PBS THE WAR: D-Day

Today is the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the beginning of the end of World War II. There was a massive Allied assault by sea from across the English Channel, but paratroopers had an important role in the D-Day plans too. Watch this brief video that shows paratroopers being dropped behind enemy lines in Normandy. Listen to one of the soldiers explain the Allied troops’ assignment to get between the German lines and the beach. There is also a map that shows where British paratroopers landed. The video ends with footage of the 101st and 82nd Airborne divisions falling through the night sky.

courtesy of Knovation