1914-1945: Two World Wars (20th century)

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Pascal Buléon, Louis Shurmer-Smith P. Buléon, L. Shurmer-Smith

published on July 9, 2015

(2015)

The particular history of the 20 ^th century, after several hundred years of prior conflict , has meant that the links between the two sides of the Channel are now much more than just those of commerce and trade, as important as the latter have rapidly become. In this, the trauma and shared memory of two world wars occupy a special place. Those who survived, and gave so much of themselves on these coasts of the old continent, have returned frequently, reviving and maintaining the memory. It does not end with those veterans, whose children and grandchildren keep coming; and it would be wrong to underestimate this continuing engagement. Since the Second World War, cross-Channel relations have multiplied for a huge number of people with the proliferation of town-twinnings, leading in turn to the establishment of more formal accords between towns, counties and departments.

Military losses	Civilian losses	Military wounded
World
about 10 million people	about 8 million people	over 20 million
France (and colonies):
1.3 million	400 000 (represented 4.3% of total population)	over 4 million
United Kingdom (and colonies):
900 000	100 000 (represented 2.2% of total population)	over 1.6 million

Invasion of Normandy : 6 June – 1 ^st July 1944 Allied strength: 2 876 000 troops 70 000 killed or missing - 140 000 wounded Civilian population: 50 000 killed, wounded, or missing D-Day: 6 June 1944 Allied strength:156 000 troops 10 600 killed, wounded, or missing; of which 3 000 British

Military losses	Civilian losses	Military wounded
World
about 25 million people	about 45 million people
France (and colonies):
217 600	350 000 (represented 1.35 % of total population)
United Kingdom (and colonies):
383 800	67 100(represented 0.94 % of total population)

To cite this document:

Buléon, P. & Shurmer-Smith, L. (2015). 1914-1945: Two World Wars (20th century). Atlas Transmanche.

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