Over 4,300 Vintage Photos From the Invasion of Normandy Are Available Online

Normandy WWII Archive

A LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel) from the U.S. Coast Guard-manned USS Samuel Chase disembarks troops of Company E, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division (the Big Red One) wading onto the Fox Green section of Omaha Beach (Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France) on the morning of June 6, 1944. This photo, by Robert F. Sargent, is known as ‘Into the Jaws of Death.” (Photo: Conseil Régional de Basse-Normandie / National Archives USA)

Launched on June 6 with D-Day, the Normandy Invasion lasted throughout the summer of 1944, as Allied troops liberated all of northern France. Now, in order to make information about the Invasion more accessible, the PhotosNormandie Flickr account has over 4,300 archival images from D-Day to August 1944 available in one location.

From iconic images like Into the Jaws of Death by Robert F. Sargent to troops interacting with locals as they liberate areas of Normandy, the vast archive is an excellent way to get a feel for the magnitude of the operation. The online resource pools together images from both the US and Canadian National Archives, as well as local institutions such as the library of Cherbourg-Octeville.

The project began on the 60th anniversary of D-Day, as a way to crowdsource descriptions of images on the now-defunct Archives Normandie, 1939-1945. Thus, users are encouraged to comment on photos if they are able to improve descriptions, locations, and identifications. This independent organization now makes it possible to see the often harrowing, sometimes touching, images of this complex time in world history.

PhotosNormandie has over 4,300 archival images documenting the Normandy Invasion from June to August 1944. Volunteers continue to add to the collection as new materials become available.

Normandy DDay Archive

Pfc Joseph E. Day (of Belloire, Ohio) holds a puppy named “Invasion” in a German helmet. Photo taken on July 14, 1944.

Normandy Archive

Two GIs read a pro-American sign on the front of a home. Originally published on July 11, 1944 in The Newburg News N.Y. (Photo: Conseil Régional de Basse-Normandie / National Archives USA)

Normandy Archive

Four sailors from the U.S. Navy with the letters to spell H.E.L.L. shaved into their heads. (Conseil Régional de Basse-Normandie / National Archives USA)

DDay online archive

Aboard a LCVP (or Higgins boat), heading toward Omaha Beach. Photo by Robert F. Sargent of the US Coast Guard. (Photo: Conseil Régional de Basse-Normandie / National Archives USA)

Normandy online Archive

Nurses help an injured paratrooper get into a hospital LCVP on Utah Beach. (Photo: Conseil Régional de Basse-Normandie / National Archives USA)

Normandy WWII Archive

American GIs survey the damage in Argentan, a small town in Normandy which was almost completely destroyed during fighting following the Allied Invasion. The city was liberated on August 20, 1944 by American troops. (Photo: Conseil Régional de Basse-Normandie / National Archives USA)

Normandy Archive

Actors dressed as cowboys as part of the Canadian Army Invasion Revue in Banville on July 30, 1944. (Photo: Conseil Régional de Basse-Normandie / National Archives of Canada)

Normandy Archive

Paule M. Truffert among civilians in Cherbourg. According to LIFE, she was the only girl in town who spoke English. Image dates to circa July 14, 1944. (Photo: Google Cultural Institute)

Normandy Archive

Two veterans with their decorations, on July 14, 1944 in Cherbourg, the helmeted veteran on the right wears a passive defense armband. (Photo: Collection of Rodger Hamilton)

Normandy Archive

June 6, 1944. Canadian troops and equipment on Nan White Beach in Bernières sur Mer. (Photo: Conseil Régional de Basse-Normandie / National Archives of Canada)

Normandy Archive

A line of civilians in front of the Omnia theater, as a policeman keeps the crowd on the sidewalk. Taken on July 4, 1944 during a charity gala for the victims of Cherbourg. (Photo: Conseil Régional de Basse-Normandie / National Archives USA)

Normandy WWII Archive

On July 31, 1944, four GIs inspect German armored vehicles neutralized on the side of the road. In the foreground a corpse of a German soldier and another between the two armored vehicles. (Photo: Conseil Régional de Basse-Normandie / National Archives USA)

Normandy WWII Archive

This picture was taken during the liberation of Mantes, on August 19, 1944 at the end of the morning. The German soldier is a motorcyclist who was wounded at 11 am and was recovered by an American patrol which crossed the Seine with the aid of a boat. The US officer who gives the casualty a drink is Lieutenant Stockridge Bacchus (A Company of the 314th Inf., 79th US Inf. Div), behind the wounded is Sergeant Harril (front) who opened fire and Injured the motorcyclist. (Photo: Conseil Régional de Basse-Normandie / National Archives USA)

Normandy DDay Archive

During the Liberation of Lower Normandy during the summer of 1944. An American GI uses his M1 rifle as a support for his pocket mirror, which he uses to shave.

Normandy WWII Archive

At the Lison crossing. (Photo: Collection of Rodger Hamilton)

Normandy DDay Archive

Sergeant L. Desrosiers of the Chaudière Regiment looks at the damage of the battle with Marie Lesage, a resident of the village of Rots.

Normandy WWII Archive

On August 20, 1944, a group of soldiers of the I Coy, 3 / 318th, in the ruins in front of the German placement office (STO recruitment office)- The Infantry Regiment of the 80th US Infantry Division is grouped around the Tec. 5 H.C. Medley playing the accordion; The rightmost soldier would be Jackson R. Thomas.These soldiers liberated Argentan on August 20, 1944. (Photo: Conseil Régional de Basse-Normandie / National Archives USA)

Normandy DDay Archive

An American tank at La Vauterie, hamlet of Saint-Fromond. (Photo: Conseil Régional de Basse-Normandie / National Archives USA)

Normandy DDay Archive

A woman stretches to give a bottle of water to a member of the 4th US Armored Division as they cross Le Repas, commune of Folligny, on July 31, 1944. (Photo: Conseil Régional de Basse-Normandie / National Archives USA)

Normandy DDay Archive

Members of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, Sergeant T.F Mc Feat and Private J. Viner, administer plasma to a victim.

PhotosNormandie: Flickr

All images and captions (adapted from French) via PhotosNormandie.

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Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart is a Contributing Writer and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. Since 2020, she is also one of the co-hosts of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. She earned her MA in Renaissance Studies from University College London and now lives in Rome, Italy. She cultivated expertise in street art which led to the purchase of her photographic archive by the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia in 2014. When she’s not spending time with her three dogs, she also manages the studio of a successful street artist. In 2013, she authored the book 'Street Art Stories Roma' and most recently contributed to 'Crossroads: A Glimpse Into the Life of Alice Pasquini'. You can follow her adventures online at @romephotoblog.
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