Today, 6 June 2024, marks the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion of Normandy, France. The Allied invasion of Western Europe saw simultaneous landings of American, British, and Canadian forces totaling almost 150,000 along five beachheads in Normandy (Omaha, Sword, Utah, Juno, and Gold Beach). Faced with changing weather and heavy fire from German forces, this crucial victory for Allied forces would turn the tides of the war in favor of Allied victory and lead to the eventual end of WWII in 1945.
Check out the display at the Ives Main Library for books, films, and documentaries that delve deeper into the history of this event.
Below in the first gallery are photographs of the invasion and of Normandy in 1944/5. Photographs in the second gallery were taken by librarian Erin Witt on a family trip to Normandy in July 2023.
“American assault troops move up the beachhead from their landing craft carrying… equipment, indicating their intent… make their visit a lasting one.” Original Field Number: ETO-HQ-44-4754 NAID: 176887796 “American airborne infantrymen pass through St. Marie Dumont on their way to contact the enemy. Utah Beach, France.” NAID: 176887846 “American assault troops of the 3rd battery, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st U.S. Infantry, injured while storming Omaha Beach, wait by the Chalk Cliffs for evacuation to a field hospital for further medical treatment. Collville-Sur-Mer, Normandy, France.” Original Field Number: ETO-HQ-44-4778-15. Photographer: Taylor NAID: 176887740 “Two and one-half ton amphibious trucks of the 470th Amphibious Truck Co., let Engineer SPEO Brigade, bring supplies to the beachhead from ships off shore, at Utah Beach, Les Dunes De Madeleine, France. On the right is a German 77-mm gun captured intact.” Original Field Number: ETO-HQ-44-4984. Photographer: Kaye NAID: 176887848 “Ruins of Normandy.” NAID: 176888854 “A guard stands beside monument honoring 1st Engineer Special Brigade at Utah Beach, Normandy, and looks on crowd gathered to witness dedication ceremonies on 1st anniversary of D-Day, 1944.” NAID: 176888284
Normandy American Cemetery, Normandy, France. 9 July 2023 E.Witt Memorial and statue at Normandy American Cemetery, Normandy, France. 9 July 2023 E.Witt Sign at Utah Beach, Normandy, France. 10 July 2023 E. Witt Coastline at Utah Beach, Normandy, France. 10 July 2023 E. Witt Coastline at Utah Beach, Normandy, France. 10 July 2023 E. Witt Memorial to the 1st Engineer Special Brigade at Utah Beach, Normandy, France. 10 July 2023 E. Witt Normandy fields. 10 July 2023 E. Witt
Articles and commemorations for the 80th Anniversary:
https://apnews.com/article/d-day-france-russia-ukraine-wwii-7b6896a9d891fb2d2f75b29e1cfd67ad
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/80th-anniversary-d-day
More information on D-Day:
https://www.britannica.com/event/Normandy-Invasion
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/topics/d-day-and-normandy-campaign
More information on the Normandy American Cemetary and the American Battle Monuments Commission:
Additional museums:
https://www.nationalww2museum.org
WWII and Connecticut:
https://dailynutmeg.com/blogs/blog/world-war-2-new-haven-war-zone
https://jewishhistorynh.org/jewish-women-in-world-war-ii-an-oral-history-project/