75 years of D-Day: "A present of historical past"

In 1944, tons of of hundreds of troopers left Portsmouth for Normandy. For the anniversary, those that spoke at the moment went to struggle - even those that might now not return.

By Thomas Spickhofen, ARD Studio London

A commemoration ceremony with boogie and dance performances, with theatrical scenes and movie credit: the British hosts in Portsmouth managed a exceptional stability between drama, tragedy and zeitgeist of these days in 1944. "From that second on, tons of of hundreds have left this coast for the reason for freedom, "says Queen Elizabeth II.

An "indestructible" technology

The queen herself was 18, so she continues to be one of many up to date witnesses, in the meantime she is 93 years previous:

"After I attended the 60th anniversary celebrations, some thought it was the final time."

However his technology in wartime is indestructible, provides the Queen, who doesn't see the time to be again in Portsmouth that day.

Need and sense of obligation

16 levels and cloudy skies: that is the way it was 75 years in the past, when 130,00zero allied troopers with hundreds of ships left the south coast of England to struggle Hitler's Germany in Normandy.

Prime Minister Theresa Could reads from a letter from a soldier, a younger father of two daughters, to his spouse:

"We each had fantastic years that appear to have ended on the pace of sunshine, my ideas are with you now, I think about Janey and Anne ingesting tea within the backyard and getting ready them for mattress, although I've every little thing I don't need to make a step again from the duty now we have to do. "

"It's tough to face loss of life"

Two days after touchdown, this soldier had fallen. It was additionally a shifting second when French President Emmanuel Macron quoted from a letter from a French resistance fighter shortly earlier than his execution - when the boy was 16:

"Don't fear about me, I will probably be courageous and I'll preserve my humor to the tip. My handwriting may appear stressed, however it's only as a result of the pencil is so small that it's tough to face loss of life within the face Kisses, lengthy dwell France."

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D-Day: touchdown in Normandy

The touchdown of the Allied forces in Normandy on 6 June 1944 was a decisive step in the direction of the liberation of France and Western Europe from Nazi rule. The picture reveals US troopers advancing from a touchdown boat in the direction of Omaha Seaside close to town of Vierville-sur-Mer. On the Tehran convention, in November-December 1943, the heads of presidency of the three predominant allies of the anti-Hitler coalition - US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet chief Josef Stalin - had selected an & # 39; whole offensive in opposition to Nazi Germany, The Normandy touchdown was the prelude to the ultimate section of liberation. | Supply: REUTERS

16 nations within the struggle in opposition to Hitler Germany

16 nations had gathered in Portsmouth: the allies of that point and their enemy, Germany. Chancellor Angela Merkel praised the reconciliation in Europe and the peace introduced by the post-war order.

"Being a German chancellor at this time means we will work collectively for peace and freedom at this time - a present from historical past that must be protected and cultivated".

Tomorrow, on the day of disembarking in Normandy, one other main occasion is scheduled to commemorate at the present time.

Tagesschau24 reported on this matter at 5:00 pm on June 5, 2019.