This Thursday, the Portuguese government honored “all those who gave their lives” for the values of freedom and humanity, marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the Western Allied landing in Normandy that was decisive for the end of World War II. .
“On the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the day that determined the victory of freedom and humanism, we pay tribute to all who gave their lives for these values,” the Foreign Ministry wrote today on the social network X.
The ministry, headed by Paulo Rangel, also said: “And, united with our EU partners, [União Europeia] and the United Kingdom, we thank you for your transatlantic solidarity.”
This Thursday, Western allies mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings in France, which were crucial to the course of World War II in Europe, as war once again devastates the continent.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict, which began in February 2022, will be one of the topics of conversation at the ceremony, as well as in bilateral meetings with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, one of the guests.
The ceremony in Normandy is attended by heads of state such as Emmanuel Macron (France), Joe Biden (USA), Sergio Mattarella (Italy) and King Charles III (UK), as well as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Russia, invited 10 years ago and a former ally of the US and UK in the fight against Nazi Germany, was formally excluded from the ceremonies due to its invasion of Ukraine, with a symbolic absence of current tensions in Europe.
On June 6, 1944, more than 156,000 troops landed on the beaches of Normandy on five beaches codenamed Omaha, Gold, Juno, Sword and Utah.
The force consisted primarily of US, British and Canadian troops, but the operation included naval, air and ground support from Australia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, France, Greece, New Zealand, Norway and Poland.
D-Day, as history shows, was the largest amphibious invasion of the entire war and opened up a new front, relieving pressure on the Soviet Union in the east.
World War II (1939-1945) ended only about a year later, in August, with the surrender of Japan following the launch of North American atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, three months after the surrender of Germany.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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