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The D-Day landings of 6 June 1944 was the largest seaborne invasion in history. Along with the associated airborne operations, it marked the beginning of the liberation of France and western Europe.

As a mark of respect, on Thursday 6 June, at 11.00am, Marshall Motor Group colleagues are invited to remember the sacrifices made by troops during the historic military operation and observe a two minute silence to mark the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Participating in the two minutes silence is a personal decision, and would ask that all colleagues and customers respect each other’s decision in this matter.

In commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day, we pay homage to the resilience and fortitude of the British veterans who played a crucial role in this pivotal moment of the Second World War. The invasion claimed the lives of thousands of allied soldiers. These brave men and women - many just teenagers - left their families and their futures behind to liberate Western Europe from the grip of the Nazis. We must remember the sacrifices they made.

Unprecedented coordination between Allied nations, and the intensive planning of engineers, meteorologists, logisticians and countless more, led to a force from 13 countries approaching Normandy in a 5000-vessel armada.

In the early hours of D-Day, 24,000 paratroopers and glider-borne troops landed behind German lines to provide tactical support. Massive naval and aerial bombardments attempted to supress the German defences and weaponry. Then a ground force of more than 130,000 troops came ashore on five beaches across a 50-mile stretch of Normandy coast, with the first waves often facing intact defences. By the end of D-Day there had been 10,000 allied casualties. Yet this was only the beginning. The ensuing Battle of Normandy was to last into August and cost tens of thousands of lives as it defeated and repulsed the occupying German forces eastwards. It was a decisive success for the Allies and paved the way for the liberation of much of north west Europe.

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