06/06/2026
On June 6, 1944, Allied forces dropped 23,000 airborne troops behind enemy lines while another 130,000 soldiers and 20,000 military vehicles arrived via ship onto the beaches of Normandy. D-Day changed the trajectory of World War II, and we commemorate the 82nd anniversary of D-Day in honor of all those who were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice on this momentous day. The Wisconsin Historical Society, PBS Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs collaborated to document the stories of some of Wisconsin's WWII veterans in their 5-part "Wisconsin World War II Stories" saga. Part 1 of this series features several Wisconsin veterans as they recount their experience as part of D-Day operations; I have linked this episode below, and encourage you to check it out.
Wisconsin vets share stories of the fight against tyranny in Europe during WWII.