A composite image of the seafront of Weymouth, England -- in June of
1944 (left) and 70 years later, on April 5, 2014. In 1944, US troops on
the Esplanade were on their way to embark on ships bound for Omaha Beach
for the D-Day landings in Normandy. The Allied invasion to liberate
mainland Europe from Nazi occupation during World War II took place on
June 6, 1944. (Galerie Bilderwelt, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images)
US troops on the Esplanade in Weymouth, England, on their way to embark
on ships bound for Omaha Beach for the D-Day landings in Normandy in
June of 1944. Click to view a transition to this same view 70 years
later, on April 5, 2014. [Click image to fade] (Galerie Bilderwelt, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images) #
Boats full of United States troops waiting to leave Weymouth, Southern
England, to take part in Operation Overlord in Normandy, June 1944.
Click to view a transition to the same view on April 5, 2014. [Click image to fade] (Galerie Bilderwelt, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images) #
D-Day, the invasion of France, June 6, 1944. American craft of all
styles at Omaha Beach, Normandy, during the first stages of the Allied
invasion. Click to fade to a view of Omaha Beach on May 7, 2014, near
Colleville sur Mer, France. [Click image to fade] (Popperfoto, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images) #
The body of a dead German soldier lies in the main square of Place Du
Marche after the town was taken by U.S. troops who landed at nearby
Omaha Beach in Trevieres, France, June 15, 1944. Click to view the same
location on August 23, 2013. [Click image to fade] (US National Archives, 1944/Chris Helgren, 2013/Reuters) #
A crashed U.S. fighter plane on the waterfront some time after Canadian
forces came ashore on a Juno Beach D-Day landing zone in
Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, France, in June 1944. Click to view the same
location on August 23, 2013. [Click image to fade] (National Archives of Canada, 1944/Chris Helgren, 2013/Reuters) #
A ruined street in Caen, France in June of 1944. Click to see transition to a view of the rue de Bayeux on May 5, 2014. [Click image to fade] (Galerie Bilderwelt, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images) #
The British 2nd Army: Royal Marine Commandos of Headquarters, 4th
Special Service Brigade, making their way from their landing craft onto
'Nan Red' Beach, JUNO Area, at St Aubin-sur-Mer at about 9 am on, 6 June
1944. Click to see the same beach on May 6, 2014. [Click image to fade] (Lt. Handford/IWM, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images) #
Troops of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division landing at Juno Beach on
the outskirts of Bernieres-sur-Mer on D-Day, June 6, 1944. 14,000
Canadian soldiers were put ashore and 340 lost their lives in the
battles for the beachhead. Click to see the same beach 70 years later,
on May 5, 2014. [Click image to fade] (Galerie Bilderwelt, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images) #
American troops stand by with stores on Omaha Beach after the D-day
landings. Click to see this view of Omaha Beach on May 6, 2014, near
Vierville sur Mer, France. [Click image to fade] (MPI, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images) #
Members of an American landing party assist troops whose landing craft
was sunk by enemy fire off Omaha beach, near Colleville sur Mer, on June
6, 1944. Click to view the same location on August 22, 2013. [Click image to fade] (US National Archives, 1944/Chris Helgren, 2013/Reuters) #
The British 2nd Army, Commandos of 1st Special Service Brigade land on
'Queen Red' Beach, SWORD Area, at la Breche, at approximately 8:40 am,
on June 6, 1944. Click to transition to a view of the seafront and Queen
Red Beach on May 8, 2014. [Click image to fade] (Capt. J L Evans/IWM, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images) #
A large number of German prisoners are gathered on the beach of
Bernieres-sur-Mer in June of 1944. They are guarded by British soldiers
from the 2nd Army on Juno Beach (Bernieres sector), Normandy, France.
Click to fade to a view of Juno Beach on May 8, 2014. [Click image to fade] (Galerie Bilderwelt, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images) #
After the assault at the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc by the 2nd Ranger
Battalion (D, E and F Company) Colonel James E. Rudder establishes a
Post Commando in June of 1944. German prisoners are gathered and an
American flag is deployed for signaling. Omaha Beach, Normandy, France.
Click to see a view of the cliffs on May 6, 2014. [Click image to fade] (Galerie Bilderwelt, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images) #
A French armored column passes through the small French town of St Mere
Eglise during the Allied invasion of Normandy, getting a warm welcome
from the inhabitants. Click to fade to this street scene on May 7, 2014.
[Click image to fade] (Popperfoto, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images) #
Allied forces Supreme Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower speaks
with U.S. Army paratroopers of Easy Company, 502nd Parachute Infantry
Regiment (Strike) of the 101st Airborne Division, at Greenham Common
Airfield in England, on June 5, 1944. Click to see a view of Greenham
Common Airfield on July 15, 2013. [Click image to fade] (US National Archives, 1944/Chris Helgren, 2013/Reuters) #
A view of a town square, stockpiled with supplies and ammunition
earmarked for the impending D-Day invasion of France, Moreton-in-Marsh,
England, May 1944. Click to fade to May 12, 2014. [Click image to fade] (Frank Scherschel/Time & Life Pictures, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images) #
Three soldiers of the 23rd Field Ambulance, Royal Canadian Army Medical
Corps, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, place flowers on graves in June
of 1944. In the background is the church of Saint Georges de Basly. In
the four temporary graves are a Scottish, a Canadian and two French
civilians, in Saint Georges de Basly, Normandy, France. Click to compare
with the same scene on May 5, 2014. [Click image to fade] (Galerie Bilderwelt, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images) #
United States Army trucks and jeeps drive through the ruins of Saint-Lo
in July of 1944. A group of American soldiers is walking along the
street. The town was almost totally destroyed by 2,000 Allied bombers
when they attacked German troops stationed there during Operation
Overlord. Click to view the same scene on May 7, 2014. [Click image to fade] (Galerie Bilderwelt, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images) #
Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Normandy. A group of American soldiers stand at
the village fountain on June 12, 1944. A woman is walking away with two
pitchers while three children are watching the scene, and an old man is
fetching water next to a GI expected to wash his bowls.
Sainte-Marie-du-Mont was liberated by a group of paratroopers of the
501st and 506th Regiments of the 101st Airborne Division. Click to view
the same fountain 70 years later, on May 7, 2014. [Click image to fade] (Galerie Bilderwelt, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images) #