normandy for the commemorations, this yearjust 23. so it is a dwindling band but clearly, there is a sense that it is very important to keep remembering what happened this day on the 6th ofjune in 1940 41 tens of thousands of soldiers landed on those five beaches of normandy. the longest day, as it was called. omaha beach, utah beach for the americans, gold beach and sword beach for the british and juno beach for the canadians. 156,000 allied troops landing. and huge enemy fire of course from the germans although the germans were largely taken by surprise by the attack. but it did mark a turning point in the second world war because it was the beginning of the end of the nazi