This year marks the 70th anniversary of D-Day — June 6, 1944 — the historic date when Allied forces invaded France during World War II to begin the liberation of Europe from Nazi rule.
To commemorate the event, several networks will feature specials about the massive — and deadly — operation that ultimately served as the beginning of the end for the Third Reich. Along with documentaries and movies, you can likely expect news networks to feature coverage of the D-Day 70th anniversary ceremonies taking place in France, and featuring a number of world leaders. We will update news coverage as networks announce their plans.
D-Day 70th Anniversary Programming (All Times ET)
D-Day 360 — May 27 at 9pm; June 2 at 9pm; June 3 at 8pm on PBS (check local listings). This film looks at the huge logistical effort of D-Day. On the invasion day itself, 3,000 planes dropped 23,000 airborne troops behind German lines, and 7,000 ships delivered around 20,000 military vehicles and 130,000 soldiers onto the beaches. Once on the shore, troops had to negotiate 2 million mines buried in the sand, 46,000 fearsome beach obstacles and hundreds of miles of barbed wire — all while dodging shells and bullets fired by 40,000 German defenders. D-Day 360 uses LiDAR technology to re-create the landscape and allow viewers to switch between the macro and the micro, pulling back for the big picture and zooming in to a close-up of a single soldier on the battlefield.
NOVA: “D-Day’s Sunken Secrets” — May 28 at 9pm; June 4 at 9pm on PBS (check local listings). Teams of historians, archaeologists and specialists use submersibles, underwater robots and the latest 3D mapping tools to discover, identify and plot the relics on the sea floor off the Normandy beaches — one of the world’s largest underwater archaeological sites. Along with following these experts, this episode also highlights the story of an often neglected group of heroes essential to the success of the D-Day invasion and to winning the war: the engineers.
D-Day Sacrifice — June 4 at 9pm & 10pm on NGC. This two-part special (divided into episodes called “The Landings” and “Battle of Normandy”) explores in-depth the 80 days between the D-Day landings and the liberation of Paris, during which an estimated 400,000 people were killed or injured. Told through the stories of the civilians, soldiers and leaders, this special says it will be one of the most comprehensive retellings of the D-Day story to date.
CBS Evening News Coverage — June 5 at 6:30pm. Mark Phillips reports on a “living memory” history project where high school students from 15 schools around the world meet with veterans on Utah Beach to talk with them about what it was like to be there.
TODAY — June 6 at 7am on NBC. The morning show will feature contributions from the team in Normany, including Tom Brokaw’s profiles of members of the greatest generation who fought in the armed services. On June 6, TODAY will highlight key moments from the memorial ceremonies, including remarks by President Obama.
NBC Nightly News –– June 5-6 at 6pm on NBC. For two nights, Brian Williams will anchor NBC Nightly News from the site of the American cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach.
FOX News Channel coverage — June 6, throughout the day. FNC will air special coverage of the D-Day 70th anniversary throughout the day on June 6. Chief White House Correspondent Ed Henry will be traveling with President Obama and will provide coverage of the official U.S. commemoration of D-Day at Omaha Beach in Normandy. Correspondent Amy Kellogg will also contribute to the day’s coverage from London.
Modern Marvels: “D-Day Tech” — June 6 at 7am on History. A look at the scientific and mechanical breakthroughs used to breach Fortress Europe on D-Day.
Heavy Metal: “Machines of D-Day” — June 6 at 8am on History. Archival film, and color reenactments, are used to explore the hardware used in Operation Overlord on D-Day.
Band of Brothers — June 6 from 9am-8pm on HBO Signature. HBO Signature encores all 10 episodes of the acclaimed 2001 series that tells the story of Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, U.S. Army, including their parachuting into France early on D-Day morning.
CBS News Coverage — June 6 at 6:30pm. Mark Phillips and Bill Plante provide coverage from Normandy. Plante covers President Obama’s speech, with Phillips reporting on the ceremony.
D-Day in 3D — June 6 at 8pm on American Heroes Channel. Discovery how “3D” photography was a key to D-Day’s success. The futuristic technology mapped every inch of the Nazi defenses, allowing the Allies to executive the greatest invasion in history.
Brian Williams Reporting: Journey to Normandy — June 6 at 8pm on NBC. NBC News’ Brian Williams tells the stories of World War II veterans as they make their emotional return to Normandy. Throughout the hour, viewers will learn about each man’s experience on D-Day and follow their journeys back, where they face haunting memories of the war, honor the friends they lost and try to find answers to decades-old questions. Williams will also speak with President Obama in an exclusive interview, with the conversation discussing the historic event as well as othe pressing news of the day.
D-Day in HD — June 6 and 7 at 9pm on History; June 8 and 9 at 9pm on H2. This two-night special presents rare footage of D-Day rendered in high definition, and combines it with interviews from the men who lived through it. Allied and German survivors tell their first-hand stories about the war that changed the course of the world.
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D-Day Sacrifice: Credit NARA
NOVA: D-Day’s Sunken Secrets: Courtesy of MCA/Nicolas Job