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DAY THAT CHANGED THE WORLD

D-Day’s first 24 hours captured in haunting new photos released in book marking 75th anniversary

The historic invasion marked the beginning of final phase of World War II

THE historic day that changed the world, remembered as D-Day, is captured in haunting new pictures released in a book which marks the 75th anniversary.

Images show the first 24 hours of the day when thousands of Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy in the biggest seaborne invasion in history.

British Commandos give a confident thumbs-up to a combat photographer after coming ashore on Gold
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British Commandos give a confident thumbs-up to a combat photographer after coming ashore on GoldCredit: TRH
A Churchill tank crosses a seawall in England using an ARK – Armoured Ramp Carrier bridge layer
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A Churchill tank crosses a seawall in England using an ARK – Armoured Ramp Carrier bridge layerCredit: TRH
Laden with equipment and his parachute, a soldier of the 101st Airborne Division armed with a ‘Bazooka’
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Laden with equipment and his parachute, a soldier of the 101st Airborne Division armed with a ‘Bazooka’Credit: TRH
A German crew position the camouflage net over a captured French 105 mile 1913 Schneider gun that has been sited to cover a possible landing site on the French coast
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A German crew position the camouflage net over a captured French 105 mile 1913 Schneider gun that has been sited to cover a possible landing site on the French coastCredit: TRH
Allied air attacks on coastal positions were carefully orchestrated so that they would not give any indication of where the D-Day landings would fall
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Allied air attacks on coastal positions were carefully orchestrated so that they would not give any indication of where the D-Day landings would fallCredit: TRH

The photographs have been released ahead of the 75th anniversary of the historic invasion, which marked the beginning of the final phase of World War II.

A new book describes the dramatic history of the first 24 hours of the Normandy landings and explains in detail the events that occurred in each landing zone.

Nearly 7,000 ships landed over 132,000 US, British and Canadian troops on the beaches of Normandy in the biggest amphibious landing ever attempted.

During that first day, the Allied forces were at their most vulnerable to German counterattack, as Field Marshal Rommel had realised.

Had the Germans mounted a significant attack and the landings failed as a result, the course of the war in Europe would have been significantly altered.

A massive military force led by British, American and Canadian units set out from England towards France before dawn.

They landed on five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the Normandy coastline.

The landings were the start of a fierce period of conflict in occupied Europe before the Nazis were finally defeated in May 1945.

World leaders including Donald Trump are set to attend memorial events in Normandy next month to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

The photographs have been released ahead of the 75th anniversary of the historic invasion
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The photographs have been released ahead of the 75th anniversary of the historic invasionCredit: TRH
An armoured machine gun and observation post on the Atlantic Wall
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An armoured machine gun and observation post on the Atlantic WallCredit: TRH
Men and equipment are off-loaded from a US landing craft on a beach in Devon during a D-Day training exercise
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Men and equipment are off-loaded from a US landing craft on a beach in Devon during a D-Day training exerciseCredit: TRH
US soldiers dash ashore from a landing craft in a training area in southern England
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US soldiers dash ashore from a landing craft in a training area in southern EnglandCredit: TRH
Following the Allied landings in June 1944, many men who had been uncommitted joined the Resistance, forming groups like this one in a French courtyard
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Following the Allied landings in June 1944, many men who had been uncommitted joined the Resistance, forming groups like this one in a French courtyardCredit: TRH
Cradling his Bren Light Machine Gun, a member of the French Resistance strikes a pose after D-Day
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Cradling his Bren Light Machine Gun, a member of the French Resistance strikes a pose after D-DayCredit: TRH
American Army Air Force B-17s drop weapons containers over a rural drop zone in France in one of the post D-Day missions
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American Army Air Force B-17s drop weapons containers over a rural drop zone in France in one of the post D-Day missionsCredit: TRH
British infantry and airborne troops examine a German anti-tank gun position after the landings
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British infantry and airborne troops examine a German anti-tank gun position after the landingsCredit: TRH
In a display of youthful bravado, US paratroopers at an airfield in England pose with shaved heads and scalp locks
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In a display of youthful bravado, US paratroopers at an airfield in England pose with shaved heads and scalp locksCredit: TRH
Pathfinder officers of the 22nd Independent Parachute Company at Harwell on June 5, standing in front of a C-47 waiting to take them to France
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Pathfinder officers of the 22nd Independent Parachute Company at Harwell on June 5, standing in front of a C-47 waiting to take them to FranceCredit: TRH
Airborne troops dig in with a pickaxe at the edge of the Ranville LZ where 250 gliders landed, bringing light artillery, armoured vehicles and much needed reinforcements for the 6th Airborne Division
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Airborne troops dig in with a pickaxe at the edge of the Ranville LZ where 250 gliders landed, bringing light artillery, armoured vehicles and much needed reinforcements for the 6th Airborne DivisionCredit: TRH
Men of a follow-up wave landing observe the Omaha coastline with the bluffs close to the seashore
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Men of a follow-up wave landing observe the Omaha coastline with the bluffs close to the seashoreCredit: TRH
Troops wade ashore waist-deep in water on Omaha Beach
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Troops wade ashore waist-deep in water on Omaha BeachCredit: TRH
The enormous size and strength of some of the positions of the Atlantic wall can be seen in this captured gun position
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The enormous size and strength of some of the positions of the Atlantic wall can be seen in this captured gun positionCredit: TRH
Soldiers hunch behind an AVRE taking cover from machine gun fire as in the background an M10 tank destroyer known in British service as a ‘Wolverine’ swings its turret to engage a bunker
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Soldiers hunch behind an AVRE taking cover from machine gun fire as in the background an M10 tank destroyer known in British service as a ‘Wolverine’ swings its turret to engage a bunkerCredit: TRH
D Day: The First 24 Hours by Will Fowler is a new photography book released in 2019 for the 75th anniversary
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D Day: The First 24 Hours by Will Fowler is a new photography book released in 2019 for the 75th anniversaryCredit: TRH
D-Day footage shows extraordinary bravery of Allied soldiers who took part in WWII Normandy landings

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