On June 6, 1944, the largest seaborne invasion in world history commenced. Operation Overlord was the long-planned attempt to establish a second front in northwest Europe. Over 400,000 servicemen from the United States, Great Britain and Canada took part in the invasion. It happened on this day 72 years ago.

The amassed armada was the most impressive ever seen in warfare: Over 150,000 men embarked on the first wave, assisted by 5,300 ships and 12,000 aircraft. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower was the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe, and the great battle took place under his command.

(Listen to the Trumpet Radio Live episode that aired on June 6, 2016.)

The amphibious assault happened in Normandy, France. The beach at Normandy was divided into five sectors: Running east to west, Sword, Juno and Gold were assaulted by British and Canadian troops, while Omaha and Utah beaches were the responsibility of the American troops. The general mode of attack was to establish a firm beachhead, hold the left flank, and allow the American armies under Gen. George Patton to maneuver around the flank of the German Army.

Just before the troops boarded their ships, and as the paratroopers prepared for their short yet perilous journey into France, General Eisenhower gave an address to all men involved in the operation:

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

The German Army was caught off guard and suffered from having lost air superiority; the Germans had less than around 160 working aircraft. Despite the great material advantage, more than 9,000 men were wounded or died on the beaches of Normandy. The troops disembarked from their landing craft and were immediately under heavy fire. Wading through the cold Atlantic surf, they were mowed down by machine guns or pinned on the beaches. Many fortifications of the German “Atlantic Wall” were captured at bayonet point. Heroism and unmatched valor were common. Despite great losses, especially at Omaha Beach, the Allies pushed onward and inland, solidifying the beachhead and ensuring that the operation was a success.

Normandy was the first French soil liberated from the Nazi regime after four years of occupation. Less than a week after the initial landings, over 326,000 allied troops were on shore. By August 25, Paris was liberated. The German Army, despite valiant resistance, could not withstand the sheer might of the Allied Offensive. Operation Overlord was the first great step toward restoring the freedom of Europe and the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany.