D-day is a common term

That is why there is only one D-day for us. Today it is 75 years ago that the beginning of the end of the 1000 year old 'Reich' began.

And that is commemorated on an impressive scale in Normandy

As a historic day of remembrance, D-day is not an 'event', not a feast devised by great commercial marketers and thinkers. It is an honest tribute to the days that we still benefit from today.

From classical circles many people have traveled to 'the beaches'. Because classic lovers have an above average appreciation for history.

D-day is a common term

The terms D-day and H-hour are used to indicate the day and the hour on which a military operation will take place. The letters are derived from the English words: "D" for "day" and "H" for "hour". "H-Hour" is therefore translated in Dutch as hour U. The designation applies to all troops that (will) participate in the relevant action. And many of those troops used vehicles.

Of the people who have experienced D-day consciously, fewer are left

But the management of the vehicle fleet from WWII gives hope that that time will remain 'current' for us for much longer. All the more so because many owners of former WWII vehicles have not only restored their property to perfection, but also because a lot of re-enactment - irreverent 'playing war' - is being done nowadays. In re-enactment circles, situations from the war are 're-enacted' in a historically as responsible way as possible. The ambition to do that as a Waffen SS team is considerably less. But German vehicles are now welcome guests who are allowed to participate in the festive retreat.

A kind of time travel

That 'replay' is of course best with a spectacle, but the historical addition that the reconstruction, furnishing and 'playing' of a military camp, a field hospital, a transport or a workplace is often a more impressive phenomenon for the public than replaying a battle. It provides a real insight into how things were going at the time. Just like driving into the column of a 'liberated' village where many of the spectators have also done their best to look historically correct. The everywhere Asian tourists with their selfie sticks are a strange dissonance.

The history and commerce

The immediate vicinity of the landing sites have found a revenue model in D-Day. But oh well: in Lourdes it is also teeming with souvenir shops. You can still find real war memories in the form of bullet holes in facades. And in conversations with old residents. The chance that you will find an abandoned military vehicle somewhere between the bushes has fallen below zero.

But France is large and rural. And while wandering about the 'white roads' in the region you will still find many memories of that summer from 1944.

Normandy is a very beautiful part of France. It is not too far from us in terms of classic range. Take a look and realize how well Europe is doing now.

Exhibition at Musée Mémorial of Omaha Beach

Throughout the year you can learn more about the history of the invasion at 6 June 1944 at the Musée Mémorial d'Omaha Beach. An impressive collection of uniforms, archival photos, vehicles, guns and personal objects in an exhibition space of 1200 m² teaches you to better discover and understand this moment in history.