24 heads of state and government are expected to participate in the official ceremony, including Grand Duke Henri representing Luxembourg. Approximately 250 veterans will also be in attendance.
Operation Overlord, regarded as one of the largest military operations in history, saw the landing beaches designated with the code names “Utah,” “Omaha,” “Gold,” “Juno,” and “Sword.” General Eisenhower, the commander-in-chief of the Allied troops, addressed the troops with the following message:
“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.”
On 6 June 1944, 7,000 ships transported nearly 200,000 men from eight allied countries from the UK to Normandy. The Allies faced the Westwall, a German defence line stretching over 600 kilometres.
More than 10,000 Allied soldiers lost their lives in the initial stages of the operation. Originally scheduled for 5 June, the landing was postponed due to adverse weather conditions.
In the early hours of 6 June, the first paratroopers were deployed behind German lines to impede reinforcements following the main landing. The first two lines of a famous poem by French poet Paul Verlaine were broadcast via “Radio Londres” to the French resistance at 9.15pm on 5 June, signalling the beginning of Operation Overlord:
“Ici Londres. Les Français parlent aux Français. Veuillez écouter tout d’abord quelques messages personnels. Les sanglots longs des violons de l’automne. Je répète, les sanglots longs des violons de l’automne. Blessent mon coeur d’une langueur monotone. Je répète, blessent mon coeur d’une langueur monotone.”
(translation: “Here is London. The French speak to the French. Please first listen to a few personal messages. The long sobs of autumn violins. I repeat, the long sobs of autumn violins. Wound my heart with languid monotony. I repeat, wound my heart with languid monotony.”)
On the day itself, the BBC reported in its Francophone broadcasts:
“Allied naval forces, supported by powerful air formations, began this morning the landing of Allied armies on the northern coast of France.”
Within three weeks, 850,000 soldiers, up to 150,000 military vehicles, and 570,000 tonnes of war material and supplies were transported to Normandy. The Allies, along with the Soviet Red Army from the East, launched attacks on Nazi Germany from both sides until the official surrender was signed in May 1945 in Reims.
Among the veterans participating in the commemoration ceremony in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer is Jake Larson, who is now 101 years old and refers to himself as “the last man” from his landing group on 6 June. Larson also participated in the liberation of Paris and Luxembourg, as well as the Battle of the Bulge. He was 21 years old at the time.
