"We understood the importance of what we were doing and why we had to do it. But it didn’t make it any better.”
D-Day was a defining moment of the Second World War. It kick-started the liberation of occupied France, the rest of Western Europe, and eventual defeat of Hitler and the Nazis.
Some 153,000 troops took part as the Allies stormed Normandy beaches on June 6, 1944.
And to mark the 80th anniversary of the heroics of that day, the Daily Mirror have produced a stunning commemorative publication. You can purchase this online by clicking here or pick up a copy in most supermarkets, high street retailers and independent newsagents in the UK from May 22, 2024.
The story of Operation Overlord includes a timeline to victory and looks at the months of work that went into preparing for the invasion.
We turn the spotlight on key figures - such as Prime Minister Winston Churchill, General Dwight Eisenhower, Franklin Roosevelt - who made the attack possible.
We look at the weapons and tactics which were key to success for the Allies against the Germans, the facts and figures of the day and also reproduce the front page of the Daily Mirror which told the country the news.
And we bring you eyewitness accounts from the brave men and women who were there, and the stories of the people who sacrificed so much for us.
