June 6, 1944 was one of the most important days in the modern history of the USA and Europe. It was on this day that the tide turned against Hitler’s plans to take over the whole of Europe. The day is known today as D-Day. The “D” represents the day which military commanders planned their operation. They had no date for it. There was also an “H-Hour” when the operation would start. D-Day marks the biggest air, land and sea operation ever undertaken. American, British and Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy in France to try and repel the Nazi troops and avoid an invasion of Britain. The operation is also known as the Normandy Landings. Over 4,000 soldiers died but the German forces were defeated.

D-Day was a major turning point in World War II. It was also one of the most stunning and heroic victories of any war. Britain’s King George VI broadcast a message to the British people the night before the operation. He warned of a "supreme test" for Allied forces and called on the nation to pray for the liberation of Europe. The prayers worked, as what was called “Fortress Europe” during the war had been breached. There were many bloody battles on the Normandy beaches. One British soldier said: “It looked just like the main road to Hell!”. US President Roosevelt knew there was still a long way to go after D-Day, and that the war was far from over. He told Americans: "You don't just walk to Berlin, the sooner this country realizes that, the better."

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