40 Rarely Seen Photos That Capture What D-Day Was Really Like

It’s June 6, 1944. A military vessel lurches to a halt on the shores of northern France. To the tune of distant gunfire, men spill out into the shallow waters. And so begins the largest amphibious invasion the world has ever seen: D-Day. Eventually, more than 150,000 troops would pour across the English Channel to confront the German occupiers in Normandy and beyond. No, it wasn’t a pretty sight. But it was a devastating spectacle – as these 40 photos will prove.

40. On the march

If it weren’t for the sea of soldiers, this would be quite a picturesque French scene. But there’s no ignoring the reality of the situation here. Men of Britain’s 50th Infantry Division have just landed on Gold Beach, and they mean business. They’re heading to a village called Crépon, where they will force the Germans to retreat southwards. After that, the Brits will continue their advance through the Normandy countryside – and onwards to victory.

39. Forty winks in a foxhole

This G.I. enjoys some shut-eye in his cramped foxhole. It’s hard to tell, but are those boots his, or those of a buddy crammed into the dugout with him? There are certainly two sets of kit visible. Either way, it seems no chances are being taken. Just look at the two pairs of hand grenades on the edge of this makeshift bunker!

38. Arriving on Juno Beach

The tide is out, which probably makes things a little easier for these Canadian soldiers as they trudge across the sands at Juno Beach, one of the five main D-Day landing areas. The seaside town in the background is Bernières-sur-Mer – in more peaceful times a popular coastal resort. And as you can see, no weapons are drawn. That’s because the first troops to get to Juno at 6:30 a.m. had met only fairly flimsy German defenses. 

37. Straight into danger

This iconic image is appropriately captioned "Into the Jaws of Death." It was taken by Chief Photographer’s Mate Robert F. Sargent and, quite rightly, went on to become one of the most widely shared photos of the D-Day landings. It shows troops of the U.S. Army First Infantry Division storming ashore from their landing craft at Omaha Beach. They were met by fierce machine-gun fire but still pushed the Germans back from their defensive positions.