Enter the Normandy Exhibition through the Landing Craft

D-Day
On D-Day, 6 June 1944, the Allies landed in Normandy, Northern France in one of the biggest combined military operations ever attempted. The aim was to open up a 'Second Front' in North West Europe.

Landing Craft moored at Southampton. (Neg. No.: A23731)

American, British, Canadian and other naval and air forces co-operated to land over 150,000 men and many tons of vehicles and equipment. Although some of the landings resulted in heavy Allied losses, D-Day was largely a success.

• See part of PLUTO - the Pipe Line Under the Ocean - and read about the huge planning and preparation behind D-Day
• Get an impression of the sights, sounds and experiences of D-Day on a reconstructed Landing Craft
• Hear the voices of the men who took part

The Battle for Normandy

British soldier helping an elderly woman through the ruins of Caen. Although the city's inhabitants were advised to evacuate, many older citizens chose to stay. (Neg. No.: B6794)

As soon as the Allies had established a beachhead after the D-Day landings, they pushed inland because they wanted to pull the German Army into a decisive battle. The Allies made slow progress until the Americans broke out of their western positions and joined forces with the British and Canadians in the east. This forced the Germans to withdraw from Normandy and allowed the Allies to cross the River Seine as planned.

• Watch a video explaining the whole story of the 'Second Front', from D-Day to victory
• Learn about the experience of the ordinary infantryman in Normandy
• See the effect the Battle had on the French in a specially built Normandy farmhouse setting
• See a German Hetzer Tank Destroyer and find out more about the Allies and their enemy in the bocage.

The Components of an Army
After the Battle of Normandy, the Allies advanced through the Netherlands, Belgium and finally into Germany. At times, progress was very slow and they suffered a number of major setbacks against the German Army. But victory finally came when the British and Americans entered Berlin in May 1945 and met up with the Russians, who had come from the east. The war in North West Europe, spanning almost 12 months, involved a huge Allied Army. All the different components of this army, of many different nationalities, played a vital part:

Airborne Forces	Medical
Armour	Reconnaissance
Artillery	Recovery
Communications	Royal Engineers
Infantry	Supply

• See a large range of the vehicles involved in the war in North West Europe
• Experience 'hands-on' what a typical Allied soldier carried - their pack and weapons
• See fascinating photographs, documents, film and objects from the Imperial War Museum's collection of North West Europe material
• Learn about the secret Special Operations Executive in France

The Normandy Experience is a permanent display and is included in the price of your ticket.