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
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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
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?

'If we don't take on D-Day traditions, no one will'
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Northern Ireland
Posted
5 June
How filming Saving Private Ryan shook an Irish beach
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Europe
Posted
5 June
D-Day weather: Was this the most crucial forecast in history?
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Weather
Posted
5 June
Memorial service for pilot killed in WW2 mission
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Guernsey
Posted
5 June
Biden says fight for Ukraine echoes struggle for freedom on D-Day
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World
Posted
27 June
Grandfather of Vicky McClure recalls D-Day role
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Nottingham
Posted
5 June
Memories of D-Day from one of the last surviving WW2 veterans
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NE, Orkney & Shetland
Posted
5 June
Family of D-Day veteran travel to Sword Beach
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Stoke & Staffordshire
Posted
5 June
Couple to join Pegasus Bridge memorial for uncle
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Tyne
Posted
5 June
Lost wartime play and playwright rediscovered
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Devon
Posted
5 June
Pupils' admiration for D-Day veteran
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Hereford & Worcester
Posted
5 June
Daughter remembers first man killed on D-Day
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Oxford
Posted
5 June
D-Day veteran shares diary extracts from 1944
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Wiltshire
Posted
5 June
D-Day 80: Where and when events are happening
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Hampshire & Isle of Wight
Posted
5 June
Crochet artists honour D-Day landings
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Liverpool
Posted
5 June
Dancer recalls D-Day memories on 80th anniversary
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Sussex
Posted
5 June
The brave nurses at the centre of D-Day memorial
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England
Posted
5 June
The soldier and para-dog buried together after D-Day
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England
Posted
5 June
The pub where Eisenhower and Patton made D-Day plans
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Manchester
Posted
5 June
Witness History. The woman whose weather report changed the date of D-Day. Audio, 9 minutes
Maureen Flavin’s weather report forecast a storm and changed the course of WW2 history
Attribution
BBC World Service
Available for over a year
King and Queen hear first-hand D-Day veteran stories
Attribution
UK
Posted
4 June
Mystery surrounds Hull war graves flower tribute
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Hull & East Yorkshire
Posted
4 June
Flypast and parade to mark D-Day anniversary
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Lincolnshire
Posted
4 June
Veterans arrive in France for D-Day anniversary
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UK
Posted
4 June