One of five Allied landings that comprised Operation Overlord (D-Day), the greatest amphibious attack in history, which penetrated Adolf Hitler's Atlantic Wall. In the early morning on June 6, 1944, before the first-wave attack. The air and sea bombardment was highly effective at all the beaches except Omaha, where most of the shells landed far in land. At Omaha, the first wave was decimated, and follow-up waves badly pounded. Over half of the 4, 900 Allied casualties came at Omaha.
See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.
