President Barack Obama paid poetic tribute to the men who breached “Hitler’s Wall” and stormed ashore to liberate Europe on D-Day, at Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer.

Mr Obama said: “Fresh faced G.I.s rubbed trinkets, kissed pictures of sweethearts, checked and re-checked their equipment. ‘God,’ asked one, ‘Give me guts.’

“And in the pre-dawn hours, planes rumbled down runways, riders and paratroopers slipped through the sky, giant screws began to turn on an Armada that looked more like ships than sea. And more than 150,000 souls set off towards this tiny sliver of sand upon which hung more than the fate of a war, but rather the course of human history.

He added: “I am honoured to return here today to pay tribute to the men and women of a generation who defied every danger, among them are veterans of D-Day, and gentlemen we are truly humbled by your presence here today.”

Video: Obama pays moving tribute to D-Day veterans – Telegraph.