Considered a turning point in the Second World War, Operation Overlord saw thousands killed and injured after it launched on June 6 1944.
READ MORE: Queen and world leaders to join veterans to mark 75 years since D-Day landings
The invasion began late before dawn on June 6, when US and British airborne divisions dropped into occupied Normandy to secure the flanks of the assault zone.
Continued bombings and a naval bombardment of German coastal defences softened the resistance before thousands of soldiers stormed five beaches, codenamed Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha and Utah.
British and Canadian forces took the first three, US forces the other two.
Figures vary as to the number of Allied dead on D-Day, with estimates ranging from 4,000 to 10,000 Allied soldiers killed that day, including 2,500 American, 1,641 British, 359 Canadian.
READ MORE: Theresa May urges need for Western unity as she marks 75th anniversary of D-Day landings
As world leaders gathered in Portsmouth to commemorate those who made the ultimate sacrifice, looked back at how The Herald initially reported the invasion.
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