An 81 mm mortar crew fires at German positions in France.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-194734)

General George S. Patton uses new tactics in North Africa.

A letter from General Marshall to the Ehlers family.

Source: Walter Ehlers

On June 6, 1944, D-Day in the European Theater, a million and a half Allied troops embark on one of the greatest invasions in history: the invasion of France.

Operation OVERLORD, the invasion of Normandy, France, on 6 June 1944, was the Western Allies' greatest operation of World War II and the finest hour of Anglo-American cooperation. Only the United States and the British Empire could have successfully undertaken the largest and most dangerous amphibious assault in history. The . . .

As seen from a Coast Guard landing barge, the first wave of American soldiers approaches the shores of Normandy, France, June 6, 1944

Source: National Archives (26-G-237)

American soldiers, under German artillery fire, disembark from a landing craft off the shores of Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion of France. June 6, 1944

Source: National Archives (111-SC-189906 ?)

The news of D-Day reaches across America

A landing craft packed with soldiers approaches the shores of Normandy, France. June 6, 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-320901)

American soldiers in fox holes during the fight in North Africa.

Source: National Archives (208-AA-4NN-26)

American infantrymen fight the Germans one hedgreow at a time, here with a rifle grenade. Normandy, France. 1944.

Source: National Archives (208-AA-20N-7)

Infantrymen grab sleep where they can. Normandy, France, July 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-191444)

American GI's move cautiously through a breach in a Normandy hedgerow. France. July 25, 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-191997)

American tanks move through the ruins of St. Lo, France, July 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-199771)

Bill Mauldin worked for Stars and Stripes during the war. His cartoons were viewed by GIs serving in Europe.

Source: Copyright 1945 by Bill Mauldin. Displayed courtesy of the William Mauldin Estate.

After gaining a foothold on what German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel called the "longest day," the Allied march inland commenced following D-Day. Unfortunately for the Allies, during 19-20 June a force 6-7 storm blew out of the northwest and severely damaged Mulberry A in the American sector. . .

American soldiers in a Coast Guard landing barge near the French coast. They are replacements headed to the D-Day invasion shores. June 1944.

Source: National Archives (26-G-2349)

The campaign in North Africa was fought over control of the Suez Canal. Great Britain depended on the canal for access to Middle Eastern oil and raw materials from Asia. The Suez Canal and the Mediterranean also formed the primary lifeline to Britain's overseas dominions. The ground campaign in North . . .

After two months of sporadic fighting, the battle for North Africa suddenly intensified.

From a Nazi gun emplacement captured during the D-Day invasion, the Allied flotilla is visible off the coast of Normandy. 1944.

Source: National Archives (80-G-231661)