Last Updated on September 11, 2025 by Matt Staff
On the morning of June 6, 1944, the Allied invasion of Normandy, known as D-Day, marked a turning point in World War II. Over 150,000 troops landed on French soil, launching one of the largest military operations in history. But behind the strategic victory was a day filled with chaos, fear, and unimaginable sacrifice.
From quiet, candid expressions to the devastation left in war’s wake, each image offers a glimpse into the human side of D-Day. These images highlight the pain, bravery, and loss that defined that historic moment. They remind us that freedom came at a steep cost, and every life on those beaches carried a story worth remembering. Let’s dive into 20 rare photos from D-Day.
1. Soldiers preparing as they approach Omaha Beach, June 6th, 1944
2. You could cut the tension on this landing craft with a knife, 1944
3. Lieutenant James Earl Rudder and his fellow Rangers scaling Pointe du Hoc to surprise German forces, June 6th, 1944
4. This 101st Airborne paratrooper wearing war paint on D-Day, 1944
5. Winston Churchill and Dwight Eisenhower at the firing range, training for D-Day, 1944
6. Members of the 101st Airborne Division painting their faces on D-Day to honor Sergeant Jake McNiece
7. Norman Cota, getting his troops together, 1944
8. Martha Gellhoen, the only woman to cover D-Day from the scene on landing day, 1944
9. Allied troops preparing to ditch the landing craft at Omaha Beach, D-Day, 1944
10. Pedestrians glued to the news in New York City as D-Day unfolded, Times Square, 1944
11. D-Day veterans sitting across from their younger selves
12. General Dwight D. Eisenhower giving a speech to boost the morale of the 101st Airborne Division Paratroopers
13. Canadian soldiers on their way to Juno Beach, D-Day, 1944
14. Simon Fraser and his bagpiper leading the 1st Special Service Brigade onto Sword Beach, D-Day, 1944
15. An aerial view of the troop storming the beaches of Normandy
16. Troops jumping off their landing craft with hundreds of pounds of gear, D-Day, 1944
17. This is the view thousands of soldiers saw before storming the beaches of Normandy, 1944
18. General Eisenhower speaking with the Screaming Eagles about the war effort just before launching the D-Day invasion
19. The aftermath of the D-Day invasion, 2 boys watch as American soldiers drive through the battered town of St. Lo, France, 1944
20. “My Grandfather on D-Day”
Want to check out more vintage military content?
Check out 25 Vintage Photos From The First World War, or take a look at 20 Colorized Vintage Military Photos From the 1940s. Finally, if you want to see Navy photos from the past, check out 20 Vintage Navy Photos From The Past (1930s-1980s).
