D-Day (military term) facts for kids
D-Day is a term used in military planning to mean the actual day a major operation or event is to begin. The days leading up to a D-Day are called D-1, D-2, D-3, and so on. The days after a D-Day are D+1, D+2, D+3, and so on. Several different events in military history were called D-Day such as the Invasion of Normandy (Operation Overlord).
The most famous D-Day was June 6, 1944 when the biggest naval attack in military history took place, in France during World War II when allied forces crossed over the English Channel from England to the French coast specifically the Normandy Coastline. This attack was code named Operation Overlord, led by American General Dwight Eisenhower in reply to the failed Dieppe Raid in 1942. The Allies (Britain, Canada, and America in this case) liberated France, which was occupied by Germany. The allied forces won the battle, a turning point in World War II, though over 3,500 men were lost while attacking the beaches and by going behind enemy lines. Almost a year later, Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allies. Even-though the D-Day was planned for months it almost got cancelled due to bad weather.
Images for kids
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Battle plans for the Normandy Invasion, the most famous D-Day
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Official U.S. Twelfth Army situation map for 2400 hours, 6 June 1944
See also
In Spanish: Día D para niños
