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They take to their mission with gusto, flinging themselves across the sand, scaling sea walls, and leaping out of World War II-era planes. They've come from far afield -- from Poland, the Czech Republic, Britain, Canada, even from as far away as Texas -- and they will take the beaches of Normandy -- again. These are the D-Day reenactors: military and history enthusiasts who have come to coastal France to relive one of the most pivotal -- and bloody -- moments in 20th-century history. Organizers estimate approximately 500 re-enactors have participated so far in the events leading up to June 6, which will mark the 70th anniversary of the attack known as Operation Overlord, which historians credit for helping to change the course of World War II. About 1,800 veterans attended the celebration. On June 6, 1944, over 156,000 allied troops, consisting mainly of U.S. and British soldiers, began the crawl, under heavy fire, across the beaches of German-occupied France under the command of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. He would proclaim after the invasion, "The tide has turned. The free men of the world are marching together to victory!" -- a victory that, seven decades on, still manages to capture the imagination. Here, enthusiasts dressed in Allied forces uniforms watch as World War II-era C-47 planes fly overhead during a planned parachute drop on June 4, at Carentan, France. Sean Gallup/Getty Images
They take to their mission with gusto, flinging themselves across the sand, scaling sea walls, and leaping out of World War II-era planes. They've come from far afield -- from Poland, the Czech Republic, Britain, Canada, even from as far away as Texas -- and they will take the beaches of Normandy -- again. These are the D-Day reenactors: military and history enthusiasts who have come to coastal France to relive one of the most pivotal -- and bloody -- moments in 20th-century history. Organizers estimate approximately 500 re-enactors have participated so far in the events leading up to June 6, which will mark the 70th anniversary of the attack known as Operation Overlord, which historians credit for helping to change the course of World War II. About 1,800 veterans attended the celebration. On June 6, 1944, over 156,000 allied troops, consisting mainly of U.S. and British soldiers, began the crawl, under heavy fire, across the beaches of German-occupied France under the command of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. He would proclaim after the invasion, "The tide has turned. The free men of the world are marching together to victory!" -- a victory that, seven decades on, still manages to capture the imagination. Here, enthusiasts dressed in Allied forces uniforms watch as World War II-era C-47 planes fly overhead during a planned parachute drop on June 4, at Carentan, France. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

D-Day, Redux

FP Staff
Tiananmen, the massive public square in the center of Beijing, is infamously the site of the June 3/June 4, 1989 massacre of unarmed protesters by Chinese security forces. But it also is in some ways the symbolic heart of the city: It is located around the corner from the walled compound Zhongnanhai, where China's top party elite live and work, and across from the Forbidden City, the massive palace museum that previously housed the emperor. Since the Communist took power in 1949 -- Chairman Mao Zedong stood on a gate across from Tiananmen Square and famously proclaimed the establishment of the People's Republic of China by saying "the Chinese people have stood up," -- the square has hosted countless parades, marches, mass mournings, mass rallies, as well as many acts of protest, large and small. Here are photos of Tiananmen, from 1976 to today. In the photo above, a Chinese military policeman patrolling Tiananmen Square keeps a lookout for Falun Gong members on Feb. 6, 2000, a day after police cracked down on protesting Falun Gong members. Stephen Shaver/AFP/Getty Images
Tiananmen, the massive public square in the center of Beijing, is infamously the site of the June 3/June 4, 1989 massacre of unarmed protesters by Chinese security forces. But it also is in some ways the symbolic heart of the city: It is located around the corner from the walled compound Zhongnanhai, where China's top party elite live and work, and across from the Forbidden City, the massive palace museum that previously housed the emperor. Since the Communist took power in 1949 -- Chairman Mao Zedong stood on a gate across from Tiananmen Square and famously proclaimed the establishment of the People's Republic of China by saying "the Chinese people have stood up," -- the square has hosted countless parades, marches, mass mournings, mass rallies, as well as many acts of protest, large and small. Here are photos of Tiananmen, from 1976 to today. In the photo above, a Chinese military policeman patrolling Tiananmen Square keeps a lookout for Falun Gong members on Feb. 6, 2000, a day after police cracked down on protesting Falun Gong members. Stephen Shaver/AFP/Getty Images

The Square

FP Staff
ELVIS BARUKCIC/AFP/Getty Images; Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Somaly Mam Foundation; TONY KARUMBA/AFP/Getty Images; KNS/AFP/Getty Images; TONY KARUMBA/AFP/Getty Images
ELVIS BARUKCIC/AFP/Getty Images; Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Somaly Mam Foundation; TONY KARUMBA/AFP/Getty Images; KNS/AFP/Getty Images; TONY KARUMBA/AFP/Getty Images

Longform’s Picks of the Week

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A protester points at soldiers during an anti-coup demonstration as General Prayuth receives a royal endorsement as the military coup leader on May 26 in Bangkok, Thailand. The country has seen many months of political unrest that claimed at least 28 lives, according to the BBC. Thailand's coup leaders have detained former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, along with cabinet members and other anti-government protest leaders for up to a week. Paula Bronstein/Getty Images 
A protester points at soldiers during an anti-coup demonstration as General Prayuth receives a royal endorsement as the military coup leader on May 26 in Bangkok, Thailand. The country has seen many months of political unrest that claimed at least 28 lives, according to the BBC. Thailand's coup leaders have detained former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, along with cabinet members and other anti-government protest leaders for up to a week. Paula Bronstein/Getty Images 

The World in Photos This Week

FP Staff
Ukrainian riot policemen fight with "rioters" as they take part in exercises for mass disturbances suppression in the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa on May 19. Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Monday that Ukraine would get a "legitimate" president after next weekend's election despite some expected voting problems in the east. Election commission officials have warned that security concerns may make it difficult, if not impossible, to stage Sunday's poll in parts of rebel-held areas in the eastern industrial belt. Foreign Policy's Democracy Lab profiles one of Ukraine's presidential candidates in "Ukraine's Chocolate King to the Rescue." ALEXEY KRAVTSOV/AFP/Getty Images 
Ukrainian riot policemen fight with "rioters" as they take part in exercises for mass disturbances suppression in the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa on May 19. Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Monday that Ukraine would get a "legitimate" president after next weekend's election despite some expected voting problems in the east. Election commission officials have warned that security concerns may make it difficult, if not impossible, to stage Sunday's poll in parts of rebel-held areas in the eastern industrial belt. Foreign Policy's Democracy Lab profiles one of Ukraine's presidential candidates in "Ukraine's Chocolate King to the Rescue." ALEXEY KRAVTSOV/AFP/Getty Images 

The World in Photos This Week

FP Staff
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images; JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images; OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP/Getty Images; TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images; PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images; JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images; OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP/Getty Images; TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images; PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images

Longform’s Picks of the Week

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FP Staff
An Indian Muslim woman walks past a line of Hindu women as they wait to vote at a polling station on May 12 in Varanasi, India. The counting of votes began on May 16. Foreign Policy examined some of the post-election issues India's leaders will face in, "After the Election: The Economic Challenge for India's New Leaders." Kevin Frayer/Getty Images 
An Indian Muslim woman walks past a line of Hindu women as they wait to vote at a polling station on May 12 in Varanasi, India. The counting of votes began on May 16. Foreign Policy examined some of the post-election issues India's leaders will face in, "After the Election: The Economic Challenge for India's New Leaders." Kevin Frayer/Getty Images 

The World in Photos This Week

FP Staff
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619871_140509_1698424631.jpg

Longform’s Picks of the Week

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FP Staff
French Republican guards take part in a show in Deauville, France, on May 3.  CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP/Getty Images
French Republican guards take part in a show in Deauville, France, on May 3.  CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP/Getty Images

The World in Photos This Week

FP Staff
ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images; ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP/Getty Images; OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images; SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images; DAVID BUIMOVITCH/AFP/Getty Images
ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images; ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP/Getty Images; OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images; SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images; DAVID BUIMOVITCH/AFP/Getty Images

Longform’s Picks of the Week

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FP Staff
PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP/Getty Images; David McNew/Getty Images; John Moore/Getty Images; -/AFP/Getty Images; MOHD RASFAN/AFP/Getty Images
PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP/Getty Images; David McNew/Getty Images; John Moore/Getty Images; -/AFP/Getty Images; MOHD RASFAN/AFP/Getty Images

Longform’s Picks of the Week

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FP Staff
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Hey Justin Bieber, We Made You a Travel Itinerary!

Passport
FP Staff
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620535_140418_tice1.jpg

Longform’s Picks of the Week

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FP Staff
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60_140404_Anja1.jpg

The World in Photos This Week

FP Staff
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39727_140318_Feat_ChinaRail.jpg

The March/April Issue

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