The Normandy landings were the landing operations and associated airborne operations on Tuesday, June 6, 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. Codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as D-Day, it is the largest seaborne invasion in history. The operation began the liberation of France, and the rest of Western Europe, and laid the foundations of the Allied victory on the Western Front.
It’s more important than ever that we remember the sacrifices made to liberate Europe from the grips of fascism. While fascism in Spain and Portugal did not end with the Allied victory in Europe, it did end Italian and German fascism. With far right politicians are using violence, fear, and hatred to make political gains. Whether that is through outright lies and propaganda, changing to voting laws making it harder for people to vote, or passing laws to brainwash young minds by forbidding the teaching of history they disagree with, these right wing politicians are using the same tactics and rhetoric that led to the rise of fascism in Europe during the 1920s and 1930s. They completely ignore facts, twist the words of others, and believe laws only apply to other people.
During the Second World War, over 61 million soldiers and civilians died resisting fascism. We can’t allow fascist governments to gain control again. Remember the sacrifices made to liberate Europe. Remember the men who died in the largest seaborne invasion in history eighty years ago today.
Joe
The Closet Professor 
June 6th, 2024 at 8:12 am
Hi Joe, I totally agree with your post. My father was in the Royal Canadian Air Force in World War 2 and my great uncle died at Vimy in World War 1. We must not forget the heroic efforts of our parents’ and grand-parents’ efforts in these wars. How sad to see how fascism is resurfacing all over the place with a mostly indifferent reaction by so many.
I thank you for your posts for they all are conducive to reflecting upon. Oh, I also love the photos you post.
Jean
June 10th, 2024 at 9:37 am
Dear Joe
I have just returned from Normandy to commemorate the 80th anniversary. My own former regiment landed on D-Day and we return regularly to the village about 800 metres inland which was probably the first village in France to be liberated that day.
On earlier occasions I have done the Somme and visited Vimy Ridge to see the splended Canadian memorial The preserved trenches there are most evocative.
On the German side you can still see some of the barbed wire in place, over 100 years later. It’s stronger than ours and pretty horrible to get over.
We must never forget the horrors of war, as are currently a feature of the Ukraine, poor devils. Forget most of the rubbishy Hollywood output.
Michael