Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica. (more) Today in History—May 16: The WWII Story That Inspired Saving Private Ryan Written by Michele Metych Michele Metych is the lead editor for Today in History at Encyclopædia Britannica. Michele Metych Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated May 14, 2026 •History It was May 1944, and D-Day—the coordinated landing of nearly 160,000 Allied soldiers along the Normandy coast and the beginning of the end of the Nazi occupation of Europe—was still just a whispered plan. Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Want to learn more about what happened on May 16, or any other day of the year? Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox every morning. So when Technical...

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