June 6 is the anniversary of D-Day, the World War II invasion to free Europe from Nazi occupation and rule. Troops from the United States, England, and Canada assaulted five invasion beaches in Normandy, France from the sea and air. Those forces were joined by contingents from Poland, Czechoslovakia, Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands that escaped prior to the German occupation of their countries. Civilians of the French underground provided intelligence and disrupted German communications and transport in the lead up to the battle.

That is the backdrop for these photos from a Normandy visit in 2017. (Click to enlarge)

Normandy Invasion beaches
German observation post at Pointe du hoc
A german bunker at Pointe du Hoc, Normandy
Site on Omaha Beach where the first WWII American cemetery in France was established on D-Day at Vierville-sur-Mer.
Normandy American Cemetery Coleville-sur-Mer,