Teaching D-Day: Diverse Voices, Historical Memory and Civic Reflection

What Is D-Day and How Is It Remembered Today?

D-Day commemorations each June reflect on one of the most significant turning points of World War II. Ceremonies, documentaries and classroom lessons often honor Allied bravery, but increasingly also examine how we tell the story—and who gets included in it.

Why Does D-Day Still Matter in the Classroom?

Learning about D-Day through diverse perspectives helps students see that service and sacrifice came from all parts of society. It also encourages students to think critically about civic responsibility, public memory and the importance of inclusive storytelling in history education.

How Can Students Explore and Reflect?

Educators can use this moment to introduce students to multiple historical voices—especially those previously underrepresented. Students may also reflect on how remembering the past shapes civic values and personal identity today.

Video: The Greatest Military Operation in History

This featured video (approximately eight minutes) provides a vivid overview of Operation Overlord, from its planning and logistics to the emotional weight of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s national prayer. It highlights the scope of Allied coordination, the dangers soldiers faced, and the lasting impact of the mission.

Note: The video centers traditional narratives—providing an opportunity to prompt critical thinking around whose voices are heard and whose are missing.

Discussion Questions for High School

1. Why is D-Day seen as a turning point in World War II, and how has its memory shaped our understanding of the war?
2. How might D-Day look different through the eyes of French civilians, Black soldiers, or other overlooked groups?
3. How do public ceremonies shape those we honor—and those who are forgotten?
4. What does D-Day teach us about civic duty, both for those who fought and those who remember?
5. What perspectives are missing from the story of D-Day, and how might including them change how we understand the event?

Discussion Questions for Middle School

1. What happened on D-Day, and why was it so important?
2. What challenges do you think soldiers faced during the invasion?
3. Why do we remember D-Day today?
4. Who are the people you think aren’t talked about enough when we learn about D-Day?
5. What do you think it means to be brave or to help others during a time of war?

Diverse Perspectives and Omitted Stories

D-Day involved bravery from people across backgrounds, but many of their stories are left out of mainstream accounts. Here are a few groups to consider including in your lesson:

African American Soldiers

The 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion was the only African American unit to storm the beaches on D-Day. Their mission was to raise hydrogen-filled barrage balloons to protect Allied troops and ships from enemy aircraft. Despite facing intense fire and segregation, they played a critical role in the invasion’s success and were commended by General Dwight Eisenhower.

• Read about their legacy at the National WWII Museum
• Explore their role in the invasion from the American Battle Monuments Commission
• Learn more from the U.S. Army’s official historical article

Indigenous Service Members

While Navajo Code Talkers are best known for their service in the Pacific Theater, Native American code talkers from Comanche, Cherokee and other nations served in Europe, including on D-Day. Comanche Code Talkers landed at Utah Beach and used their language to transmit vital messages, helping coordinate the invasion and avoid German interception.

• Learn more about the Comanche Code Talkers from the Comanche National Museum
• Explore Native code talking and its significance in war through the Smithsonian’s “Code Talkers” resource
• Code Talker

French Civilians or Resistance Fighters

French civilians and resistance fighters played a crucial role in the success of D-Day by sabotaging German supply lines, relaying intelligence to the Allies, and guiding troops through local terrain. Many also risked or lost their lives sheltering Allied soldiers and resisting Nazi occupation.

• Spies, Saboteurs and D-Day | Imperial War Museums
• French Partisans & How They Helped D-Day Succeed
• French casualties on D-Day: 'What I saw ... was so horrible'

Women in WWII

Women served as nurses near the front lines, codebreakers deciphering enemy communications, and journalists reporting from Normandy. For example, American journalist Lt. Martha Gellhorn landed after D-Day to care for the wounded, and codebreakers at Bletchley Park helped ensure the invasion’s secrecy.

• The Story of the 6888th in WWII: Mail, Morale and Mission | Lesson Plan
• Martha Gellhorn: Eyewitness to War | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans
• The Women Codebreakers of World War II
• The Heroic Nurses of D-Day: ‘I Could Not Sit Idly By’ | Health.mil

Note: Teachers can explore one group as a class or assign students to research and present a story for homework (see below). This also pairs well with the Media Literacy Extension, where students examine whose voices are included in the main video—and whose are missing.

Media Literacy Extension

Help students explore how D-Day is portrayed in the media and why some voices are highlighted while others are missing.

Quick Analysis Prompts:

• Who is centered in the story? Who is missing?
• What emotions or values are emphasized (e.g., patriotism, sacrifice)?
• How does this source compare with others (e.g., textbook vs. video)?
• Is the language neutral, biased, or emotional?
• What choices did the creators make—and why?

Homework Activity: ‘Missing Voice Spotlight’

Instructions for Students:

Choose one group not featured or barely mentioned in the D-Day video (e.g., African American soldiers, French civilians, women in support roles). In one slide, paragraph, or short video/audio clip:

• Introduce the group and its contribution.
• Share one powerful fact, quote or image.
• Reflect: Why is it important to include this voice in how we remember D-Day?

Presentation Option:

Students share the next day in small groups or in a gallery walk format.