D-Day landing beaches in Normandy become UNESCO World Heritage site

The historic D-Day landing beaches in Normandy, France, have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The UNESCO Committee made the decision during a session in Busan, South Korea, officially recognizing the significance of the Allied landings that marked a pivotal moment in the liberation of Europe.

The newly designated World Heritage site encompasses the five main landing beaches: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword Beach. It also includes other memorial sites connected to the Allied invasion on June 6, 1944. On that day, soldiers from the United States, Britain, Canada, Poland, and France landed on these beaches, initiating the Western front of the campaign against Nazi Germany.

Thousands of soldiers lost their lives in the ensuing battles. The inscription of the D-Day beaches brings France's total number of UNESCO World Heritage sites to 55, placing it on par with Germany. Only China and Italy currently have more, with 60 sites each.

Globally, 30 new proposals were nominated for consideration at the UNESCO assembly in South Korea. Among them, Germany is seeking recognition for the Zehlendorf forest settlement in Berlin as an extension of its existing "Modern Berlin Settlements" World Heritage site, established in 2008.