British 6th Airborne Division

E93747

The British 6th Airborne Division was an elite World War II airborne formation of the British Army, renowned for its parachute and glider-borne assaults during the Normandy landings and subsequent operations in Northwest Europe.

All labels observed (2)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf British Army formation
World War II military unit
airborne division
allegiance United Kingdom
branch British Army
componentUnit 3rd Parachute Brigade
5th Parachute Brigade
6th Airlanding Brigade
Divisional artillery units
Divisional engineers
Divisional signals
conflict Second World War
linked to: World War II
country United Kingdom
decorations multiple unit citations and individual gallantry awards
disbanded post–Second World War
formed 1943
garrisonDuringWWII United Kingdom
legacy influenced postwar British airborne doctrine
motto We Sustain
nickname Red Devils
notableCommander Major-General Eric Bols
Major-General Richard Nelson Gale
notableEngagement Advance from the Rhine to the Baltic
Capture of the Orne River and Caen Canal bridges
linked to: Pegasus Bridge

Defense of the eastern flank of the Normandy beachhead
Destruction of the Merville Battery
notableFor airborne assault on D-Day
elite airborne training and standards
operation Advance to the River Seine
Ardennes campaign
linked to: Battle of the Bulge

Battle of Normandy
Crossing of the River Rhine in 1945
Normandy landings
linked to: Battle of Normandy

Occupation duties in Germany
Operation Mallard
Operation Paddle
Operation Tonga
Operation Varsity
Palestine Emergency
partOf British Army Airborne Forces
role airborne infantry
specialization glider-borne assaults
parachute operations
theaterOfOperations Middle East
Northwest Europe
type infantry division

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (7)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Operation Overlord involvedAirborneOperations British 6th Airborne Division
Caen Canal associatedWith British 6th Airborne Division
Pegasus Bridge capturedBy British 6th Airborne Division
Operation Varsity airborneForcesInvolved British 6th Airborne Division
Pegasus Bridge museum area commemorates British 6th Airborne Division
Operation Deadstick planningAuthority British 6th Airborne Division headquarters
linked to: British 6th Airborne Division
Ranville liberatedBy British 6th Airborne Division