Skip to Content

50 facts and figures about D-Day


Mirrorpix via Getty Images

50 facts and figures about D-Day



Robert F. Sargent // Wikimedia Commons

It was the largest amphibious assault in history



Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty images

The ‘D’ in D-Day is redundant



Hulton Archive // Getty Images

Secrecy and deception were key



Library of Congress // Wikimedia Commons

The practice run turned deadly



Roger Viollet via Getty Images

German defenses were the war’s biggest construction project



Bettmann // Getty Images

Forces landed on 5 code-named beaches



U.S. Army Signal Corps // Wikimedia Commons

Omaha Beach was the hardest fought



Photo12/UIG // Getty Images

A massive bombardment preceded the invasion



Photo12/UIG // Getty Images

Thousands of paratroopers landed first



AFP via Getty Images

Canadian forces captured the most ground



Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The operation had a code name



Keystone/Hulton Archive // Getty Images

D-Day involved nearly 7,000 Allied ships…



AFP via Getty Images

…and more than 11,500 Allied aircraft



AFP via Getty Images

There were 73,000 American troops at D-Day



U.S. Army // Wikimedia Commons

Comanche ‘code-talkers’ joined the siege



AFP via Getty Images

The Allies faced 50,000 German defenders



U.S. National Archives // Wikimedia Commons

The battle lasted until August



Leonard McCombe/Picture Post/Hulton Archive // Getty Images

The exact number of fallen is unknown



U.S. Army Signal Corps // Wikimedia Commons

Most Allied troops arrived after D-Day



Hulton Archive // Getty Images

The operation led to the liberation of Paris



Keystone-France/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

A memorial cemetery sits on US soil in France



Fred Ramage/Keystone/Hulton Archive // Getty Images

Families fought—and died—together



Roger Viollet via Getty Images

Around 14,000 corpses were returned home



Walter Rosenblum/U.S. Army Signal Corps/Galerie Bilderwelt // Getty Images

The Allies lost more than 11% of their troops



Galerie Bilderwelt // Getty Images

German casualties exceeded 240,000



Fox Photos // Getty Images

The action was far from consistent



PhotoQuest // Getty Images

The tide was a double-edged sword



AFP via Getty Images

The beach was a minefield



Public Domain // Wikimedia Commons

D-Day was the result of trial and error



Reg Speller/Fox Photos // Getty Images

The Germans almost guessed it right



Mirrorpix via Getty Images

It was supposed to happen a month earlier



PhotoQuest // Getty Images

Nature played a key role



Keystone // Getty Images

Higgins boats whisked many troops to shore



Paramount Pictures/Fotos International // Getty Images

D-Day films have become part of American popular culture



Bettmann // Getty Images

A D-Day movie star served on D-Day



Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

Many other famous people served on D-Day



Galerie Bilderwelt // Getty Images

Gargantuan supply shipments preceded the invasion



Mondadori // Getty Images

17 million maps were needed



U.S. Coast Guard // Wikimedia Commons

The landings opened a supply line



Three Lions // Getty Images

Artificial harbors supported the supply lines



U.S. Army Signal Corps // Wikimedia Commons

The Army attacked with 6 divisions



PhotoQuest // Getty Images

500 gliders took to the air



Galerie Bilderwelt // Getty Images

A separate battle raged high above the beach



Tony Vaccaro // Getty Images

The mighty Atlantic Wall fell in a day



Chip Somodevilla // Getty Images

The day produced 12 Medals of Honor



Photo12/UIG // Getty Images

Heavy packs encumbered troops



U.S. Coast Guard/Interim Archives // Getty Images

Boat ramps served as shields



PhotoQuest // Getty Images

One African American combat unit participated



John Chambless // U.S. Air Force

That unit’s medic is an unsung hero



Keystone/Hulton Archive // Getty Images

Germany surrendered less than 1 year later


Article Topic Follows: stacker-News

Jump to comments ↓

Stacker

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

KVIA ABC 7 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content