Today marks the 75th anniversary of D-Day, with nations around the world reflecting on the bravery and sacrifice of Allied troops that stormed the beaches of Normandy on June 6th 1944.
D-Day was history’s largest air and sea invasion, involving around 160,000 troops on that day itself and many more in the ensuing Battle of Normandy. Of those 73,000 were from the United States, while 83,000 were from Britain and Canada.
In the end, that single day cost the lives of 4,414 Allied troops, with 2,501 of them Americans.
President Donald Trump spoke at a ceremony in Normandy this morning where he addressed a handful of veterans who fought on D-Day, telling them: “Your legend will never die, your spirit, brave, unyielding and true, will never die.”
President Trump’s remarks reflect that this likely to be the last major anniversary of D-Day to honor living veterans. Guest host Libby Dankman talks with historians about efforts to preserve oral histories of those who served and how to best keep their memories alive.
With files from the Associated Press.
With guest host Libby Denkmann.
Guests:
James Holland, award-winning historian, author and broadcaster whose work focuses on World War II; his latest book, “Normandy '44: D-Day and the Epic 77-Day Battle for France” (Atlantic Monthly Press 2019), released this week in time for the 75th Anniversary of D-Day
Alex Kershaw, historian and New York Times bestselling author of several books on D-Day including his latest, “The First Wave: The D Day Warriors Who Led The Way to Victory in WWII” (Dutton Caliber 2019); a former journalist for The Guardian and an honorary colonel in the 116th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Division, which fought in the Normandy landings, on Omaha Beach
Katherine Landdeck, associate professor of history at Texas Woman's University; she tweets