted
6 June
Paratroopers and drone show mark D-Day 80th anniversary. Video, 00:01:21
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UK
Posted
6 June
Manx participation in D-Day told digitally
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Isle of Man
Posted
6 June
Historian joins WW2 convoy for D-Day anniversary
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Derby
Posted
6 June
The city park that became a D-Day paratrooper base
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Leicester
Posted
6 June
D-Day memorial flight recalls Eisenhower airfield
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Berkshire
Posted
6 June
The idyllic village that hosted the 'Band of Brothers'
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Wiltshire
Posted
6 June
Father and son part of ex-military vehicle D-Day tribute
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Hull & East Yorkshire
Posted
6 June
D-Day veteran 'escaped death many times'
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Jersey
Posted
6 June
Father and son embark on D-Day tribute trip
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Nottingham
Posted
6 June
County prepares for D-Day 80 commemoration events
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Oxford
Posted
6 June
Village pays 'emotional' tribute to D-Day soldiers
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Somerset
Posted
6 June
Veteran, 100, remembers D-Day from Normandy skies
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West Yorkshire
Posted
6 June
Cotswolds town played 'top secret' role in D-Day
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Gloucestershire
Posted
6 June
The families who gave up homes for D-Day rehearsals
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NE, Orkney & Shetland
Posted
6 June
D-Day veteran's 'last' return to invasion beaches
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North Yorkshire
Posted
6 June
D-Day left me flabbergasted, says WW2 veteran. Video, 00:02:58
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Wales
Posted
6 June
Three Welsh veterans tell their D-Day stories
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Wales
Posted
6 June
'My father deserves recognition for his WW2 work'
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Sussex
Posted
6 June
D-Day event at historic coastal WW2 site
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Tyne
Posted
6 June
D-Day veterans recall roles to mark anniversary
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England
Posted
6 June
'D-Day was my first ever day at sea'
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Tyne
Posted
6 June
Cemetery shares stories of men who died after D-Day
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Cambridgeshire
Posted
6 June