世界节假日博览 第108期:诺曼底登陆日

June 6, 1944 was one of the most important days in the modern history of the USA and Europe. It was on this day that the tide turned against Hitler’s plans to take over the whole of Europe. The day is known today as D-Day. The “D” represents the day which military commanders planned their operation. They had no date for it. There was also an “H-Hour” when the operation would start. D-Day marks the biggest air, land and sea operation ever undertaken. American, British and Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy in France to try and repel the Nazi troops and avoid an invasion of Britain. The operation is also known as the Normandy Landings. Over 4,000 soldiers died but the German forces were defeated.
在近现代史中，1944年6月6日对于美国和欧洲来讲至关重要。希特勒称霸欧洲野心就此急转直下。人们将这一天称之为“D-Day”。“D”代表此次军事行动。行动时间没有设定。行动开始为“H-Hour”。“D-Day”是史上规模最大的海陆空行动。英美和盟军登陆法国海滩诺曼底，阻击纳粹进攻英国。此次行动还被称之为“诺曼底登陆”。超四千名士兵阵亡，但以德军失败告终。


D-Day was a major turning point in World War II. It was also one of the most stunning and heroic victories of any war. Britain’s King George VI broadcast a message to the British people the night before the operation. He warned of a “supreme test“ for Allied forces and called on the nation to pray for the liberation of Europe. The prayers worked, as what was called “Fortress Europe” during the war had been breached. There were many bloody battles on the Normandy beaches. One British soldier said: “It looked just like the main road to Hell!”. US President Roosevelt knew there was still a long way to go after D-Day, and that the war was far from over. He told Americans: “You don't just walk to Berlin, the sooner this country realizes that, the better.“
“诺曼底登陆”为二战重要转折。这是一次史无前例的史诗般胜利。英国王乔治六世在行动前夜发表广播讲话。他称这是对盟军的极大考验，呼吁举国上下祈祷欧洲解放。愿望实现，有“欧洲堡垒”之称的欧洲大陆遭攻陷。诺曼底血战无数。某英国士兵称：“这是一条通往地狱的大路。”美总统罗斯福称长路漫漫，战争还远没有结束。他对民众表示：“你不仅要走到柏林，大众越早知道越好。”