A look back at D-Day 2025 Normandy Victory Museum

A large audience had come to listen to these direct witnesses of the Second World War recount their experiences and share their memories.

Among them, Jean Turco, mobilized in 1939 and a prisoner in Germany, deeply moved the visitors. Georges Mongenet, who served in the 2nd Moroccan Infantry Division during the war, recounted the battles he experienced, from Italy to Austria. Eugene “Gene” Kleindl, an American veteran, and Robert Chot, a Belgian veteran, also received applause after an equally moving encounter.

These exchanges, often simple but full of emotion, reminded us of the importance of still being able to hear the words of those who lived through the war.

Throughout the event, visitors were able to enjoy demonstrations inside the museum as well as outside, where many free activities were offered.

From the briefing of the RCPT paratroopers to the demonstration of communication by carrier pigeons or the presentation of military vehicles, an audience of all ages was thus able to discover in a concrete way the daily life of soldiers during the war.

They were also able to exchange ideas with enthusiasts and associations present, who came to share their knowledge about armored vehicles, military equipment and the daily lives of soldiers during the Second World War.

Within the exhibition area, the demonstrations of the Enigma machine presented by Edmond Kern were once again a great success. Children and adults alike were able to discover how this famous German encryption machine worked, and even try their hand at encoding their own messages.

True to previous D-Day commemorations, the Normandy Victory Museum also offered several conferences, meetings and book signings during this week of commemorations.

Clément Horvath gave a particularly noteworthy lecture on letters from Allied soldiers, while Stéphane Simonnet discussed the role of French forces in the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy. Benoît Rondeau explored the connections between World War II and cinema, while Patrick Fissot shared his insights on the Battle of the Hedgerows.

Visitors were also able to meet Jean-Blaise Djian during book signings for the Normandy June 44 comic book series, or to talk with Max Stein about German armored vehicles in Normandy and the project to restore the Tiger I at the Saumur Tank Museum.

Other interventions complemented this program, such as Jean-Marie Thomas's musical lecture devoted to American music before 1945, or the discussions offered around the duty of remembrance and its transmission to new generations.

The D-Day atmosphere extended well beyond the conferences and demonstrations. Between the military vehicles, the reenactors in period uniforms, and the visitors who sometimes came from very far away, the museum grounds became a true place for meeting and sharing for several days.

The concerts held on the terrace of the A10 Canteen delighted visitors with a friendly atmosphere fueled by music from the 40s and 50s. The civilian fashion competition offered by Les Voyageurs du Passé was also a great success with visitors, who came to admire or revive the silhouettes of the era.

This special atmosphere, between passion for history, exchanges and lighter moments, is also part of the experience enjoyed by visitors during the D-Day commemorations in Normandy.

The highlight of this D-Day 2025 week, the Concert for Peace brought together 80 musicians around a repertoire mixing iconic film scores and popular tunes from the 40s.

Organized by the Musique et Mémoires association, this special event offered a unique way to evoke the Second World War through music, emotion, and shared remembrance. Set up outdoors opposite the museum, the audience enjoyed a concert that blended reflection, tribute, and conviviality in a particularly moving atmosphere.

Between meetings with veterans, demonstrations, conferences and musical moments, this 2025 edition of D-Day at Normandy Victory Museum has once again brought together history enthusiasts, visitors and witnesses around the memory of the D-Day landings and the Battle of the Hedgerows.

Le Normandy Victory Museum now invites visitors to the next D-Day commemorations in Normandy.