Scenes From D-Day, Then And Now - The Atlantic

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Breaking: The U.S. has attacked Venezuela and captured its leader, Nicolás Maduro. Read our full coverage. Scenes From D-Day, Then and Now
  • Alan Taylor
  • June 5, 2014
  • 21 Photos
  • In Focus

Tomorrow, June 6, 2014, will be the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Allied invasion of Europe in World War II. Seven decades ago, the largest amphibious invasion in history took place, changing the course of the war. Nearly 200,000 Allied troops boarded 7,000 ships and more than 3,000 aircraft and headed toward Normandy. Some 156,000 troops landed on the French beaches, 24,000 by air and the rest by sea, where they met stiff resistance from well-defended German positions across 50 miles of French coastline. Two photographers recently traveled to France, seeking to rephotograph images captured back then. Getty photographer Peter Macdiarmid and Reuters photographer Chris Helgren gathered archive pictures from the 1944 invasion, tracked down the locations, and photographed them as they appear today. Starting with photo number two, all the images are interactive -- click on them to see a transition from 'then' to 'now', and see the difference 70 years can make.

Read more Hints: View this page full screen. Skip to the next and previous photo by typing j/k or ←/→.
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  • A composite image of the seafront of Weymouth, England —in June of 1944 (left) and 70 years later, on April 5, 2014. In 1944, U.S. 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 Read more

  • U.S. 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 - javascript required] #

    Galerie Bilderwelt, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images Read more

  • 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 - javascript required] #

    Galerie Bilderwelt, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images Read more

  • 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 - javascript required] #

    Popperfoto, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images Read more

  • 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 - javascript required] #

    US National Archives, 1944/Chris Helgren, 2013/Reuters Read more

  • 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 - javascript required] #

    National Archives of Canada, 1944/Chris Helgren, 2013/Reuters Read more

  • A ruined street in Caen, France, in June of 1944. Click to see the transition to a view of the Rue de Bayeux on May 5, 2014. [Click image to fade - javascript required] #

    Galerie Bilderwelt, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images Read more

  • 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 June 6, 1944. Click to see the same beach on May 6, 2014. [Click image to fade - javascript required] #

    Lt. Handford/IWM, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images Read more

  • 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 - javascript required] #

    Galerie Bilderwelt, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images Read more

  • American troops stand by 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 - javascript required] #

    MPI, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images Read more

  • 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 - javascript required] #

    US National Archives, 1944/Chris Helgren, 2013/Reuters Read more

  • 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 - javascript required] #

    Capt. J L Evans/IWM, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images Read more

  • 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 - javascript required] #

    Galerie Bilderwelt, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images Read more

  • 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 on Omaha Beach, Normandy, France. Click to see a view of the cliffs on May 6, 2014. [Click image to fade - javascript required] #

    Galerie Bilderwelt, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images Read more

  • 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 Read more

  • 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 - javascript required] #

    US National Archives, 1944/Chris Helgren, 2013/Reuters Read more

  • 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 - javascript required] #

    Frank Scherschel/Time & Life Pictures, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images Read more

  • 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 - javascript required] #

    Galerie Bilderwelt, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images Read more

  • 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 - javascript required] #

    Galerie Bilderwelt, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images Read more

  • 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 - javascript required] #

    Galerie Bilderwelt, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images Read more

  • A Canadian soldier directs traffic in front of the Notre-Dame Nativity Church, in Bernieres-sur-Mer, on June 6, 1944. Click to transition to present day, the same scene on May 5, 2014. [Click image to fade - javascript required] #

    Galerie Bilderwelt, 1944/Peter Macdiarmid, 2014/Getty Images Read more

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