D-Day beaches map: where were the D-Day landings?

How many troops were involved in D-Day? Which country suffered more casualties, Britain or America? And why was Normandy chosen as the location? Our D-Day infographics explain the numbers…

A map of southern Britain and northern France illustrates the departure routes used by Allied forces during the Normandy invasion. Red dashed lines show naval movements from ports including Portsmouth, Southampton, Weymouth and Falmouth towards the Normandy coast, while blue dashed lines mark airborne routes from airfields such as Fairford, Bristol and Gloucester to landing zones around Arromanches and Carentan.

Published: June 5, 2024 at 11:33 AM

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The invasion of Nazi-occupied France was codenamed Operation Overlord and took place on Tuesday 6 June 1944, having been delayed by 24 hours because of poor weather. Allied forces launched a combined naval, air and land assault in what was the largest seaborne invasion in history. D-Day marked the beginning of the campaign to liberate northwest Europe from German occupation.

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What were the five D-Day beaches?

American, British, and Canadian troops landed on five different beaches across the Normandy coastline. The five D-Day beaches were Utah, Omaha, Gold Beach, Juno and Sword.

The Americans landed at Utah at the base of the Cotentin peninsula and at Omaha at the western end of the northern Normandy coast; the British were to land at Gold Beach, east of Omaha; then the Canadians at Juno; and the British again at Sword, the easternmost invasion beach.

An infographic titled “D-Day in Numbers” summarises the scale of the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944. Using icons, national flags and a map of the invasion beaches, it highlights the numbers of Allied troops, ships and aircraft involved, along with the British, American and Canadian forces assigned to Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword beaches.

Map credit: James Croft

A map of the Normandy coastline shows the five D-Day landing beaches – Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword – and the Allied forces assigned to each sector. Arrows indicate the landing locations and timings of US, British and Canadian divisions, while key towns and objectives inland are marked to illustrate the invasion's planned advance.

Map credit: Paul Hewitt – Battlefield Design

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Why were the Normandy beaches chosen for the D-Day landings?

The initial decision to land in Normandy was made by the chief of staff to the supreme allied commander (COSSAC) in 1943, Lieutenant-General Frederick Morgan. His team ruled out the Pas-de-Calais region and saw a landing between the Cotentin peninsula and near to Caen as being the most suitable, says military historian Paul Reed.

Brittany, Dieppe and Pas-de-Calais were all considered as alternative landing locations, but none were as attractive as Normandy.

An infographic titled “Why Normandy?” compares several possible invasion sites considered by the Allies before D-Day. Arrows point towards Normandy, Brittany, Dieppe and Pas de Calais, with brief notes explaining that Normandy offered suitable beaches, air cover and lighter defences than other locations along the French coast.

Map credit: Julian Humphrys/National Army Museum

At this stage in the war, due to lack of men and equipment, Morgan recommended landing on three beaches along the Normandy coastline, but this was later expanded to five.

The work of the French Resistance had indicated that there were fewer defences in Normandy than in the Pas-de-Calais, with many bunkers containing antiquated firepower from the First World War. Indeed, some of the bunker complexes were only partially completed. The mapping had also demonstrated good roads to get landing troops off the beach area and inland, and to take them beyond on the long road to liberation, says Reed.

Where did British troops depart from?

A map of southern Britain and northern France illustrates the departure routes used by Allied forces during the Normandy invasion. Red dashed lines show naval movements from ports including Portsmouth, Southampton, Weymouth and Falmouth towards the Normandy coast, while blue dashed lines mark airborne routes from airfields such as Fairford, Bristol and Gloucester to landing zones around Arromanches and Carentan.

Map credit: Paul Hewitt – Battlefield Design

What happened in the days and weeks after D-Day?

Despite fierce German resistance, the Allies secured footholds at all five beaches within 48 hours of D-Day, and by 12 June had succeeded in linking all of the beachheads into one continuous front. In the weeks that followed, the Allies made gradual progress into German-occupied France, liberating Paris on 25 August 1944.

An infographic map illustrates the gradual expansion of Allied-controlled territory in Normandy between 6 June and 25 August 1944. Different coloured zones show the front line advancing inland from the D-Day beaches towards key objectives including Cherbourg, Saint-Lô, Caen and Paris, highlighting the slow and hard-fought nature of the campaign.

Map: Paul Hewitt – Battlefield Design

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To read more about the successes and failures of D-Day, visit our D-Day hub

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