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Second World War 60th Anniversary

The D-Day Landings, Northern France (6 June 1944)

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Contents

D-Day

Normandy Today

D-Day

NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE
NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE

Ivor Caplin MP, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for VeteransForeword by the
Under Secretary of State for Defence
and Minister for Veterans, Ivor Caplin MP

‘A nation that forgets its past has no future.’ These words by Winston Churchill could not be more apt to describe the purpose of this series of booklets, of which this is the third. As Minister for Veterans I believe that we should continue to remember the bravery of our Armed Forces during the Second World War; without their efforts and sacrifices, our lives today would be very different. These booklets will commemorate various Second World War actions, and aim not only to remember and commemorate those who fought and died, but also to inform future generations of the sacrifices made by those who fought. The inspiration that can be derived from their stories will be invaluable for their future. I want to help those growing up now to be aware of the veterans’ sacrifices, and of the important contributions they made to our security and to the way of life we enjoy today. I hope that this series will have relevance beyond these events as well as serving as a memento of the 60th anniversary commemorations. By our own actions today, we are aiming to pass on the baton of remembrance to future generations.

This booklet, the third in the series, commemorates the Allied landings on the Normandy coast of German-occupied France on 6 June 1944, one of the most important British operations of the Second World War. On that momentous day, the Allies launched the most ambitious opposed invasion of all time. By the end of the day American, British, Canadian and French forces had established a significant beachhead in France. The numbers of Allied forces committed, the preparatory staff work undertaken, and the bravery of thousands of ordinary people transformed the monumental challenge that was D-Day into one of the most successful military operations the world has ever seen. The initial success in establishing the “Second Front” locked Hitler’s Nazi Reich into wars of attrition in France, Italy and Russia that would eventually lead to the Allies’ total victory.

On 6 June 2004 it will be my honour to stand alongside nearly 10,000 British veterans and the many supporters who will be attending the various commemorative events in Normandy. Like these veterans I am delighted that on this important day the events will be held in the presence of HM the Queen, other members of the Royal Family, and the Prime Minister.

Caplin Signature

Background to the D-Day Landings »

Last Updated: 18 Jun 04