06 June 2024 , 13:53
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Today marks 80 years since the D-Day landing in Normandy - as people all over the world pay their respects to those who lost their lives in the conflict. The King and Queen have gathered in France with other world leaders - including US President Joe Biden - to pay tribute to the 22,442 service personnel under British command who died on D-Day and during the Battle of Normandy in 1944.
It has sparked a discussion online about "What does the D in D-Day stand for?", with many admitting they have no idea what it actually means. According to the Royal British Legion, the 'D' stands for 'Day', meaning it’s actually short for 'Day-Day'. However, as 'Day-Day' wasn't "catchy" enough, the term D-Day evolved.
A statement reads: "The term D-Day is used by the Armed Forces to refer to the beginning of an operation. Before the allied attack in June 1944 there would have been many D-Days, however, it was so iconic that it came to be used solely when referring to the beginning of Operation Overlord." Brainstorming what it could mean, one Reddit user said: "I thought D in D-Day was short for Doomsday."
Another user added: "It’s literally just a military term for the start day of an operation. All operations will have a D-day and an H-hour even to this day. The name just stuck around from Overlord, I imagine due to how it was reported in the press." A third user said: "Didn't D stand for Decision?"
One more user added: "I’ve read that it just stands for 'Day'. So there was D-n, for the number of days leading up to D-Day and D+n for the number of days post-invasion. Yeah, I know, that means if says Day Day. But I’ve never read another explanation." Britain was not alone during the Battle of Normandy, with forces including sailors, soldiers, and airmen from the USA, Canada, Australia, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, and others.
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Making a speech in Ver-sur-Mer, France, today, King Charles said: "It is with the most profound sense of gratitude that we remember them and all who served at that critical time.” He continued: "How fortunate we were, and the entire free world, that a generation of men and women in the UK and other allied nations did not flinch when the moment came to face that test." He adds he is humbled by the "resolve and determination" of that generation.
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"It is with the most profound sense of gratitude that we remember them and all those who served at that critical time. We recall the lesson that comes to us again and again across the decades: Free nations must stand together to oppose tyranny. This vital start to the liberation of Europe was a vast allied effort. United they fought together for... a world in which goodness and honour may be the foundation of the life of men in every land. Our gratitude is unfailing and our admiration eternal."
Speaking to crowds at the US national commemoration in Normandy, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, Joe Biden said D-Day was a great crusade to free Europe from tyranny. He added: "It is the highest honour to be able to salute you in Normandy." The President recalled stories of veterans in the audience, including of one medic who continued to treat wounds and save lives despite his plane crash-landing under German fire.
"Every one of them knew the probability of dying was real, but they did it anyway. They knew, beyond any doubt, that there were things worth fighting and dying for." He added D-Day "turned the tide in our favour" and proved "the forces of liberty are stronger than the forces of conquest". It highlighted the "unbreakable unity of the Allies", says the president.