At 12.15 am D-Day, 1333 R.A.F bombers were dropping 5000 tons of bombs on coastal batteries in Hitler's Atlantic Wall.

Many soldiers involved in Operation Overlord were 18, 19 years old, or even younger and had no experience of war. They trained with new weapons, vehicles and equipment until they could use them in the dark; they memorised maps and models of Normandy. To succeed the operation had to be a surprise, so soldiers were told as little as possible about the invasion plans and when it would take place.

The video tells events from an ordinary soldier's point of view.
You can view the first soldier's tale.

At the Imperial War Museum we also learned about the photographs of Robert Capa, which have become the definitive image of the invasion, and were used by Steven Spielberg  as inspiration for the opening sequences of Saving Private Ryan.


For general information
on D-day click on the Logo  

Click on the image to learn
more about Robert Capa.

Imperial War Museum


"On Board Ship"



View the first soldier's tale



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