Part 2 D-Day 70

Arromanches on the coast of Normandy. It is a glorious day. We

are remembering the events of 70 years ago, on D-Day, when the Allied

invasion of Europe changed the course of the Second World War. On

that first day, more than 130,000 troops came ashore on five of these

enormous beaches along a 50 mile stretch of this coastline, 25 of

them -- 25,000 of them right here, at Gold Beach. This week, Normandy

that is on their families, in their thousands, have returned to France

for this 70th anniversary, to honour the servicemen, thousands of them,

who never returned home because their graves are here Normandy. The

commemorations started here this morning in Bayeux. That is where the

Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall joined veterans for a

service at Bayeux Cathedral. One of the high points of the service was

when the Prince of Wales was invited to dedicate a new bell which has

been installed in the Cathedral at Bayeux.

Your royal Highness, which name do you want to give to this bell?

Terese Benedicte. That was at Bayeux Cathedral. Not

far away from there, Bayeux War Cemetery. The Queen was there, as

was the Prime Minister of France, and David Cameron, for the service

of remembrance. That was at Bayeux War Cemetery. After that service,

lots of nice, informal scenes, as members of the Royal Family,

including Prince Charles, really enjoyed chatting with veterans and

sharing experiences. The Queen really did take a lot of time to

chat and share a few jokes and reminiscences with veterans, as did

the Duke of Edinburgh. That was the scene in the sunshine at Bayeux

Cemetery. Over at Omaha Beach, President Obama was speaking.

God, asked one, give me guts. Whenever the world makes you

cynical, whenever you doubt that courage and goodness is possible,

stop and think of these men. They are here today, and although I know

we gave them a rousing round of applause, along with all of our

veterans of D-Day, if you can stand, please stand, if not, please raise

your hand, let us recognise your service once more. These men

sacrificed so that we might be free. They fought in hopes of a day when

we no longer need to fight. We are grateful to them!

That was earlier at Omaha Beach, applause for the words of President

Obama, and his tribute to the veterans there. This afternoon, we

have major ceremonies, which include many of the British veterans who are

here in Normandy this week. They work in Bayeux this morning, and

today, here in Arromanches, you can see the preparations already being

made for the distinguished guests, who include the Duke and Duchess of

Cambridge, and they will be joining hundreds of British veterans at the

end of today's events. Fewer veterans of course done there were

in 2004. There are elderly gentlemen and ladies, many of them very frail,

but they will be marching proudly into the main square, overlooking

Gold Beach, to start the proceedings. That is a little later.

The Normandy Veterans' Association will be formally disbanded later

this year. That is a function of age and difficulty of travelling. So,

this will be the last formal commemoration for the association in

France. That does not mean veterans will stop coming in the years to

come, but the association itself will cease to

come, but the association itself will exist. It will be an

overwhelming experience for a lot of the venture and is under families

who have come with them. We are also looking forward to the international

event on Sword Beach, which begins very shortly. Once again, Her

Majesty the Queen and President Obama will be in attendance,

together with President Hollande, Angela Merkel and President Putin of

Russia will also be there. We will be crossing over to Ouistreham

shortly for that event. Don't forget, you can get in touch with us

on Facebook or Twitter or on the live logic. And we will show you

those addresses on the screen. You have sent lots of lovely

anecdotes and tributes in. I shared some of them this morning, and I

will do my best of the day goes on to share some more with you because

they are very moving and well worth sending with a big audience. If you

want to send some more in, please do that. Dan Snow is with me. He was at

the events in Bayeux this morning. You were chatting with veterans -

what was your sense of it all? Well, I have been to a few D-Day

anniversary is, and it is the best part of my job, the thing I look

forward to much in my career each year. Bayeux was a classic example

today. Every single one of those old men and women, wearing their medals

and advertising themselves if you like, come and chat with me, they

all want to tell their story. They want the younger generations to hear

their stories. I met a guy who landed here and was shot in the lake

by a sniper before he even got to the sand. His mates dragged him up

onto the beach, and he was there until five o'clock in the morning.

Absolute agony in his leg, he said. The Australians were here as well,

in the air, in this case. A Spitfire pilot, not just at dawn, but at dusk

as well. The length of the entire D-Day landing zone, he saw a view

which most of us could not even imagine. And he did it twice, up and

back. He went back over the Channel, and he said he had never seen so

many ships. And of course, he is right, it was the largest flotilla

ever. They are all here remembering the guys who did not make it a

mother comrades they left behind a double thank you very much. We can

speak a little bit now about what is coming up. In Ouistreham this

afternoon, that is the main international event taking place

above Sword Beach. Just to remind us all, it is right at the Eastern end

of this 50 mile stretch of Normandy coastline. It is guarding the

approach to the city of Caen, vitally important, because the main

roads in the region ran through that city. Lots of world leaders will be

at the international event, city. Lots of world leaders will be

at the international and Sophie Raworth can tell us what is

happening. Good afternoon from Ouistreham, which, as you say, is

about 20 miles along the coast from Arromanches. It is of course the

most easterly beach of the invasion zone on D-Day. Welcome to this

enormous arena, which has been specially built for the occasion,

here on Sword Beach, as it was known on D-Day. This is where, 70 years

ago today, units of the British Third Entrance Fee Division, landed.

Heads of state from many different countries will be arriving shortly

to join more than 1000 D-Day veterans who have gathered here. At

least six on food and 50 of those veterans have come from Britain. All

of them now in their late 80s or 90s. There will be a ceremony which

will last an hour, including a 45 minute performance which will

include some re-enactment, some dance, right on the beach. They will

be re-enacting parts of D-Day, and the path to peace which followed

afterwards, using archive footage and performers. This of course, the

main international focus of today's 70th commemorations, and almost

certainly, the last big, international D-Day gathering of its

kind. Now, this arena which you can see filling up very fast, it is the

size of 15 football pitches. It is built to hold 7000 guests. Veterans

are allowed to bring two guests each. There are places for people

living in the towns and cities of Normandy. And they will be joined by

the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, President Obama, President Putin,

the German Chancellor, the leaders of Australia, Canada, New Zealand,

and also, the newly elected Ukrainian president, who has been

invited at the very last minute, at a personal invitation from the

French president. By the end of the day 70 years ago, almost 29,000 men

had come ashore here, most of them British. One of the soldiers who

fought his way up this beach, Ray Lord, has been talking to us about

his memories of Sword Beach on that, the longest of days.

I was 19 years old when we went across on D-Day.

I was in the 2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment.

I was a common or garden infantryman.

I thought it was a big adventure at the start, until I landed.

There was rifle fire, bullets flying about, mortar fire,

It stopped me in my tracks when I saw these wounded lads

on stretchers, waiting to come back on the ships we'd sailed in on.

But we had to leave them as they were because they were looked

The first dead body I saw was actually a German who was laid

I just glanced down, he looked like he was asleep.

They were shooting at us, we were shooting at them,

There were some dead cattle and some wounded cattle that had been

wounded by artillery fire from our side, and we had to pull

Nearly as bad as engaging the enemy, really.

I didn't like shooting people - that was it.

I knew if I didn't, they'd shoot me.

The first man I shot, he was only a lad, about the same age as me.

Heroic? No, no, we're not the heroes.

..with a white slab in front of them.

Terrible when you look out at this beach, at Sword Beach, to think of

the horrors that veterans like Ray Lord sore right here, 70 years ago.

And those of course are the men, those who did not make it up this

beach, who we will be thinking about today when we look out during the

service, the ceremony, which will take place right here, where Ray

Lord landed. Anita Rani has been talking to another veteran, who is

attending the ceremony today. He is called Bertie, and he is here with

his two grandsons. You were here on Sword Beach 70 years ago, on the

landing craft, what does it mean to be back here today? Well, it is

difficult to take it all in, because it was such a different experience.

This is really marvellous, the way the French have welcomed us and put

on this wonderful reception for us. We are most privileged. But on

D-Day, of course, you tried to put it out of your mind. When I left the

Navy in 1946, I just put it out of my mind completely. But I have been

fortunate to meet up with a shipmate, we were only 12

fortunate to meet up with a shipmate, we in the crew, and now I

meet him and he rings me up every Sunday, ten to seven, every Sunday!

How important is that camaraderie? It is so unique. We were young men

together, and we depended on each other. Well, and on singing hymns

and things like that. And you are here with three generations, your

son and your two grandsons. You are teenagers? Yes. There would have

been men slightly older than you. Yes, he was just 15 when he went out

to D-Day. What do you think about what your grandfather went through?

It is amazing, it is such a historical thing to witness. I have

been coming here for years, and every time it takes my breath away

to see all of these guys who have served our country. We are all very

proud of him, and it is great to be here with him. It is hard to

appreciate what they went through, because obviously, we have never

experienced it ourselves. You can watch as many documentaries and read

as many books, but it is not the same. Hopefully you never will

witness it, ever. that interview. Very nice to see the

young guys being interviewed. And a very telling conclusion. Dan is with

me. A telling conclusion from the granddad saying, I hope they never

will. Just underlining what he and his comrades went through. It is

nice to see that there are lots of young people here and they are

curious. People to say to me - how do you get young people interested

in history? Have you been to a castle? Go for a day out. It is

packed with young people. This beach is packed with young folk and they

are fascinated. This international event is interesting for different

reasons. We are focussing on D-Day and there are leaders there who were

not part of the Allied Forces, obviously. I'm just wondering what

we are to make, really, Dan, of when we see people, for example like

President Putin of Russia, taking his place with the other leaders. It

has been a turbulent, controversial time for him, given what is going on

in the Ukraine. What do we make? It was a very important moment at the

beginning of the liberation of Western Europe but a few days' time

will be the 70th anniversary of one of the most massive offences in the

history of the war. The operation had over 1 million Russians who

attacked the Germans in Eastern Europe. Warfare on an unimaginable

scale. Without that, the fighting here would have taken a different

turn. It is impossible to think about one than the other. It is

right that the Ukrainians and Russians are here. The Allies, from

that war-time coalition are all represented here today at D-Day. The

French military band already at work in Ouistreham. All kinds of

dignitaries and church leaders and figures are invited to this event

today. This really is the global event of the day, if you like. This

is where the world community comes together with at least 90 nations

represented. Lots of the big screens, you can see, will be part

of the visual representation of this event today, and that's starting in

a short while. While we are watching these images, Dan, it is worth

reflecting, look at the Allied Forces back, 70 years ago, the

quality of leadership then was something to behold. Today that's

worth reflecting on. There are lessons from history. One, the

quality of leadership, and two, the ways in getting strange people to

work together. Montgomery the Commander of this landing didn't see

eye-to-eye with Eisenhower but somehow they managed to make the

relationship work. Churchill himself, he was a brilliant man, but

a maverick. He had crazy ideas half the time and he worked closely with

his military commanders. There is a lesson not just about the team work

going on on the beaches between the vast array of different nations,

Americans, Brits, Canadians and many others but also, at the high levels,

getting the planning right. Not letting egos overwhelm things. There

are brilliant commanders that don't get talked about enough. Admiral

Ramsey. The Commander of the entire maritime side. He is the man who

oversaw the evacuation from Dunkirk four years before. Almost four years

to the day, what a moment that must have been for him, to oversee this

vast armada heading out to retake Western Europe. And all sorts of

other people at the top who, as I say, managed to work to the and

achieve quite remarkable results. Was Montgomery fair in anyway, when

he rather sniffly said that "Eisenhower was a nice chap but not

a soldier." ? Well, Eisenhower missed combat operations.

Montgomeried played a huge part and was badly injured.

He wasn't a combat soldier but he was a very brilliant organiser and

sometimes in your Commander and chief, that's what you need. You

don't need a mad dog on the frontline. The USA had plenty of

them. General Patton. The Germans thought he was the best Allied

Commander. He was left in Kent, so the Germans would think there would

be another invasion from Kent to the Calais area. He was furious about

that but I think secretly pleased. A nice little element of deception we

haven't touched upon. We will be talking about lots of other elements

of strategy of deception and the various things put in place but

that's part of it. I think there was something about an actor

impersonating Montgomery who turned up in Gibraltar as well to confuse

people What is amazing when you study these landings, every single -

the Germans had proved themselves such brilliant adversaries that the

Allies treated them with enormous respect. They dotted every I and

crossed every T. So much so that they focussed so much on getting

ashore here, they didn't focus so much on the next section.

That's why that following D-day it was so bloody so grim. They were

just get ashore. But once they were here they had to beat the German

army in the field. Let's look outside for a second. It

is a lovely seen here today. We are getting ready for the international

event which is just up the coast in Ouistreham but here we are, you can

see a real sense now. The fact that we have a crowd of many thousands

who have gathered. You can't see all of them on the shot. Lots are on the

beachp down to the left. Lots gathering around these landing craft

which turned up, I think four or five hours ago but they have been

popular venues for people to congregate today. On the long one we

can see there, the long platform, people keen to get on to it.

# That's as close as many of us will

get, luckily, to landing on a hostile beach. It is days like

today, especially on this stretch of beach, you need to come along and

see what the expanse is right and what it might have looked like from

out in the English Channel. You are coming along, lots of these are very

high. It must have been an extremely daunting journey to say the least No

question. Particularly in the second waves. They could see the bodies in

the first waves. Many have said - being in the second wave, the beach

was full of smoke and fire and explosions. They thought - what are

they do? And they realised it was bodies. The size of Mulberry

Harbour, these were ballasted with rubble from London. Medieval London

is out here. We are looking at bits of medieval London. They are still

there and Prom Nant and powerful reminders of what happened 70 years

ago. Let's look to see what is going on in Ouistreham. I think we are

right at the moment where some of the main guests are about to arrive.

We have lots of military contingents in place. The 70th anniversary it

says there. And the French have invested a great deal. They know how

important it is. The French have made an important

statement a few weeks ago of the importance of this 70th anners

havery. France wants to get it right T wants to show it is grateful. That

was the great theme yesterday, too. When we saw the esnrents Paris,

where the Queen was greeted with great formality, with full military

honours, at the Arc de Triomphe, France is really wanting to say

thank you. The great theme. That's what we are looking forward to, the

international event. Sophie is there for us.

SOPHIE RAWORTH: What you are look looking at now are military bands

from eight different countries. Scotland, England, Norway, Poland,

Belgium and France. We have the military band of the mar chute

regiment here taking part in proceedings. -- the military band of

the Parachute Regiment. The Queen will be the last to

arrive. President Hollande will be the

first. I'm joined by Robert hardman, the royal biographer and writer for

the Daily Mail who has spent the past week here, talking to many

investigate who are here at this ceremony today. It means an awful

lot, doesn't it? It really does, Sophie. It is very striking, when

you come back here, the extent to however many times these veterans

have been coming back, it is still raw in their mind. They are perhaps

more emotional, and happy to express emotions than when they first

started coming back here. A very great number.

The veterans, a large number of them from Britain, have made a huge

effort to be here. They are here often about large family groups.

They are proud. You don't hear them talking about the word reunion or

trip. They talk about a pilgrimage. Out of more than 1,000 veterans who

are here at Sword Beach this afternoon, around half of them are

from Great Britain, one-quarter from America, the rest from countries

like Canada. It is a very big show from Britain, isn't it? It is huge.

There have been very touching scenes in the last week on some of the

cross-Channel ferries as they have come across today at the Bayeux

cemetery. I talked to a gentleman who was on a ship that was sunk not

long after D-Day, just off this shore and the cross-channel ferry

slowed down to allow him to drop its wreath. They were happy to let the

schedule overrun so he could drop his wreath in the Channel there.

Have been sights like this all over Normandy, where individual regiments

are remembered and here is the President. Any minute now, arriving

here at this vast arena will be President Hollande. He is actually

just setting off in fact from Chateau De Benouville where they

have been having lunch. An extraordinary lunch that must have

been taking place there. Yes, of course, we have really the most

extraordinary gathering of world leaders they have seen for many

years. Often you will get the big G7 leaders gathering but you don't

often get them gathering with all these Monarchs and other royalty as

well. It is an extraordinary gathering. The protocol has been

quite something, not least, of course because President Putin is

here and meeting a lot of the leaders who he would otherwise have

been meeting at the G7, except he is not invited to that any more. So

there is very much a modern narrative in the background here.

But for the moment, obviously, it's the events of 70 years ago that are

uppermost in the mind. President Hollande on his way. It looks like

they are running slightly behind in timings. They were expecting them to

be here already by now. The ceremony was going to be starting at about

2.00pm UK time President Hollande the first to arrive. The last to

arrive, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. She was only originally

going to attend this ceremony, wasn't she? But she was very keen to

make sure that she was at Bayeux this morning, as well. The Queen has

had an extraordinary week when you think about the State Opening of

Parliament. She is in the middle of a state visit to France. But there

was no way she was going to miss the main gathering at the British

cemetery in Bayeux today. And actually President Hollande has made

a point, he says, that he organised this event, we are watching now,

this was organised here very much with the Queen in mind:. It is

partly a tribute to the Queen that we are on this stretch of the battle

front. The fact that she is in the middle of a state visit. She is very

much the centre of his attention today and tomorrow and she will, as

you say, be the last to arrive, according to protocould. I don't

think anyone would quarterly with that. The Duke of Edinburgh

obviously accompanying here as well. He did see action at World War Two.

Very much. He wasn't at D-day but he had already distinguished himself by

then, in the Mediterranean. I must tell you about the gentleman you can

see here being led along on the stage there. He is a 918-year-old

man who landed here on Sword Beach, one of the French -- he is a

91-year-old. One of the French commandos who

landed here. Huge applause for these veterans as they make their way,

slowly, on to the beach. really appreciate. They do. They are

always modest, and they always make the point that they are the lucky

ones, but nonetheless, I think it is very gratifying, after all these

years, that this is still so important to the free world. This

amazing complex here sums up the sheer scale of D-Day. This was

happening across a 50 mile battlefront, more than 150,000

people landing in the first day. More than a million people before

the end of June. If you look at these grandstands, they are, dating

1000 veterans. It is amazing, the scale of the numbers of people. And

some of the veterans have been given top place, haven't they? We saw one

American veteran accompanying President Obama as he arrived at the

lunch. A number of the veterans have joined the Queen. They have, and the

VIPs have taken them under their wing. President Obama took one

veteran in his zine and took him to lunch at the chateau with the world

leaders. Reply being a bit relaxed with their protocol today, and quite

right, too. It has to be said also, it is

incredibly hot here today, it is 26 degrees here on Sword Beach. Very,

very different to how it was on D-Day, 70 years ago, when there was

only just break in the weather which allowed the Allies to land here. It

is good to be a long, hot afternoon I think for some of these gentlemen.

Yes, I have seen a lot of medics around. There is plenty of shade, I

do not think these gentlemen will be expected to stay there all

afternoon. Let's hope not! They have got their backs to the stage, for a

start. I think as soon as the heads of state start arriving, they will

pass by here along the red carpet and take their places in front of

the veterans here. As I say, President Hollande, when he arrives,

it will be the first sign that they are all on their way. This

extraordinary stage that you can see is going to be the place where a

performance will take place this afternoon, 45 minutes long, roughly.

And it will be a mixture of performers, volunteers, 500

volunteers from Normandy who have been chosen to perform in front of

some of these veterans, as well as the world leaders. And they are

going to be on that stage re-enacting, I suppose you could

say, parts of World War II, from the occupation, through D-Day, to the

long path to victory. And then, right up to the present day, almost.

And at the end of that performance, many of those veterans will go on

stage and join some of the performers out on Sword Beach. Yes,

this event has a deliberate international flavour. What we saw

earlier and what we will see later on today in Arromanches, that is

very much a British event come with a British flavour, organised by the

Normandy Veterans' Association. This one here has been organised by the

French government, and it has to incorporate all strands of World War

II, including those on the other side. So it will have a think rather

a different tone to what we have seen so far. But it has certainly

got the veterans very excited. This is the chateau, where the leaders

are waiting to be driven a fairly short distance, four or five miles,

to the beach. The veterans very much soaking up the sun, some wonderful

medals on display. We also saw the commemorative medal which every

veteran returning for this anniversary receives, just to say

that they were here, and they have been very proud to have those. Most

of them also have the commemorative medals to say that they were here

for the 60th, and indeed for the 50th. These commemorations have

become an important part of their lives. When you talk to the

veterans, as you have done for the past week, I mean, I stood on Sword

Beach this morning at the exact time that the Allies came in, that those

soldiers fought their way up the beach 70 years ago, for those

veterans, those memories are so vivid, aren't they? Absolutely,

etched on their minds. I had a fascinating conversation with a

gentleman. The minute you say to them, if you would not mind, can we

just go back 70 years, and suddenly, the eyes widen and it just comes

out. I met a gentleman this morning, in Bayeux, 98 years old, and still

wearing his battle dress, he decided he was going to put it on for the

occasion. If you think what actually happened on this very beach 70 years

ago, right by the town of Ouistreham, it took 2.5 hours for

the mainly British troops to fight their way from the shore. They

landed just before 7.30 in the morning, I think... And just inland,

in the middle of the night, we had had the airborne assault on Pegasus

Bridge, just up the canal. That is just to the south of here, Major

John Howard and his men, the gliders performing this extraordinary

operation on Pegasus Bridge, the first momentous victory of D-Day,

that was going on in the early hours. So, inland from here, there

were 22,000 airborne troops inland trying to capture those strategic

positions, so that these strategic beaches, well, they were still

extremely dangerous, but they were less dangerous than they might have

been. And there was a German stronghold on this very beach,

almost where we are sitting, and that is where the commandos were

directed, to take out that stronghold. It is almost sacred

French territory, it is where the free French were involved in this

extremely dangerous assault on the casino, and on Ouistreham, and they

did capture it, but at great cost to themselves and many others. And they

had to push on. While this beach has great significance for British

troops in particular, it also has enormous resonance with the French,

doesn't it, because this is where the first regular French troops

landed in Normandy? There were 177 of them. Yes, the French commander

was given the honour. For this particular landing, it was very

clear that the French should go first, going on to their own soil.

Some of them even managed a joke as they came over on their landing

craft, saying, a one-way ticket, please, monsieur. The job was then

to join up with the sixth airborne division, at Pegasus Bridge. Yes,

they were protecting the Eastern flank, to stop the inevitable German

counterattack, Rommel's forces were not going to waste much time coming

down and trying to push the Allies back into the sea. These people,

they were holding the line, they were holding the entire Eastern

flank of the entire invasion. If this had fallen, then who knows? I

think you can glimpse our first arrivals, and this will be president

Francois Hollande, who is very much hosting the day-to-day. He will be

welcoming all the leaders and heads of government.

Francois Hollande and the French Prime Minister leading the way with

two young children. The message today very much about making sure

that D-Day is not forgotten, that it is something which is passed on to

future generations. It has been striking out a lot of

the events that there are a lot of children who have come over from

Britain. Parents must have taken their children out of school to come

and see something they will never forget. It was very touching

yesterday, there were ten children from Dorset at Pegasus Bridge,

holding up a sign saying, the young are grateful. I think there are

indeed a lot of children in the audience today. Each veteran has

been allowed to bring to guests. And here we are. President Hollande

greeting and talking to many of the veterans. They have such

extraordinary stories to tell, don't they, every one of them? Absolutely.

You really do not want to interrupt . it is very interesting watching a

lot of VIP events just running over. One gentleman apologising for not

standing up. I think we will let him do that!

And all of these men, now in their late 80s, at least, early

nineties... Yes, most of these were the young ones. And yet, it is

extraordinary how resilient some of them are. Yesterday we saw a former

paratrooper, aged 89, jumping with the Red Devils, landing at the feet

of the Prince of Wales. He stood up, put on his beret and saluted. And

you think, well, 70 years on! And there was the American veteran who

himself did jump just yesterday. Extraordinary people, although they

are so modest. We call them heroes, they say, we are not the heroes. No,

they are very quick to correct you. As Ray Lord said, the heroes are

very much the ones who did not come home, that is the way they see it.

They are very keen to make sure no one gets overlooked, and it is very

touching, even some of the smallest cemeteries, to see the little

flowers and crosses which have been freshly laid this week. I can hear

President Hollande talking about Ukraine and discussing that. Of

course, we have the new president of Ukraine here, and Vladimir Putin as

well. This veteran very much on the case, asking President Hollande, and

will be getting the first word from President Hollande, about the

meeting which has been taking place. We understand that the two

have spoken at the lunch at the chateau. And here is the president

of the Ukraine now. And so, all the VIPs, the dignitaries, the leaders,

are going to arrive. The Ukraine president was invited very much at

the last minute. He was elected at the end of May, and he has been

given a personal invitation from President Hollande, who was very

keen to make sure that he was here, taking part today. When we watched

the photocall earlier on at the chateau, he was very much in the

front row. He was, and he was very keen to shake the hand of the Queen.

It has been quite a few weeks for him, to suddenly take office and

then to be at this extraordinary gathering of world leaders. But here

he is. He will be in the front rank. Protocol applies, it is all done

according to when you took office. And as I say, we understand that

there has been a meeting. President Hollande was very keen to encourage

talks of some kind with the president of Ukraine. Is it

significant that he is the first to arrive? Well, it is protocol, but I

think it is significant, the amount of applause he is getting. I would

have thought many people have never set eyes on him before. It is a

reminder of the way the modern is juxtaposed with what happened 70

years ago. We are now going to have a succession of arrivals, from 19

different countries in total. Tony Abbott, the Prime Minister of

Australia. Eight Australian Air Force One veterans are taking part

today. On D-Day itself, 13 Australians were killed. But there

were almost 1 million men and women who served during World War II.

Although relatively few of those Australians fought here in Europe

during World War II, most of their major effort from 1942 onwards was

directed at defeating Japan. Yes, if one goes to, Wealth War Cemeteries

around the world, the contribution of Australia is all too sadly

obvious. introduce to the Queen this morning

at Bayeux, some of the Australian veterans who had made the trip.

Familiar faces. Lovely to listen to them greeting

the veterans. And as he takes his seat there right in the front row.

More arrivals now. Canada, the Prime Minister of Canada arriving.

President Harper. And of course, Canada, a huge contribution here on

D-day. Not on this very beach, although there were probably some

Canadians amongst them, but the majority of Canadians on the next

beach along. Juno Beach. The next beach to the west, an extraordinary

performance. By the end of this day, the Canadians had got further inland

than anybody else. Certainly if you go to any part of Normandy, really,

but particularly in the areas around Juno Beach and indeed around here,

you see the maple leaf everywhere. They are very much recognised here.

A lot of Canadians have come over here especially for this in the last

few days. I have seen and met so many. They made an extraordinary

effort. I met one Canadian veteran yesterday who came all the way from

Hawaii,y, where he lives now. He had a horrible fall in London on the way

through but he was patched up. Nothing would stop him. And on Juno

Beach, one beach along, terrible casualties. The first wave, 50%

casualties, the second-highest of the five beaches on D-Day. On the

beaches and inland it was bad for the Canadians. The Canadian cemetery

has the highest number of brothers. Nine sets of brothers in just one

cemetery alone. Angela Merkel arriving now. I think

I'm correct in saying this is the first time she had attended D-Day

commemorations right here in Normandy.

That's right. These major anniversary started with the 50th.

On that occasion the German Chancellor wasn't here. There was a

fairly lengthy diplomatic debate about it. But he didn't come. And

then for the 60th, Schroeder was the first. Now Angela Merkel walked to

her seat. We can't forget the German casualties on D-Day itself. Up to

10,000 Germans died. The figures are so big, no-one is entirely sure. We

do know the German cemetery, not far up the road at Caen is the largest

in Normandy. More than 20,000 in there. Ten times that number died.

And very, very clearly there, the theme of reconciliation. I don't

think anybody could dispute the fact that she is getting a very warm

well. APPLAUSE

Will I would say it was correct the work for Mr Schroeder. Time has

moved on. Now here is the President of the European Council coming up

behind her. They are starting to come in fairly fast now. Obviously

everyone has their - when you have airborne parachute drops and

flyovers, you have to keep an eye on the time. This is all meant to be

starting at 3.00pm. French time French time. You can see the

veterans very keen to greet Angela Merkel. The German Chancellor.

Everyone being very cordial. Light I think she's pleasantly surprised by

the welcome. It is setting the tone for the occasion. There is going to

be nothing triumphalist about any of this at all. Still an awful lot of

seats to fill. There is the President of the European Council.

You see behind the main VIPs, everyone has a seat for their

translator, except for one. The Queen has made it clear shep doesn't

want a translator because she -- she doesn't want a translator because

she speaks French perfectly. Here we have King Phillippe of Belgium and

his wife. He took the throne last year after the abdication of his

father. As we watch all these arrivals take place, as they make

their way along the red carpet, what do you think the veterans will make

of the ceremony this afternoon, the spectaculars, the French are calling

it, which has been a very closely-guarded secret, I have to

say Yes, it has been very hard to find out anything, except that I

think that it is going to be very French. Let's put it that way. I

think there will be a lot of "interesting" interpretation of some

of the darker sides of 20th Century history but I think given the size

and scale of it, it is going to be extremely impressive. It will

retell, in a fair amount of detail, the events that led up to D-Day, the

events afterwards, the battle for Normandy, the path to peace and as I

said earlier, very much the theme that people here are very keen to

make sure that the younger generations do not forget the

terrible sacrifice that was made by so many people And by the locals. I

think that's going to be a very strong theme One of these enormous

grandstands here is devoted entirely to people who live in this part of

Normandy. They really suffered as badly as anybody. 15,000 French

people, civilians, died during the bombing operation that led up to

D-Day. Terrible stories in and around here. There is thing King and

Queen of Holland. Lnchts king which il yem King

Willem-Alexander and his Queen. -- King Willem-Alex and de.

The veterans have all been given umbrellas.

Not surprisingly, its very hot out there. And we are told that

President Hollande will be making a speech lasting 15 minutes.

Bagpipes play Good to hear the bagpipes there.

It is said that quite a lot of people at the time were telling a

Piper to shut up because it was drawing attention to him. There is a

statue to him. Piper Bill. He was the only man I'm told, wearing a kit

on D-Day. He was orderedly Lord Lovit, to come off the landing craft

and play the bagpipes and continue until all the soldiers were on the

beach. One of the great enduring tales of D-Day. It stuck in the mind

of certainly everyone who heard the pipes that day. They have never

forgotten it. To do that under fire, quite extraordinary but then Lord

Lovitt was one of those leader of men. A great favourite of Churchill.

He was known for deer stalking and he was shooting at the enemy. It is

said that he heard via captured German soldiers later on that they

didn't fire at him as he walked up and down piping at the beach because

they thought he was just, he was crazy. They didn't shoot.

A wonderful story. Extraordinary story. He piped all the way up to

Pegasus Bridge to warm the 6th Airborne Division that they were

coming. It certainly cheered them up to know that Lovitt's men were

coming. What a hero he was. Here we Have the President of the --

here we have the President of the Czech Republic, I think.

I think we should point out that this event, 3.25, it was supposed to

start, 3.25 in France, it was suppose to start 25 minutes ago. So,

quite a lot of seats still waiting to be filled. The Kings of Holland

and Belgium. President Hollande checking they are all all right. I

think they are all reassuring him that they are just fine.

We will see the Queen later. She will be the last to arrive but she

has come to so many of these big anniversaries, the commemorations,

although not the 6 a 5th. She was here for the -- the 65th. She was

here for the 50th. I think one of the most powerful images of her

reign, she was stood on the beach at Arromanches and hundreds of

thousands of veterans marched past her. She is here today this. Means a

lot to her. Here we see President Obama leaving Chateau De Benouville.

It is just up the road. It was a maternity hospital during the war.

The Resistance used to hide people in the grounds. Today it was the

scene of the lunch. President Obama will leave, followed by the Queen

and then she will be the last to take her seat. I think it is safe to

say, it is going to be a little while before this event starts. Ah,

now, Vladimir Putin. A man who is here in the name of something like

20 million Russian... Who lost their lives. 27 million Russians, I think

in total who lost their lives to the Nazis. Vladimir Putin, who was at

the lunch. We know that he has now spoken to the new Ukrainian

President. No talks, as we understand it, have taken place

between President Obama, though. But he did, just yesterday, meet David

Cameron in the Customs area, I understand from Charles de Gaulle.

He had a meeting there in the Customs area, before going on to

meet President Hollande, who was very keen that the Russian President

attend. He was invited before the events in Crimea but then, of course

there was a questionmark over whether he would be here but there

is applause here, again, as this theme of reconciliation - people

want to make it quite clear that some things can be set aside for the

day, but as you say there has been a lot of diplomacy on the hoof. The

Prime Minister meeting him last night at Charles de Gaulle Airport

and no doubt there will be other hastily arranged bilaterals before

he goes again. The Governor General of New Zealand.

He served in the New Zealand Special Armed Service and he was also Chief

of the Defence Force. There is the Queen preparing to get in her car.

So probably about five, ten maybe minutes before we see the Queen here

on Sword Beach. Of course, minutes before we see the Queen here

on Sword Beach. Of there was a famous tussle between her father,

the late king, and Churchill, as to who was going to accompany the

Allied invasion and both had to tell the other - stay at home, it wasn't

worth the risk. But they were both here within days. George #r6 and a

few days before him, Churchill, were also on these beaches.

You can only bhadge must have been happening at this lunch in Chateau

De Benouville. Maybe they were having such intense discussion that

is there has ban delay. The protocol people were nervous about how quite

to play it with President Putin. Obviously Russia was a very

important ally and in the end, President Putin was seated between

the Queen of Denmark and the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, near the top of

the table. The Queen had pride of place between President Obama and

President Hollande. And there, the president of Italy arriving, walking

along the red carpet. The oldest head of state in Europe, who

actually fought with the partisans in Italy towards the end of the war.

And as he said very recently, in fact, he was inspired during the war

by the example of the Royal Family in Britain. The Queen visited him

just two months ago in Rome, and he mentioned that. It is a great honour

for these children, I think they are all from this town of Ouistreham,

150 of them taking part today. What a moment for them. Extraordinary,

this does not happen on your doorstep very often. There are

enormous crowds. The security is obviously very, very tight. There

are huge crowds on the perimeter, just about half a mile along the

shore, trying to get a glimpse of what is going to be taking place.

Highland Cathedral being played, which actually was composed by the

German musician. Prince Albert of Monaco. And behind him, the

president of Greece. He was among the first to join the armed

resistance during the Nazi occupation of Greece.

These huge stands, packed with journalists and photographers, as

you can see. Presenters. 1000 journalists here to cover this. It

is a hugely significant international event. Probably the

last that we will see of its kind here, certainly with so many

veterans. With so many veterans, but at the 60th, there was a valley

Victoria feel then. A lot of the speeches made it clear that people

expected it to be the last great gathering, and ten years on, I think

this could eclipse it. Angela Merkel speaking to President Putin, and we

know that she was also at this meeting, I understand, with the new

Ukrainian president. And this is the president of the Slovak Republic.

These international events have grown and grown over the years. The

first one was not even an event, ten years after D-Day, 1954, and the

President of the United States, President Eisenhower, who had been

the supreme commander on D-Day, he did not visit Normandy but he did

release a short statement. He pointedly did not visit Normandy.

But the ceremonies to mark what happened here have grown bigger and

bigger. That's right. They really started with the 40th anniversary,

memories of President Reagan. And here is the Queen. It is interesting

that as she appears on the screen, a bit of a cheer goes up. And there

she is on her way. She brought the world leaders across in the royal at

the 50th anniversary, extraordinary scenes in the Solent. And she was

also here for the 60th, obviously. That was held on the cliffs above

Arromanches, the international ceremony. This is certainly the

largest international ceremony that we have seen on these beaches, in

terms of numbers in the crowd. The grand duke of Luxembourg arriving,

with his wife. His grandfather was part of the invasion force, grand

Duke Henry himself was at Sandhurst. There is the king of Norway, King

Harald, who was a boy when Norway was invaded, and spent the war in

America, while his grandfather ran the government in exile in London.

On D-Day itself I think there were 10-11 Norwegian warships which took

part, and one of those was the first Allied vessel to be sunk. That's

right. It was right here. There was a trio of German boats which came

out to try to take on the Allied fleet, sunk one of them and made a

hasty retreat. 37 Norwegians were killed on D-Day.

The Queen of Denmark, another very long serving monarch. Recently

celebrated her 40th anniversary on the throne. She was seated next to

Vladimir Putin over lunch. I am sure she was extremely diplomatic. With

more than 40 years on the throne. APPLAUSE THE DANISH QUEEN HAS BEEN

ATTENDING A SPECIAL DANISH CEREMONY DOWN AT Utah Beach earlier today.

Earlier in Arromanches, the king of Holland was therefore a Dutch

parade. And there are of course, we cannot

see them, but there is another arena, another stand, just to the

left, which is full of people who are from Normandy. Because Normandy,

obviously, it paid a terrible price, didn't it, thousands and thousands

of civilians who were killed during the bombing? The suffering in some

of the towns, where thousands and thousands were killed, it is places

that were pretty much destroyed, and yet they have been rebuilt, and they

still turn out to thank these veterans. Here we see the royal

party arriving, I think. I do not think quite yet, I think we have got

President Obama to come. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall

arriving. Prince Charles has been taking part in a number of

ceremonies and services here. Yes, yesterday, he was at the centre of

the airborne events around the Utah bridge, and watched 300 parachutists

come in. He saw and met the men of the Sixth Airborne, who were the

first to land on D-Day. While Prince Charles and the Queen

will be here, we know that later on, Prince William and the Duke and

Duchess of Cambridge, will be in Arromanches for what promises to be

a very moving moment with the British veterans there. It will, it

always is. With the remnants of Mulberry Harbour sticking out of the

sea, and the sun going down, it is an incredibly moving backdrop. The

Prince has been there many times. He has also spent a lot of time here

with Canadian veterans as well. Obviously, as the future king of

Canada, the sacrifice on Juno Beach is one which has very correctly been

well chronicled by the royal party. As we see President Putin, next to

the president of Slovakia. Prince Charles was not at the lunch at the

chateau? He was lunching with veterans, before dropping in.

Those umbrellas firmly held in place over the heads of the veterans who

have lined up here. Because that heat is pretty intense now. So, what

will happen once President Obama and the Queen arrived is that President

Hollande will make his way out onto that podium that you can see on the

sand, and he will address the audience. And then immediately

afterwards, the performance begins. And I understand it begins with

fireworks. I think it will be quite something to behold. It includes

parachute drops. Indeed. Last night, there were various events taking

place along the coast, including firework displays. There was an

impressive display at midnight over Pegasus Bridge. And there have been

many extraordinary scenes here in the last few days. When you see

President Putin standing there, the shots of him amongst these world

leaders, this is the first time he has been here with leaders, the

first time he has met Western leaders since the crisis began. And

we have a deeply worrying situation in Ukraine, with fighting and

bloodshed on the ground, and here he is, standing for the first time with

the new president of Ukraine. We are very much seeing diplomacy taking

place right in front of us. I think in many ways, had things not

happened in Crimea, he would have been hosting a G8 summit in the last

few days in Sochi. But instead, he has been left out of the

deliberations of the G7, as it has now become again. But we now know

that discussions have taken place. Could D-Day 70 years on be a turning

point in the crisis in Ukraine? Indeed. As President Obama pulls up.

And so, President Obama about to arrive in front of the 7000 strong

audience, and no doubt he will get a very warm reception indeed. He came

here for the 65th anniversary, not long after being first elected, and

was very warmly received. President Obama's own grandfather landed on

the Normandy beaches just six weeks after D-Day. He was part of the

drive that carried the Allies across France. A lot of these leaders do

have personal connections with D-Day, with the Normandy campaign.

Prime Minister David Cameron's grandfather came

Prime Minister David Cameron's grandfather ashore here very early

on in the Normandy operation, and two days after D-Day was very badly

wounded, leading his men into action. So many of the leaders here

have stories of ancestors and loved ones who were involved. A great

reception for the president. You cannot forget the price that America

paid, the lives that they lost. 73,000 troops landed here, but so

many casualties on D-Day, particularly on Omaha Beach. Omaha

Beach, famously, was the worst of the landing beaches, the killing

ground there, where 2500 men it is thought died that morning.

Wonderful to see you. Thank you for your service.

see you, Sir, thank you so much for your service. President Putin

looking on. The two men haven't had any conversations over the last few

days. APPLAUSE

I've just been told that they did hold a very brief meeting. It wasn't

planned, but the two men have spoken. That was at the event today.

They were seated literally two or three places apart at lunch.

I think they are now aware of the big screen here showing them both

together. I think the audience are enjoying this. This is being shown

to the audience. President Obama and President Putin will be able to see

exactly what is up there, for the world to see.

Diplomacy in the making. Taking place 70 years after the landings on

Sword Beach. I'm sure Mr Hollande will be happy, if this event has

overrun run, that great world events have been taking place behind the

scenes. Even so, for some of these veterans, it is very hot and there

are lots of other events for them to go to. It is a very tight timetable.

It is getting for an hour overdue now. Well, we should see Her Majesty

the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh arriving shortly. To let you know,

that these pictures we are showing you, are being provided to us by our

French colleagues. It is very much a French occasion and they are

providing the coverage and all the pictures for us.

President Hollande making his way back to the point where the last of

the dignitaries will arrive. They have been playing a long time those

military bands, haven't they? They have been here for about three hours

now. They will be feeling the heat. I think everyone just takes the view

that given what really went on, on these beaches, a little bit of

sunshine and standing on one's feet a little longer than expected, isn't

really much to ask. There are four of these enormous -

almost like hangars, really that have been einvestigated here. Well,

they have put them up very, very - well in the last month. They will be

familiar to viewers who have taken the cross-Channel ferry that comes

in alongside this particular spot. All cross-Channel ferry traffic has

been barred from this section of the French coast today, along with most

of the traffic but security has been extraordinary. It is understandable,

I suppose, but it has caused problems for some of the veterans as

they have tried to get around. It is to be expected. A lot come here year

after year, when there isn't a big anniversary on, and drive around

wherever they like, but this year they have all had to get special

passes and security clearance. I think some of them have found it a

little stressful, as particularly some of the passes only very

recently arrived. There have been logistical problems today. I spoke

to one Normandy Veterans Association organiser this morning who suddenly

discovered ten coach loads of his victims and families had been

despatched to the American cemetery, not the British one. This things

happen. Well, this delay is learning plenty of time for some more

diplomacy. We saw Angela Merkel there, talking to Vladimir Putin.

Very important what is happening in front of us right now. I'm afraid my

lip-reading and Russian aren't great but something is being discussed, an

earnest discussion. I think we can safely say - I hope we can safely

say that any minute now the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will be

arriving. The Queen and President Hollande

will be meeting again this evening, because she is in the middle of her

state visit tonight. When all of this is over she has to get back to

Paris because there there is a state banquet at the Elysee Palace this

evening with speeches and toasts and tomorrow she has a busy day in

Paris. She has probably had the busiest week since her Diamond

Jubilee this week, with her State Opening of Parliament. She has had

to host a garden party for 8,000 people in London and then the

following day another one for 2,000 people in the British Embassy

guardens in Paris. She's going on a walk-about in the middle of Paris

tomorrow, going to see the mayor. Great excitement there. They are

even going to name a market in Paris after her. Certainly the French

media have devoted large amounts of space in recent days to the long

relationship, the long history of friendship the Queen has and

obviously as a fluent French speaker, because of her Canadian

subjects. There is a great fondness towards the Queen. And her father

came to the beaches shortly after D-Day. Yes and not only that, he

broadcast to the nation. Churchill thought it was a matter for him but

he did T he said "Our nation stood alone against an overwhelming enemy

with backs against the war. We survived the test and now once more,

a supreme test has to be faced." Powerful words which captured the

mood that day and 12 days later, here he was on these beaches. He

wanted to come sooner, didn't he? He did. Churchill said - it is not on.

And the king had to say the same to Churchill but they both didn't waste

any time coming over here and for the Queen, these are her father's

men, that she sees before her. For them, it's - we saw it this morning

at Bayeux, it matters a huge amount, you know, that the King is

represented. Here is the Queen, the Queen who was a Princess at the

time, who was growing up around all the plans for D-Day, and who would

have been just as worried as everybody else. Who knew what they

all went through and here finally comes the royal party. The Queen

spent most of World War Two in Windsor, didn't she? Windsor Castle,

she did. Towards the end of the war she was in uniform. 1945, she joined

the ATS. She was very much out and about on public engagements before

that. I'm sure she is going to get a big cheer.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE She will meet President Hollande

again today, who, as you say, is hosting her over this three-day

state visit. This obviously means a lot, as well,

to the Duke of Edinburgh. Not only did he see action during World War

Two but his uncle, Lord Mountbatten. He was involved in the early Manning

of D-Day. And the Duke himself, he wasn't here, but he certainly has

always been extremely interested, and when he talks to the veterans

here. This morning he met a veteran who served alongside him in the

Mediterranean. The Queen has met so many veterans already today. At

Bayeux this morning they were... They were all around her. I think

the protocol went a little astray. There was this wonderful sort of

throng and everyone wanted to have a picture and shake her hand. It's a

real sense that, you know, she is one of us. She is the only head of

state here who was in uniform in the war, as these gentlemen were and

there is a bond there. They are of the same generation.

David Cameron there, whose own father was on the Normandy beaches,

injured in action. His grandfather. Grandfather, rather. He was there

with the Reconnaissance Regiment, not far from here.

She really does look delighted to be here. It means an awful lot for her

to be taking part in something of - that gives so much recognition to

these veterans. Very much so. I think the 50th anniversary,

particularly, was - I think the memories of that have made it all

more special today. The memory when once she had 10,000 veterans

marching past her, and today a few hundred. But, the enthusiasm, the

warmth of the reception is just the same. Well, now that all the heads

of state and leaders of the 19 countries have finally arrived, and

are seated, on Sword Beach, the proceedings will begin. The veterans

there. The chosen few who were taken out on to the beach to greet them,

being led back to their seats. And we have here, on stage, these

military bands from eight different countries. Among them, the Military

Band of the Parachute Regiment. They, no doubt, are about to perform

again before President Hollande. That will be before President

Hollande takes to the podium. The veterans being applauded back to

their seats. Quite rightly, so, after a rather longer than

expected... Hot work for them out there but I'm sure they enjoyed

every moment. centre stage. He will, of pay

tribute today to all the men and women who helped liberate France

during the Normandy invasion. He is also expected to pay tribute to all

those who lost their lives. THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIFE HERE IN

NORMANDY ON D-DAY, because there were thousands and thousands of

civilians who were killed, French civilians, 2000 or so, just in the

city of Caen, just a few miles inland from here. And many more who

lost their lives in the Battle of Normandy, which ensued. Yes, just up

from here, in example, nine Parachute Regiment came in to land,

several of them were dropped in the wrong place and were rescued from

flooded fields by a French farmer, and the farmer and all his farm

hands were later captured and executed.

Flags from all of the nations who are attending today.

And now the military bands making their way of this stage, the great

map of Europe. That is where the performance will take place shortly.

Many of these leaders already wearing their headphones for the

translation, because during this performance, there will be quite a

lot of commentary over the events, explaining what some of the archive

footage that we showed on those big screens means.

ROBERT HARDMAN: An indication in the background of the substantial naval

presence that we have got here. British forces helping with this

ceremony. Thousands of French troops helping in various ways.

And so, President Hollande being told who the military bands were,

who have been playing for the last few hours here on the beach. And

good applause for them. It is a spectacular sight, right

here on this beach. PRESIDENT SPEAKS FRENCH.

TRANSLATION: You represent your 19 countries, all united with France in

order to celebrate reconciliation, reunion, and the tribute we must pay

to all the other truants who are here with us today. And first I wish

to welcome our veterans, because they are the living witnesses of

what happened here on the 6th of June 1944.

This ceremony of the 70th anniversary is absolutely unique

because of its magnitude. You can see for yourself that it is also

exceptional because of the extraordinary fervour it has been

creating. And it is exceptional at the very time when we are meeting

together. It is a duty of memory for all the victims, whether military or

civilian, whether Allied or also, even here, the German victims of

Nazism. But we also wish to convey a message through this ceremony

today, and flew the persons participating in this ceremony - it

is a message of peace, it is a requirement for the United Nations

that it intervenes wherever necessary for collective security.

It is a message sent to Europe, Europe at peace, after having been

the continent at war throughout the first half of the 20th-century. 70

years ago today, before this very beach, this beautiful beach,

thousands of young soldiers jumped in the water... They were 20, take

or leave a year or two, and at that time, who could ever dare say that

being 20 was the best time in life? 20 was the age of duty, the age of

commitment, the age of sacrifice. They were cold, they were afraid.

The air of today, in 1994 was obscured in the heat of battle. The

great waters which we see today were filled with the froth of the landing

barges and red and by the blood of the first fighters. What did these

young men have in mind in the face of this fear and this trial? They

surely had in mind their loving mother, they're worried father,

their childhood, which was so close in their life, which was still so

short and whose horizon was blocked by war. However, these young men in

this hail of fire did not hesitate a second, they moved forward. They

moved forward on French soil, they defied bullets and shells, they

moved forward, risking their life, in order to shatter a diabolical,

evil regime. They moved forward. And they kept moving forward to free

us, to free us at long last. Among them were the members of the Kieffer

Battalion, a small battalion of 177 brave men, who enabled France to

free France. They were headed by Philippe Kieffer, and they made up

the fourth commando of the First Special Brigade. Of 177, more than

100 would be killed or injured in Normandy. They were small in numbers

though great in value. A bit further, though much higher in

numbers, was the Third Infantry Division. They were in charge of

taking over the beach which was known as Sword Beach. Further on, we

had the Canadian troops, leading the assault, and then, further west, the

American forces led by General Bradley, which paid a heavy tribute

to Operation Overlord, when they landed on Omaha Beach. It was said

that each soldier who steps foot on the 6th of June 1944 on Omaha Beach

was a hero. Yes, all of them were heroes, all these soldiers who kept

on moving and moving forward for the sake of our freedom. We are in

Normandy. The battle which took place throughout the summer of 1944,

it was the greatest sea air battle in history, 140,000 soldiers, many,

many ships and aircraft. On the 6th of June, 3000 soldiers perished,

3000 were killed, but these soldiers coming from the sea had basically

succeeded, they had stepped foot on French soil. And on the 6th of June

1944, they started liberating France. As the sun was setting on

the longest day, a bright light of hope rose on an enslaved Europe. On

these beaches of Normandy still lingers the memory of a very harsh

and uncertain struggle, a decisive struggle. On these peaceful beaches

of Normandy still lingers the sole of the fighters who gave their lives

to free Europe. On these peaceful beaches, on these quiet beaches,

still blows, regardless of the passing of time and regardless of

the changing seasons, the wind of freedom, and it still blows today.

This is why I wish on behalf of France that the beaches of the

Allied landing be listed among the UNESCO world Heritage. Because here,

we are standing on a global Heritage site, and we want to recall the

sacred nature of these places, and we want to preserve them for ever,

and to be able to welcome new generations, which will want to

visit these places, and they will want to understand how things

happened, how their fate was actually decided on the 6th of June

1944. Veterans, survivors, they are here with us today. In the very spot

where they landed 70 years ago, where they jumped with their

parachutes, where they fought, where they struggled, where they were

wounded. On behalf of France, I want to fraternity welcome all the

veterans who are present today. Thank you, thank you for being here

in the summer of 1944, thank you for still being with us on the 6th of

June 2014. And you will still be with us here in our mind and soul,

you will always be on these beaches of the Allied landing.

to all fighters who have left us. American, British, Canadian,

Australian, Polish, Belgian and all citizenships and nationalities which

fought side-to-side with the Allies. They all served mankind. If you can

actually live in peace today, if we can live with security, if we can

live in sovereignty, protected by the laws we decided and we voted, it

is thanks to these men who gave their lives. And I want to affirm

this, on this very beach, the gratitude of the French Republic

will never die. Will never wither. When coming here, regardless of how

old or young we are, regardless of who we are, regardless of where we

are from, we are all very struck by the same emotion. What still strikes

us today, when we move from place to place and sometimes from cemetery to

cemetery, is actually the courage of the soldiers who fought here. The

courage of paratroopers who jumped in the middle of the night to

prepare the attack. The courage of the people who took over the hock.

The courage of British soldiers, who silenced the Melville guns. The

courage of the general who landed his men on Omaha Beach who were

nailed in the sand by the violence of German fires. The courage of all

these young men, who came from all over the world to conquer, metre

after metre, inch after inch, the beaches and the dunes and also the

courage of French Resistance who facilitated the success of the

operation. The courage of the French, the free French who joined

General gall gull's appeal and the courage of -- General de Gaulle's

appeal. And the courage of civilian populations in Normandy who suffered

the bombing, who suffered considerable losses and who didn't

know whether they should share pain or joys. The pain for losing their

dear ones, or the joy also, for having reconquered their freedom.

And here, I want to pay tribute to the courage of the Red Army which,

far from here, in the face of 150 German divisions, was able to push

them back and to defeat them. And once again, and this can never be

overstated, I want to emphasise the decisive contribution of the peoples

of what was called the Soviet Union. We also must acknowledge what these

people did, and for the Vic trim against narcissism.

-- the victory. Lastly, I really wish to tribute the

courage of the Germans who were the victims of the Nazi war. They were

led into a war which wasn't theirs, which should never have been theirs

and today we really want to pay homage to all the victims of Nazi

rule. To quote General Eisenhower, this recalls a simple truth which we

should always keep in mind, in always circumstances, "Freedom is

not something that should be taken for granted as some people seem to

believe, freedom is not as natural as the air we breathe. Some people

think we shouldn't even think about it, however, freedom is always a

struggle. It is never to be taken for granted. There will always be

men and women who must stand up to detend or conquer freedom." 70 years

after D-Day, freedom is still threatened in many countries and by

too many regimes on this planet. Here, on 6th June, 1944, on the

Normandy beaches, 70 years ago, democracies united to fight for a

just cause. This just cause is still ours today. Today, it is no longer

the Allied Forces which should stand up to fight for freedom against

forces which threaten it, it is the United Nations which are in charge

of peace. But the United Nations should be up to the missions they

were entrusted with, after the war. And they should really ensure our

security, our collective security. I refer to the courage of the

soldiers, fighters, Resistance and civilian populations at the time.

Courage is something in war and it is necessary in war but courage in

peace is just as crucial. Soldiers who landed here 70 years ago - what

really motivated them, certainly their patriotic duty but also they

were motivated and pushed by an idea that they all had in common and

shared, regardless of their nationality. When they stepped foot

on these beaches, on this soil, they had a dream in their midst. In 1944

that dream seemed out of reach because it was borne from the bottom

of the abyss but it shed light on their consciousness. What was this

dream about it? It was about the promise of a world free from tyranny

and war but it was also the dream of a society that would be more just

and more fraternal. This particular ambition had been worded two years

before by two heads of war, the two heads of war, who decided the war

operation, Winston Churchill and Roosevelt. On a ship in the Atlantic

Ocean they both wrote the Atlantic Charter. The Atlantic Charter

recalled what was the point of this war - to free Europe, to reach

peace, to defeat Nazism but also the charter we recalled the

determination to achieve complete collaboration between all nations in

the field of economics in order to guarantee for all, economic progress

and Social Security. On 5th May, 1944, a month before the Allied

landing, they had adopted the Philadelphia Declaration which said

that all human beings have a right to pursue material things, spiritual

development, with dignity and equal chances. This message still is an

obligation for us. The heroic campaign that was fought here bore a

dream and a determination ie, to eradicate evils which had been

playing mankind ever since its beginning. Poverty, injustice,

oppression, everything that produces war. Ladies and gentlemen, all of

us, heads of states and heads of governments, selected officials,

veterans, civilians, yes, we still have to do our duty. We still have

to keep and preserve this heritage that was given in our hand. We still

have to ensure the progress of the peoples of the European Union. We

have to strengthen the role of the United Nations. We have a duty to

say to it that human rights are not violated, are complied with and

especially the rights of women were enslaved and harmed all over the

world and that is of the concern for all of us.

? STUDIO: A spectacular backdrop there.

Sword Beach. President Hollande delivering his

address and really making several very powerful points during that

speech. All of those world leaders listening there. But coming to the

end of that, striking a chord because there was loud applause for

when the President mentioned because there was loud applause for

when the President the role of Germany. And we saw Chancellor

Merkel was given a very warm welcome when she arrived here.

Merkel was given a very warm welcome when I must say, much warmer than

the welcome for previous German leaders 10 and 20 years ago. A

different field to the convenient. Chancellor Merkel given a very warm

welcome. We want to talk a little bit more about that theme. That

event, by the way in Ouistreham carrying on for a short while that.

Magic red button you have on the handset at home. If you want to keep

on watching that, you can press the red button. In the meantime we are

looking ahead to the very important event we have coming up here in

Arromanches. On that theme, very important theme of the German

perspective, rather unexpected store we have to share with you now, it

really is a very powerful story. A German citizen who came to London

before the war, joined the RAF as a pilot and went on to become one of

the world's most successful film production designers. He is a

remarkable man. It is a remarkable tale.

I was born in 1921 in Berlin, and my name was really Klaus.

I was Jewish and there wasn't much hope for me there.

I wasn't sorry to leave Germany, because every corner,

It wasn't the Germany that I grew up in, unfortunately.

The only unit I could join was the Pioneer Corps.

I became part of the training staff there.

And I had quite a good time, all the time trying to get

And much to my and everybody's surprise,

On the 200th victory of 609 Squadron, I joined the squadron,

I worked with the squadron until the end of the war.

I had some of my best friends in the RAF, and the relationship

The extra motivation of anger was, if I don't get them, they'll get me.

All the more so when we heard that some of our

relatives, cousins and so on, had been sent to concentration camps.

That was all the motivation for me to fight, so I did.

NEWS REPORTER: Here's one of our newest weapons,

the rocket-firing Typhoon, known to the RAF as their flying artillery.

The Typhoon had eight rockets, so they are very powerful.

There was no question that you had a thrill, but you also had fear.

I wasn't a naturalised British subject or anything until later, so

if the Germans would have caught me, it would have been very unpleasant.

As we were coming in over the French coast on 11th May,

we attacked the RDF station at Bruneval.

One of our pilots was hit in the radiator.

You always knew someone was hit in the radiator because you got

If you bailed out but did not get into a dinghy, then tough luck.

There was a terrific battle, and once that had been secured,

all our armoured columns broke through, and that was really

You had to take off and fly towards Caen

That was one of the most terrifying memories I had

Such powerful evidence there, from Sir Ken Adam, who has led a

remarkable life. There we have the lovely blue skies, above

Arromanches. Indeed above all the Normandy coastline toad. 50 miles of

it, the five D-day beaches. We are here remembering the events of 70

years ago when the D-Day invasion happening. The historian Helen Fry

is with me. Extraordinary story. Yes, he is full of charisma, and

typical of the 10,000 Germans, men and women, who served in our Armed

Forces. It is an extraordinary story.

It is the passion that this was their war, and they were not going

to sit back. The extraordinary thing was that they could not be

conscripted some like British men and women, they had to volunteer,

which adds a next Redeye mentioned to their willingness to fight and

their lives on the line. He said he had applied to go in the RAF, and he

says, to my surprise, and everyone else's surprise, I was accepted. And

of course, he made an incredible contribution. From being perceived

as an alien to being a war hero, lots of people might find it

difficult to grasp. What was it about the way they fitted into

society, and convinced people that actually, they were onside? Yes, and

90% of were Jewish. They experienced no anti-German or anti-Jewish

feeling in the British forces, and they were prepared to do their bit.

They knew what we were up against with Nazi Germany. You mentioned it

was not a Germany which he had grown up in, that is what he said. Let's

think about the Germany that he left behind, and the young men who then

came to this part of the world, to defend this region - what were

conditions like for German soldiers at that time? Incredibly difficult.

There are stories of desertions at this time in the German Army. The

system was much more strict for Germans, they were basically shot or

sent to concentration camps. So, incredibly difficult for them. What

they had left behind in Germany, when they were fighting here, was a

regime, there was no democracy, sometimes we lose sight of that,

throughout the war years. This was a Germany which needed to feel proud

again, and that is why Hitler was so successful in the early years, and

then it was too late. The whole militarisation gave Germany a

much-needed pride. Just in terms of the make-up of the forces here,

because you imagine terrifying, efficient, brutal German military

machine, and yet when you start reading the accounts of D-Day, of

course there were efficient units around, but you start reading the

accounts of who was actually defending, conscripts from different

parts of central and Eastern Europe, lots of them with dreadful injuries,

so it was a very mixed picture, really? Absolutely, and a lot of

very, very young German soldiers, which we forget. They were hurried

in at the last minute because of the casualties and losses, and they had

had no real training. And some of them had served on the Russian

front, and that was horrific. So, they had a difficult war, and I

think it is important to acknowledge that. And it was interesting to see

the reception for Chancellor Merkel today. It was different to what we

have seen in the past. It is a signal that 70 years on, people have

a slightly more distant perspective, in some ways, with the march of

time, and they are thinking, we are in the 21st century, and Germany is

such a powerful member of the European Union, Chancellor Merkel

represents something very, very different in terms of political

power. I think it is more than that, because German has -- Germany has

done masses, particularly in the last decade, to look at the

difficult past, to see what went wrong. Europe was fighting Nazism,

and not Germans per se. That is a very important difference. Germans

have been very honest about the past, and making gestures of

reconciliation. It is I can see the square filling up behind us, because

we have got a great view. This is the centre of Arromanches, but just

around to this side, you can just see, they are filling up for this

British event, which is taking place at the end of the afternoon. We are

looking forward to Normandy that is parading through this square for the

last time before their association is disbanded at the end of this

year. JoCo and Duchess of Cambridge will be here. -- the Duke and

Duchess of Cambridge. We were speaking about Sir Ken Adam, one of

many RAF pilots who would protect the invasion force in the weeks

after the 6th of June. But there were many other ways in which they

contributed to the success of D-Day. We spoke to two members of squadrons

which were based at a top-secret RAF base in Bedfordshire. Their main

Judy was taking vital supplies to resistance groups, who worked

mentioned by President Hollande just now, across Nazi-occupied Europe, on

the night of the 5th of June, when the invasion fleet was crossing the

Channel. At the same time these squadrons were taking part in the

most daring deception operations. It was strong.

You could bounce it about on a French field without it breaking to

pieces, and it got you there and it got you

home, which was much more important. We were told that we were going to

a camp called Tempsford to join a squadron, 13 Squadron. This was to

be a special duties squadron. one of the biggest secrets of the

war. It was from here that

hundreds of agents and supplies by the tonne were

delivered by air to occupied Europe. Tempsford had an activity in

every country that had been We were soon enlightened that this

was not a bomber station. We were flying bomber aircraft, they

were called the Halifax. Tempsford never had any

intention of bombing anything. We were there to be surreptitiously

supporting the Resistance In fact, you could have a girlfriend

and she thought when that aircraft took off,

it was going to bomb Germany. She had no idea that there were live

agents on board, men and women, and that we were dropping

ammunition, guns, cameras, wireless sets to the freedom

fighters. We were doing everything that we

could to remain unobtrusive. At Tempsford, I hadn't heard

the word D-Day itself, because a supply of

strange little figures arrived. And they were called Ruperts, these

dummy parachutes, and they were loaded onto

the aircraft which I was due to fly in that evening.

The operation's name was Titanic. We understood we were dropping

window, very light strips of metal which

were released in handfuls. I never understood why it

was called window, but it was reflecting strips.

It certainly mucked up the radar. The idea of an airman circling ten

feet over the waves, you are in the range of hope

when you do those things. And the fact that they

worked was a miracle. The purpose of operation Titanic

was to get troops safely into France without too much

damage being inflicted on them. Those people on the beaches could

probably land safer some would make a noise

like a machine gun to divert the fire to the Ruperts instead of

onto our chaps. My personal overriding thoughts are,

thank God for Churchill. Who else could have inspired us

young fellows to not give in and to do everything that we

were asked by him? He was an inspiration, and we would

have done anything for him. I'm especially

proud of being at Tempsford. I'm extremely proud

I was a part of operation Titanic. I know the rest of my crew

were as well. Fascinating insight into the secret

world of everything that they were up to at RAF Tempsford. You have

been sending us lots of messages. This one from John says, I am

remembering my late uncle, our hero, he says, Albert. On D-Day, he was a

21-year-old radio operator with four commando. The unit suffered many

casualties, the soldiers bravely fought their way onwards towards

Pegasus Bridge. As for Albert, he lived to the grand age of 80, was

loved by everybody who knew him, sadly died in November 2003. Nice to

be able to recognise that. And Christina from Exeter in Devon, I am

just scanning this, because I think this is another one about Pegasus

Bridge. You are enjoying the broadcast today, you say. Very

emotional as a family because your father was a major in four Commando.

She says, later my father was shot in the leg and spent time in

hospital before coming back home. She says they are pleased they are

being honoured in this way, and deservedly so, she says. So, just

two contributions there. I just want to say thank you very much for

taking the trouble to send them in, because it does add to what we are

saying, and helps us to understand even more that even when we are

talking about veterans who have sadly passed away, families are

still honouring their story and their achievements. Now, Roderick

and James and Dan are with me in the studio, and we are looking forward

to a rather busy time now, because we are expecting William and Kate,

if I can be informal, to join us soon. Dan will be playing a formal

part in that, welcoming people to the square. So he will be leaving us

in a few minutes just but we are also waiting for the fight past. I

would like to pick up on that fascinating film about RAF

Tempsford, and I would like to touch on the kind of deception strategies

and other work they were up to, and how vital it was, in the planning

for D-Day? The RAF played many different roles, reconnaissance,

deception and so on. But RAF Tempsford in particular, that was

supporting SOE operations, Resistance operations, for years

running up to D-Day, dropping in supplies and equipment, everything

to prepare for D-Day. Looking across the English Channel and here they

come, they are coming from the direction of Ouistreham, actually.

This is the fly past which we have been promised, just before the

British event. And it involves a glorious Lancaster and a Dakota, I

think, and two spitfires. James, what do you reckon, it is a great

site? It is wonderful to see them together. The Memorial Flight do us

proud in these circumstances. Where is the Dakota?! But the Lancaster

was the finest heavy bomber of the war, certainly for the first few

years, before the B-29 comes in. They are coming right overhead now.

Passing over some of the troop carriers and landing craft on the

beach. This is really a feature of the modern age, every single camera

and mobile phone is being raised to the sky! The fly past, in terms of

its impact here, is just part of the tradition. When we do the Queen's

Birthday Parade, for example, it is a very important part of that as

well. It is central to everything. A hugely important thing. But the

heavy bombers on the day of D-Day did not do as much damage to the

German defences on these beaches as many people hoped? Most were coming

straight across the Channel and they overshot. You have to let them off

at exactly the right minute and often it was too late. The key point

about that is the air power and the work they were doing in the weeks

leading up to it and in the months leading up 197 tonnes of bombs were

dropped by Allied Air Forces on target in France, Marshalling yards,

ammunition stores, railways, bridges and so on. 18,000 tonnes of bombs

dropped on London, during the blitz, and 1 the 97 tonnes in France and

the low countries in the run-up to D-Day. The black and white stripes?

Those are invasion marks. Here they come. Unbelievably low. Fantastic.

You have six Rolls-Royce Merlin engines-upping away there in one go.

Those stripes are now really vibrant. Look at them. Aren't they

just. That's so friendly forces don't shoot them. The The Luftwaffe

on D-Day, very little presence. Not a single Allied plane was shot down

on D-Day. Another role that should be kept in mind is the transport

role, dropping the parachute Division into Normandy. They went

back and resupplied it two or three times during the day. A lot of

casualties suffered. One of the great ironies is the demrieder

pilots, for example n dropping the airborne troops, there was great

pride in being a glider pilot. You were train as an infantryman as

well. The American troops, they were the most highly-trained most

motivated troops in the US Army, yet they are dropped by the least

experienced pilots. That's one of the reasons why it is so chaotic

when they come over in the early hours of 6th June but the Lancaster

is just about to do an absolutely sensational turn there. We are

waiting. It is about to... Oh! Wow. Look at that. The impact here, I

mean I have to say, the impact here is just amazing. There was real

controversy amongst the strategic Air Force commanders. What I mean by

that is the bombers that were operating independently of any other

ground forces. So in our case RAF Bomber Command the US 8th Air Force

and they wanted to carry on hitting targets deep into Germany. The

Supreme Allied Commander wanted the strategic Air Forces to attack into

much more direct support and, you know, the Supreme Allied Commander

got his way. That's what happened. Then there is the tactical Air

Forces, those supporting the ground troops. That's your fighter pilots,