We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Home

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Was D-Day?

Diana Bocco
By
Updated: Feb 18, 2024
Views: 44,932
References
Share

D-Day refers to two separate events that are related to each other. The first use of the word is to refer to any day in which an initiative is taken by the military. Most commonly, this alludes to combat attacks, but it can also signal the beginning of peaceful operations, invasion procedures, and takeover maneuvers. The term was first used during World War I on a written order to attack St. Mihiel Salient on 7 September 1918.

Despite different interpretations give to the first "D" in the name, the truth is that it does not stand for anything, even among military personnel. D-Day is one of several military denominations using letters of the alphabet. C-Day (or Candy Day) is the day deployment orders are given; E-Day refers to the beginning of any NATO exercise deployment; H-Hour is the exact time an operation starts; and V-Day marks Victory Day, or the day a military attack is finished.

D-Day is also the most common name given to 6 June 1944, the day the Battle of Normandy began. This was the day the Allies arrived in Europe to help liberate the continent from Nazi occupation. The full name for the battle is "1944 D-Day Operation Overlord" as a reference to the largest sea invasion in military history. On this day, about 156,000 troops arrived in Normandy, France, from England. After parachute landings and air and naval attacks, troops arrived via water and took over Normandy, starting a fight that would last for over two months and ended with the liberation of Paris at the end of August.

The term has such an emotional connotation for World War II veterans and survivors that the military has avoided using the term officially since 1944. While it may be used among military personnel, a different denomination is often used in open speeches and public announcements. For example, L-Day was used to refer to the invasion of Okinawa (March 1945), and A-Day to refer to the invasion of Leyte (October 1944).

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Diana Bocco
By Diana Bocco
Diana Bocco, a versatile writer with a distinct voice, creates compelling long-form and short-form content for various businesses. With a data-focused approach and a talent for sharing engaging stories, Diana’s written work gets noticed and drives results.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By anon172535 — On May 04, 2011

My name is bryonna, and i am doing a paper on D-day. this is so hard, in a way. do have any facts about d day if so try to answer these questions: what is D-day?, invasion of normandy in france, and victory in europe. thanks so much.

By astor — On Jun 21, 2010

@kilorenz – Many of these lettered days do in fact refer to specific events and days within World War II. A number of them however, are less specific and refer to operations that could occur at any time. For instance, P-Day is the day at which the rate of a given consumable equals the military’s need for it and E-Day is an unspecific day on which a NATO operation begins. As for your second question, every letter of the alphabet is designated some kind of meaning except for “U”.

By kilorenz — On Jun 21, 2010

I just had a couple of questions about the military’s “lettered days”. First of all, do these days refer to events outside of World War II? A lot of them seem to refer to specific days or operations within World War II, except D-Day, which was used in World War I. And also, are all letters of the alphabet part of this military lingo? Thanks.

Diana Bocco
Diana Bocco
Diana Bocco, a versatile writer with a distinct voice, creates compelling long-form and short-form content for various...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wise-geek.com/what-was-d-day.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.