It had taken four long years, but on 6 June 1944 the Allies returned in strength to north-western Europe. Around 150,000 men landed on that day and many more would cross the Channel in subsequent weeks, hammering another nail into the coffin of the Third Reich. D-Day is a subject that we’ve covered numerous times in the magazine before, so for the 80th anniversary we’ve focused on two aspects that perhaps don’t always receive that much attention: the naval campaign in the waters close to Normandy, and the airborne troops who arrived in the early hours to prepare the ground for the infantry that followed. Historians Nick Hewitt and Saul David will guide you through these dramatic events, beginning on page 20.
And if you’d like to take the story further, then do head over to HistoryExtra.comwhere our team has been busy producing a wealth of additional material to mark the anniversary. Coming soon, we’ve got a new podcast series exploring the events of D-Day on land, sea and air, while the Normandy campaign will also be the subject of our next HistoryExtra Academy short course presented by the historian Taylor Downing. It’s all free if you’re a magazine subscriber – and, if you’re not already, then do check out our latest offer on page 52.
We’re also covering a whole raft of other topics in the magazine this month. From Roman tourism and Viking poetry to Tudor ladies-in-waiting and the trial of OJ Simpson, there’s plenty to get your teeth into.