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A soldier's gear on D-Day (pictures)

D-Day invasion

On the day of the invasion, American assault troops move onto Utah Beach as part of the Allied invasion of Europe on the northern coast of France on June 6, 1944.

Hitler's forces knew the invasion would come, and that it would be the decisive moment of the war. He just didn't know precisely when or where that attack would commence.

"This operation is not being planned with any alternatives. This operation is planned as a victory, and that's the way it's going to be. We're going down there, and we're throwing everything we have into it, and we're going to make it a success."

Here are some of the tools the men carried on that historic day 70 years ago.

Photo by: Wall. SC189902

89th Infantry Division wearing M1 helmets

Soldiers from 89th Infantry Division, seen here ducking for cover as they cross the Rhine River in assault boats, 1945. The steel M1 helmet was the definitive head protection of the time.

Photo by: DoD/Public Domain

M-1 Garand Rifle

The M1 Garand,officially designated as United States Rifle, Caliber .30, M1, was the standard issue semi-automatic rifle issues during WWII. Used also in the Korean War and even with limited use in Vietnam and up through 1963, Gen. George Patton called the weapon "the greatest battle implement ever devised."

Photo by: Swedish Army Museum/Digital Museum

M-1928 haver sack

The M-1928 haver sack infantry pack carried all the gear a soldier needed to survive in the field.

Photo by: WWII Impressions

US Army HBT Trousers

These trousers were worn by some assault troops, on the D-Day Normandy landing invasion, over their wool trousers and worn by themselves in the summer.

Photo by: Soldier of Fortune

HBT jacket

HBT jacket with 1^st div patch on left sleeve, seen here during a WWII reenactment in 2010.

Photo by: 1stidunit.org