50 facts and figures about D-Day
Mirrorpix via Getty Images
50 facts and figures about D-Day
Robert F. Sargent // Wikimedia Commons
It was the largest amphibious assault in history
Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty images
The ‘D’ in D-Day is redundant
Hulton Archive // Getty Images
Secrecy and deception were key
Library of Congress // Wikimedia Commons
The practice run turned deadly
Roger Viollet via Getty Images
German defenses were the war’s biggest construction project
Bettmann // Getty Images
Forces landed on 5 code-named beaches
U.S. Army Signal Corps // Wikimedia Commons
Omaha Beach was the hardest fought
Photo12/UIG // Getty Images
A massive bombardment preceded the invasion
Photo12/UIG // Getty Images
Thousands of paratroopers landed first
AFP via Getty Images
Canadian forces captured the most ground
Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
The operation had a code name
Keystone/Hulton Archive // Getty Images
D-Day involved nearly 7,000 Allied ships…
AFP via Getty Images
…and more than 11,500 Allied aircraft
AFP via Getty Images
There were 73,000 American troops at D-Day
U.S. Army // Wikimedia Commons
Comanche ‘code-talkers’ joined the siege
AFP via Getty Images
The Allies faced 50,000 German defenders
U.S. National Archives // Wikimedia Commons
The battle lasted until August
Leonard McCombe/Picture Post/Hulton Archive // Getty Images
The exact number of fallen is unknown
U.S. Army Signal Corps // Wikimedia Commons
Most Allied troops arrived after D-Day
Hulton Archive // Getty Images
The operation led to the liberation of Paris
Keystone-France/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
A memorial cemetery sits on US soil in France
Fred Ramage/Keystone/Hulton Archive // Getty Images
Families fought—and died—together
Roger Viollet via Getty Images
Around 14,000 corpses were returned home
Walter Rosenblum/U.S. Army Signal Corps/Galerie Bilderwelt // Getty Images
The Allies lost more than 11% of their troops
Galerie Bilderwelt // Getty Images
German casualties exceeded 240,000
Fox Photos // Getty Images
The action was far from consistent
PhotoQuest // Getty Images
The tide was a double-edged sword
AFP via Getty Images
The beach was a minefield
Public Domain // Wikimedia Commons
D-Day was the result of trial and error
Reg Speller/Fox Photos // Getty Images
The Germans almost guessed it right
Mirrorpix via Getty Images
It was supposed to happen a month earlier
PhotoQuest // Getty Images
Nature played a key role
Keystone // Getty Images
Higgins boats whisked many troops to shore
Paramount Pictures/Fotos International // Getty Images
D-Day films have become part of American popular culture
Bettmann // Getty Images
A D-Day movie star served on D-Day
Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images
Many other famous people served on D-Day
Galerie Bilderwelt // Getty Images
Gargantuan supply shipments preceded the invasion
Mondadori // Getty Images
17 million maps were needed
U.S. Coast Guard // Wikimedia Commons
The landings opened a supply line
Three Lions // Getty Images
Artificial harbors supported the supply lines
U.S. Army Signal Corps // Wikimedia Commons
The Army attacked with 6 divisions
PhotoQuest // Getty Images
500 gliders took to the air
Galerie Bilderwelt // Getty Images
A separate battle raged high above the beach
Tony Vaccaro // Getty Images
The mighty Atlantic Wall fell in a day
Chip Somodevilla // Getty Images
The day produced 12 Medals of Honor
Photo12/UIG // Getty Images
Heavy packs encumbered troops
U.S. Coast Guard/Interim Archives // Getty Images
Boat ramps served as shields
PhotoQuest // Getty Images
One African American combat unit participated
John Chambless // U.S. Air Force
That unit’s medic is an unsung hero
Keystone/Hulton Archive // Getty Images
