This week in KS3 History, students have been looking at the key causes and consequences of the D-Day landings, which took place eighty years ago on 6th June 1944.
In lessons students started by considering the context of 1944 – how Western Europe was occupied by Nazi Germany and how the Allies planned to build on the momentum achieved through 1943 by starting the process of liberating France. The Normandy landings would prove to be the largest seaborne invasion in history, with over 150,000 Allied troops crossing the English Channel to take Northern France.
Students looked at the invasion plan for the 6th June – how the Allies used elaborate deceptions to prevent the Nazis from determining the timing and location of the invasion, and how ground troops would land across five assault beaches – Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. By the end of the 6th June, the Allies had established a foothold right across the coast and were ready to advance further into France.
Students also looked at the commemorative events planned for D-Day and how King Charles III planned to mark the anniversary with other world leaders. They also reflected on why it is so important to remember the sacrifices that people made in World War Two, to protect our British Values of Democracy and the Rule of Law against Nazi tyranny.
