Operation Overlord (D-DAY): Britain & the Normandy Invasion

In the United States, we tend to think of "D-Day" as an inherently American undertaking. In fact of the 156,000 troops who landed on June 6, 1944, 47% were American, 40% British and 13% Canadian. Three of the five beaches (Juno, Sword, and Gold) were assigned to British or Canadian divisions, and the Royal Navy provided the vast bulk of warships.  Moreover, the Allies spent years encamped in Great Britain preparing for the cross-Channel invasion.

This lecture by Dr. John C. Mitcham of Duquesne University and Britsburgh's History Society will examine Britain's role in the Normandy Campaign, from the planning and operations to its impact on British Society.  Dr. Mitcham is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of History at Duquesne.  His first book, Race and Imperial Defence in the British World, 1870-1914, was published in 2016 by Cambridge University Press and was a finalist for the Templer Medal. Dr. Mitcham has lectured throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia, and is an elected Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. 

Featured in collaboration with Britsburgh as part of Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum's Thursday "Spotlight On" series.  Spotlight On "shines a spotlight" to explore and educate about various aspects of military history.

PROGRAMME:

6:30 - 7:30 p.m.:  Lecture

7:30 - 8:00 p.m.:  Discussion and Q&A

Coffee service included.

Lecture is free but ordinary Museum admission applies at the door:

$10.00 ($5.00 for Seniors 55+; $5.00 Students with I.D., $5.00 Children aged 12-17 - not appropriate for children under age 12; Active Military, Reserves, Retired Military and Veterans Free. (Tour Museum before 6:30 p.m. lecture; Museum closes at 8:00 p.m.).  

Please Register

On street metered parking (free after 6:00 p.m.) is available as is parking in the University of Pittsburgh-owned garage beneath the lawn of Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum.

For more information about this event, contact Kim Szczypinski of Britsburgh's History Society at: kimberly2859@msn.com or Tim Neff of Soldier's and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum at 412/621-4253 or tim@soldiersandsailorshall.org. 

Explore fascinating British-themed topics with the guidance of experts and enjoy the company and conversation of fellow enthusiasts as a member of one of Britsburgh Societies: Britsburgh Arts Society, the Britsburgh Beer Society, the Britsburgh History Society, the Britsburgh Literary Society and the Britsburgh Tea Society. If you are not already a member, I would like to invite you to consider becoming a Britsburgh Society member. 

THE BRITSBURGH TEAM