Although German forces believed an invasion wouldn’t happen on the foggy morning of June 6, 1944, “Operation Overlord” was underway. Soldiers landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, at the direction of General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Thousands of men took part in the battle, which was a turning point in World War II. What does the D stand for in “D-Day“? It is unclear, but Eisenhower once said it was short for “departed date.”