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1 of 11A view of the cliffs on May 6, 2014 in Pointe du Hoc, France. Overlay: After the assault at the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc by the 2nd Ranger Battalion (D, E and F Company) Colonel James E. Rudder establishes a Post Commando on June 1944.Peter Macdiarmid—Getty Images; Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images; Photo Illustration by Joseph C. Lin—TIME -
2 of 11A view of the rue de Bayeux on May 5, 2014 in Caen, France. Overlay: An older couple watches a Canadian soldier with a bulldozer working in the ruins of a house in the rue de Bayeux on July 10, 1944.Peter Macdiarmid—Getty Images; Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images; Photo Illustration by Joseph C. Lin—TIME -
3 of 11A view of the high street on May 7, 2014 in Sainte Mere Eglise, France. A French armored column passing through the small French town of St Mere Eglise on D-Day, gets a warm welcome from the inhabitants on June 6, 1944.Peter Macdiarmid—Getty Images; Popperfoto/Getty Images; Photo Illustration by Joseph C. Lin—TIME -
4 of 11A view of Omaha Beach on May 6, 2014 near Vierville sur Mer, France. Overlay: American troops stand by with supplies on Omaha Beach after the D-day landings on June 1944.Peter Macdiarmid—Getty Images; MPI/Getty Images; Photo Illustration by Joseph C. Lin—TIME -
5 of 11A view of the graveyard with the church of Saint Georges de Basly in the background on May 5, 2014 in Basly, France. Overlay: Three soldiers of the 23rd Field Ambulance of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division place flowers on graves on June 1944.Peter Macdiarmid—Getty Images; Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images; Photo Illustration by Joseph C. Lin—TIME -
6 of 11A view of the seafront and Juno beach on May 5, 2014 in Bernieres-sur-Mer, France. Overlay: Troops of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division land at Juno Beach on the outskirts of Bernieres-sur-Mer on D-Day. June 6, 1944.Peter Macdiarmid—Getty Images; Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images; Photo Illustration by Joseph C. Lin—TIME -
7 of 11A view of the market square on May 6, 2014 in Trevieres, France. Overlay: The body of a German soldier belonging to the 2nd Infanterie Regiment lies on the Market Square on June 15, 1944.Peter Macdiarmid—Getty Images; Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images; Photo Illustration by Joseph C. Lin—TIME -
8 of 11A view of Juno Beach on May 8, 2014 in Bernieres sur Mer, France. Overlay: A large number of German prisoners are gathered on the beach of Bernières-sur-Mer on June 1944. They are guarded by British soldiers from the 2nd Army on Juno Beach.Peter Macdiarmid—Getty Images; Popperfoto/Getty Images; Photo Illustration by Joseph C. Lin—TIME -
9 of 11A view of the street area and Notre-Dame Nativity church on May 5, 2014 in Bernieres-sur-Mer, France. Overlay: A Canadian soldier directs traffic in Bernieres-sur-Mer on June 6, 1944.Peter Macdiarmid—Getty Images; Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images; Photo Illustration by Joseph C. Lin—TIME -
10 of 11A view of the roadway on May 7, 2014 in Saint Lo, France. Overlay: United States Army trucks and jeeps are driving through the ruins of Saint Lo on July 1944.Peter Macdiarmid—Getty Images; Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images; Photo Illustration by Joseph C. Lin—TIME -
11 of 11A view of the old village fountain on May 7, 2014 in Sainte Marie du Mont, France. Overlay: A woman walks away with two pitchers while three children are watching the scene, and an old man fetches water next to a GI expecting to wash his bowls on June 12, 1944.Peter Macdiarmid—Getty Images; Popperfoto/Getty Images; Photo Illustration by Joseph C. Lin—TIME
The scale of destruction unleashed in Normandy on and after D-Day beggars the imagination. On the 70th anniversary of Operation Overlord, TIME commemorates that epic invasion through a series of images that combine photographs taken seven decades ago along with contemporary pictures made by Getty photographer Peter Macdiarmid. As leaders throughout the world gather in Normandy Friday, the result is an uncanny mixture of past and present.
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