By , Tucker Reals
/ CBS News
CBS News Live
President Biden and key U.S. allies were in Normandy Thursday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the U.S.-led allied forces' D-Day invasion of Nazi-occupied France. The brazen air and sea invasion would mark the beginning of the end of World War II, leading to the defeat of Adolf Hitler's Nazi German forces in Europe less than a year later.
Mr. Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were together to mark the most significant victory of the Western allies in the war, as well as the largest seaborne invasion in history. Mr. Biden is in France through the weekend for D-Day anniversary commemorations and plans to meet with leaders of key allies during his visit.
"Seventy-three-thousand brave Americans landed at Utah and Omaha beaches in Normandy on June 6, 1944 and the president will greet American veterans and their family members while in France to honor their sacrifice," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in announcing the president's trip.
Mr. Biden and first lady Jill Biden met WWII veterans one by one ahead of a memorial ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery on Thursday, presenting each one with coins made to commemorate the D-Day anniversary. He chatted and joked with some of the men, asking about their hometowns, thanking them for their service and calling them the greatest generation ever.
The president delivered remarks later Thursday at a commemoration ceremony that was also attended by members of Congress from both parties, including House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and speaker emerita Nancy Pelosi.
"On behalf of the American people and its Commander in Chief, it's the highest honor to be able to salute you here in Normandy. All of you. God love you," Mr. Biden said, addressing the WWII veterans in the audience.
The U.S. president quoted Britain's WWII commander Winston Churchill, saying he "called what happened here the greatest, most complicated operation ever," and adding that the entire world waited to see the outcome of the "great crusade to free Europe from tyranny."
Speaking about the tens of thousands of American men who poured onto Normandy's beaches that day, charging into a hail of gun and mortar fire, Mr. Biden said "it was estimated that 80% of them would be killed within hours. That was the estimate. But they were brave. They were resolute," and they got the job done.
"What the allies did here 80 years ago, far surpassed anything we could have done on our own," Mr. Biden said. "Together we won the war."
The June 6, 1944 D-Day operation, given the codename OVERLORD, sent five naval assault divisions to the beaches of Normandy, France. The invasion included 7,000 ships and landing craft operate by more than 195,000 naval personnel. More than 130,000 troops from the U.S., Great Britain and their allies landed on the shores. Many more followed, and their efforts helped lead to the defeat of German Nazi forces.
Mr. Biden planned to give a speech on Friday at Normandy's Point du Hoc cliffs that would highlight the men who scaled those cliffs 80 years ago, democracy and the "dangers of isolationism," said national security adviser Jake Sullivan. In his speech, the president will draw a line from World War II to the formation of NATO to today, as war again haunts Europe, Sullivan said.
On Saturday, the festivities will continue as Mr. Biden participates in a parade procession to the Elysee Palace. And on Sunday, the president will lay a wreath at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, where World War I veterans are buried.
Among the allies Mr. Biden will meet with in France is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as Ukraine continues to suffer from Russia's onslaught.
The president is expected to have an "extended discussion" with Macron on a range of issues, including the Middle East, Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, technology and clean energy, Sullivan said. Macron and Mr. Biden are scheduled to make a joint press appearance on Saturday, and Macron is hosting a state dinner for the president and first lady on Saturday.
In 2018, then-President Donald Trump opted out of the trip to Normandy to commemorate the anniversary of D-Day while in Paris, citing bad weather, a move that drew intense criticism.
Kristin Brown contributed to this report
Kathryn Watson is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C.