June 6 marks the 79th anniversary of the Battle of Normandy—the day in 1944 when allied forces from 13 countries stormed five beaches in Normandy, France. This marked the beginning of the end of World War II. Planned under the codename Operation Overlord, the attack by sea and air included almost 156,000 allied troops from the United States, Canada, England, and several other countries. It is considered the largest military invasion ever assembled.

The term “D-Day” actually refers to the specific day any military operation is set to launch. On June 6, 1944, D-Day saw the launch of the largest military invasion ever assembled, marking a significant moment in World War II. In this case, D-Day was an especially significant moment in history, as it marked the beginning of the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied Western Europe. However, the nickname is commonly associated with the Normandy landings, commanded by General Dwight Eisenhower of the United States Army. Paris and all of northern France were liberated from Nazi Germany by the end of the Battle of Normandy, which began on June 6 and lasted until August 1944.