What is the significance of Normandy in World War II?
The D-Day operation of June 6, 1944 brought together the land, air and sea forces of the Allied armies in what became known as the largest invasion force in human history. The operation, given the code name Overlord, delivered five naval assault divisions to the beaches of Normandy, France. The beaches were given the code names Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. The invasion force included 7,000 ships and landing craft manned by over 195,000 naval personnel from eight Allied countries. Almost 133,000 troops from England, Canada and the United States landed on D-Day. Casualties from the three countries during the landing numbered 10,300. Who were Kamikaze pilots? By 1945 it was apparent that Japan was losing the War in the Pacific. As a last ditch effort to turn around their flagging fortunes, the Japanese revived the name Kamikaze (Divine Wind) and applied it to the suicide missions of their air force. It was decided that pilots would henceforth purposely crash their planes, which were
