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[[Image:normandy.jpg|300px|thumb|right|American troops disembark under heavy fire at ''Omaha'', the code name for their section of the Normandy coastline]]

[[Image:normandy.jpg|300px|thumb|right|American troops disembark under heavy fire at ''Omaha'', the code name for their section of the Normandy coastline]]

'''Operation Overlord''', also known as the '''Normandy Invasion''' or simply '''D-Day''', was the code name for the Allied invasion of northern [[Europe]] in [[World War II]].  It began with the landings on the beaches of [[Normandy]] in northwestern France on June 6, 1944, and accomplished the largest amphibious invasion in the history of mankind, using 5,000 ships, 9,000 planes, and 200,000 men.   

'''Operation Overlord''', also known as the '''Normandy Invasion''', was the code name for the Allied invasion of northern [[Europe]] in [[World War II]].  It began on '''D-Day''' with the landings on the beaches of [[Normandy]] in northwestern France on June 6, 1944, and marked the beginning of the end of the Nazi regime.  It accomplished the largest amphibious invasion in the history of mankind, using 5,000 ships, 9,000 planes, and 200,000 men.  Over 2 million frontline combat troops were ferried across the English Channel in the ensuing weeks.

While Native American troops took part in the invasion force, the United States military remained [[segregation|segregated]] with Blacks excluded from front line combat roles until 1947, women were excluded from combat until the 1970s, and [[homosexual]]s were [[Don't Ask, Don't Tell|barred from military service until 1993]].  Of the 10,000 casualties on the first day, 175 were Native American. By far, the vast majority of the invasion force were straight white males.  Three-quarters declared a religious affiliation<ref>[https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=history_etds p. 11]</ref> and cited [[prayer]] as their source of motivation.<ref>[https://www.libertyinstitute.org/document.doc?id=306 p. 6]</ref>

While Native American troops took part in the invasion force, the United States military remained [[segregation|segregated]] with Blacks excluded from frontline combat roles until 1947, women were excluded from combat until the 1970s, and [[homosexual]]s were [[Don't Ask, Don't Tell|barred from military service until 1993]].  Of the 10,000 casualties on the first day, 175 were Native American. By far, the vast majority of the invasion force were straight white males.  Three-quarters declared a religious affiliation<ref>[https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=history_etds p. 11]</ref> and cited [[prayer]] as their source of motivation.<ref>[https://www.libertyinstitute.org/document.doc?id=306 p. 6]</ref>

==Background==

==Background==