Seventy-five years ago, the Allied powers in World War II decided to take the fight against Adolf Hitler directly to France. Planned for more than two years, the D-Day offensive was a full-scale invasion designed to push the Nazis back into Germany. No amphibious mission of its size had ever been attempted.

The epic D-Day offensive ended in Allied victory, but it was a shocking, hard-fought mission that did not always go to plan. 

Explore how the battle unfolded in our interactive timeline of the day. 

D-Day Interactive on HISTORY.com