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Canadian Ceremony At The Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery

Source: NurPhoto / Getty

via Wkyc:

In war, there are no sure things.

When you are preparing for the largest amphibious invasion in human history, it’s understandable why there would be anxiety if you were a president, a prime minister, a general, or a private.

The Allied forces stood across the English Channel, waiting to execute Operation Overlord on June 6, 1944. On the other side was the heavily fortified German army, defending the coast of France.

The weather was not cooperating. In fact, the invasion had already been postponed once and there were fears among planners that any additional delays would force the operation to be pushed back to July due to high tides.

Arguably the most pivotal day of the 20th Century had arrived. Ready or not.

What was at stake?

The Allies were finally opening a second front in the war against Nazi Germany that had begun in Europe in 1939. Since the U.S. joined the fight after Pearl Harbor in 1941, the Allies had struck in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy. But now, in June of 1944, the pivotal moment had arrived. Germany was losing ground on the Eastern Front against the Soviet Red Army. Now, if the Allies could gain a foothold in France, they could begin the push towards Berlin.

More than 150,000 troops in more than 5,000 ships made that crossing and went ashore on five different beaches. The U.S., Great Britain, Canada, French resistance forces, and the rest of the Allies were bringing the fight to Hitler and the Third Reich. In Europe. Finally.

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