Time Label: D-Day

Casualties at Sword Beach on D-Day: Total casualty figures for D-Day were not recorded at the time and are difficult to confirm in full. Around 1,300 British soldiers became casualties. Other…

Sword Beach: At the end of D-Day: The airborne troops had achieved their objectives and managed to hang on to the ground that they had seized, despite strong German counter-attacks. The…

21st Panzer Division’s troops withdraw from the coast when they see further British airborne forces (6th Airlanding Brigade) in 248 gliders pass overhead and land to their rear.

German troops of 21st Panzer Division launch a counter-attack. When their advance towards the landing beaches is halted by British troops, they continue into the two mile gap between Juno…

The strong defences of German strongpoint ‘Hillman’ frustrate British efforts to capture it. The strongpoint’s continued resistance prevents other British troops passing by towards Caen.

The Commandos of 1st Special Service Brigade reach Pegasus Bridge, and cross over to the east to reinforce the airborne troops.

Several strong attacks from south against the airborne bridgehead are repulsed.

Troops advancing from the beach capture several German strongpoints inland, and continue the advance on Caen.

More commandos land. After dealing with some surviving German defenders near the beach, they advance inland at speed, towards the airborne landings.

No.4 Commando – including attached Free French Commandos – land at the far eastern end of the landing area, and advance further east along the coast to deal with strongpoints…

The first assault troops land, on a relatively narrow frontage. DD (amphibious) tanks arrive at the same time as the infantry rather than slightly ahead of them, delayed by the…

Support landing craft begin to fire guns and rockets against German defences along the beach.

The first waves of assault landing craft set off from their landing ships several miles out at sea, heading for the beach.

Allied warships begin bombarding German coastal gun batteries and artillery positions.

Troops from No.9 Para attack the German coastal gun battery at Merville. Though they are missing much of their men and equipment, the attack succeeds and the airborne troops disable…

Bomber aircraft of RAF Bomber Command attack a range of targets in the whole landing area.

The main force of British 6th Airborne Division begins to land by parachute, on three drop zones.

Casualties at Juno Beach on D-Day: Total casualty figures for D-Day were not recorded at the time and are difficult to confirm in full. Allied army casualties were around 1,240. Allied…

Juno Beach: At the end of D-Day: The landings on Juno Beach had been delayed by the hard fighting on the beach and in the seafront villages. Once into more open…

The reserve brigade’s leading infantry battalion takes over the advance. German tanks forces have counter-attacked into the two mile gap between Sword and Juno Beaches, some reaching the coast. In…

Canadians have reached Phase Line Elm, an objective six miles inland.

Due to congestion, some reserve infantry brigade troops are only now able to move off inland in force.

The reserve infantry brigade starts to land. Its troops have objectives much further inland. As the tide has come in, the exposed beach is very narrow, and only a limited…

The Canadians who had landed in the west on Mike Sector have reached 3km inland. On Nan Sector in the east, the Canadians are still clearing German defenders from the…

No.48 (Royal Marine) Commando come ashore on the far eastern side of the landing area. They land infront of a strongpoint, and the Canadian infantry have not yet been able…