Facts and figures about the D-Day invasion

| Back | Text Size:

https://triblive.com/news/world/facts-and-figures-about-the-d-day-invasion/

Facts and figures about the D-Day invasion

Tribune-Review | Thursday, June 6, 2019 11:17 a.m.

A U.S. helmet sits atop a captured German machine gun, marking the location at Pointe du Hoc of fallen comrades, casualties of June 6, 1944. Although there is no official figure, Allied casualties on June 6 are estimated at 10,000. The number of Axis casualties is estimated between 4,000 and 9,000 men.

Operation Overlord: Code name for the Allied invasion of Western Europe.

D: Stands for “day” as the final invasion date was unknown and depended on the weather.

150,000+: Troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Free France and Norwaymade up the Allied Forces.

Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword: Allied code names for the beaches along the 50-mile stretch of Normandy coast targeted for landing.

“OK, We’ll go”: U.S. General Dwight Eisenhower’s words to begin the mission on June 5, 1944.

822: Number of airplanes that dropped initial wave of parachutists and gliders over landing zones in Normandy.

6:30 a.m.: Seaborne units began to land on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944.

The Armada: 6,000 ships and landing craft, 50,000 vehicles and 11,000 planes were involved in the invasion or delivered afterward.

8,230: Number of U.S. soldiers killed, wounded, missing or captured during D-Day. Figure topped 10,000 with British and Canadian losses included. German losses are estimated between 4,000 and 9,000.

326,000+: Allied troops that crossed the beaches by June 11, 1944, with more than 100,000 tons of military equipment.

Under 500,000: Estimated number of World War II veterans remaining alive.

Unknown: Number of veterans alive who participated in the D-Day invasion.

Source: The National World War II Museum

Email Newsletters