National Geographic
Drain the Oceans - Secrets of D-Day: The Great Invasion
Disney+

The video explores the D-Day landings at Normandy, focusing on the events of June 6, 1944, when Allied forces invaded German-occupied France. It highlights the strategic planning that led to the invasion, including the successful deception tactics that misled German forces about the landing sites. The narrative contrasts the relatively successful landings at Utah Beach with the devastating losses at Omaha Beach, where American troops faced fierce German defenses. Underwater surveys reveal sunken military vehicles, including M7 Priest Guns that never reached the beach due to drifting into a minefield. The video also examines the wreck of LCI-85, which was destroyed while trying to land reinforcements, and the wreck of HMS Lawford, which was likely sunk by a German glide bomb. As the Allies secured the beaches, they faced ongoing threats, including the sinking of LST 496 by oyster mines. The discoveries made through underwater surveys provide new insights into the challenges and sacrifices of D-Day, emphasizing the human cost of the invasion and the importance of these findings in understanding this pivotal moment in history.