Issued to mark the 80th Anniversary of D-Day in 2024, this five-stamp set proudly commemorates one of the most significant military operations of the Second World War and the largest seaborne invasion in history.
Almost 160,000 troops crossed the English Channel on D-Day, with 875,000 men disembarking by the end of June.
D-Day is widely acknowledged as the turning point in the Allied forces’ battle against German domination in Europe, beginning with the Liberation of Paris.
This set contains five stamps mounted in a presentation pack titled 'D-Day 80 - The Road to Paris. Featured in the set are:
Omaha Beach and Sword Beach Landings
Omaha and Sword Beaches were two of the five landing beaches targeted in Normandy by Allied forces with American troops assigned to Omaha. Facing heavily fortified German defenses they encountered intense resistance and mass casualties but, despite this, eventually breached the German defenses and advanced inland.
The British forces landed on Sword Beach with objectives to secure the beach, capture key positions, and advance towards the strategic city of Caen. They also faced fierce resistance but pushed forward to cross the Caen Canal.
Glider at Pegasus Bridge
In the dark hours before the beach landings, British paratroopers and glider-borne troops were tasked with securing key objectives behind enemy lines including capturing vital bridges such as the Benouville Bridge over the Caen Canel, later renamed Pegasus Bridge in honour of the operation.
News reaches home
As dawn broke on June 6, 1944, families across the Allied nations waited anxiously for news. Early in the morning, radio stations began to interrupt regular programming with urgent news bulletins. Announcers reported that Allied forces, comprising American, British, Canadian, and other Allied troops, had landed on the beaches of Normandy. The reports were filled with a mix of optimism and caution, reflecting both the daring nature of the operation and the immense risks involved.
Liberation of Paris
By late August 1944 the Allies had reached the outskirts of Paris. The French Resistance played a crucial role in aiding the Allied forces by conducting acts of sabotage against the German occupiers.
On 25th August 1944, Paris was officially liberated as General Charles de Gaulle, leader of the Free French Forces, led a triumphant march into the city.
