D-Day - 65th anniversary

06 Giugno 2009, today is the 65th anniversary of the D-Day in Normandy, which took place the 06 June 1944.

The "Operation Overlord" began during the night between the 05 and 06 June 1944 parachuting the soldiers of the 82 and 101 US Airborne division at Pegasus Bridge e Sainte-Mère-Eglise. The plan of debarquement followed the following scheme:




- British 6ht Airborn division (East of Orne River covering the left flank);
- British I Corps Special Services (Queen Reed sector);
- British 3rd infantry divsion and the British 27th Aroumred Brigade (Sword Beach);
- Canadian 3rd Infantry Division, Canadian Armoured Brigade (Juno Beach);
- British XXX Corps, British 50th Infantry Division and British 8th Armoured Brigade (Gold Beach);
- US V Corps, US 1st Infantry Division and US 29th Infantry Division (Omaha Beach);
- Rangers 2nd battalion (Point du Hoc);
- US VII Corps, US 4th Infantry Division(Utah Beach);
- US 101st Airborne Division (Head of invasion at Vierville);
- US 82nd Airborne Division (at Sainte-Mère-Eglise coverign the right flank);
- Free French Special Air Service (SAS), 4th battalion in Brittany (involved in Operation Dingson and Operation Samwest).






The of troops landed on D-Day was around from 130.000 to 156.000.

The objective of the operation was to make a lodgement hat would be anchored in the city of Caen (and later Cherbourg when its deep-water port would be captured). As long as Normandy could be secured, the Western European campaign and the downfall of Nazi Germany could begin.