In an address to his forces on the eve of the invasion, Dwight D Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of Allied Expeditionary Forces, said: "Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Forces, you are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, towards which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you."

As tens of thousands of men climbed into landing craft off the coast of Normandy, they knew that what lay ahead of them was the most heavily defended coastline in the world, manned by battle hardened troops who had been training for months to repel an invasion force. At their side was the largest combined land, sea and air operation the world had even seen, with over 150,000 troops standing ready to launch the long anticipated Allied invasion of Notherrn France and the liberation of occupied Europe. The scene was set for the most crucial battle of the Second World War and a day which would be fought by heroes.