On this day 75 years ago, the Allied forces launched the largest amphibious assault in history. Over 24,000 troops stormed the coast of Normandy, France under intense German resistance from heavily fortified positions, dodging mines and gun fire as they made their way up the beach. Nearly 5,000 men would die in the ultimately successful mission.
It was one of the most impressive military campaigns the world has ever seen. The Allies, of course, did not win the war simply by taking Normandy, but they did turn the tide, forcing Hitler to fight on two fronts — against the Soviets in the east and the Americans and British in the west. Less than a year later, Hitler would shoot himself in a bunker in Berlin.
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