‘D-Day: The Unheard Tapes’ Relives the 80 Year Anniversary of the Invasion of Normandy

It has been 80 years since June 6, 1944 — the historic “D-Day” when Allied forces began their invasion of Nazi-held Western Europe during World War II, an operation that ultimately altered the outcome of the conflict. The brutal battles that ensued as the Allies fought their way inland into France from the beaches of Normandy have been chronicled in numerous books, documentaries and movies over the decades, but there are still things to see, hear and learn about that event that may be new to many, even history/war buffs.

Some of that material is found in History’s documentary event D-Day: The Unheard Tapes. The two-part special (both parts airing on the evening of  Thursday, June 6, 2024, the 80th anniversary of the invasion) tells the story of D-Day as it was lived on the ground, drawing from a trove of original recorded interviews with British, American and German soldiers, and French eyewitnesses.

The HISTORY Channel/A+E Networks

The extraordinary spoken testimonies have been sourced from museums, university archives and private collections, and include discoveries of material never previously digitized or heard publicly. They recall moments of bravery and fear, strategy, chaos and split-second decision-making, their memories taking us through the invasion as it unfolded.

According to History, the special adopts “an innovative new approach,” with these first-person audio interviews given new life by a cast of young actors lip-syncing in documentary settings, combined with archival footage and immersive documentary-style re-creations.

D-Day: The Unheard Tapes airs Thursday, June 6, 2024, at 8pm ET on HISTORY