June 6, 1944: D-Day arrives

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Published: June 2, 1994

For four long years, virtually all of Europe, the birthplace of western democracy, was held in the ruthless grip of Nazi and fascist rule. At times, the triumph of the Third Reich seemed inevitable. If Britain also fell, the Nazis could have a secure continental base and begin dreaming of world domination.

All that changed on the sixth of June, 1944, when the liberation of Europe began on the shores of Normandy. For airborne troops, including Canadian paratroops, the invasion had actually begun with paradrops the night before.

As the sixth day of June dawned, the greatest armada in history began to land Canadian, American, British and Free French soldiers. The New World had come to the rescue of the Old.

Rural families lost many sons that day, as they had in earlier battles and as they would in the coming march across Europe. All those battles were important, but the D-Day invasion was a symbolic turning point. The Allies had returned to the mainland of Europe, to stay. Their achievement still looms large a half-century later.

About the author

Garry Fairbairn

Western Producer

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